Steven Prusakowski
This past week Paramount+ hosted their third annual Star Trek Day celebration, which included a red carpet and a global livestream coming straight from the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles. Millions of fans around the world had the opportunity of watch previews for the upcoming seasons of their favorite Trek shows, as well as interviews and fun dynamics with the cast and crew behind the Trek universe – all from the comfort of their homes.
The event was hosted by Tawny Newsome and Paul F. Tompkins, and featured guests such as Patrick Stewart, Jeri Ryan, Michelle Hurd, Jess Bush and Christina Chong, to name a few members of the crew who were present. Readers of Awards Radar and listeners to our podcast The ‘Verse! know of our continued and expanding coverage of all things Star Trek.
We were on hand for coverage of the 2021 New York Comic Con panels for Discovery, Prodigy and even Captain Kirk himself William Shatner. Since then it has been full speed ahead with news, interviews and full The ‘Verse! segments dedicated to Star Trek series including Prodigy, Lower Decks and the extensive six-part coverage of Strange New Worlds. So as you may have guessed we are just as excited as you are about all the news coming out of the celebration as you are.
Below, you can find the some of the biggest announcements and reveals from the event, divided by each show.
Star Trek: Discovery
The celebration began with a behind-the-scenes video tour of the set of Star Trek: Discovery. Cast member Wilson Cruz was responsible for hosting the tour. It concluded with the reveal of an image from the show’s upcoming fifth season. The picture featured a first look at fan favorite Sonequa Martin-Green, returning to the role of Michael Burnham in what looks to be an action-packed scene.
In addition to Cruz, the behind-the-scenes video features Martin-Green and more cast members including Anthony Rapp, Mary Wiseman, Blu del Barrio as well as series costume designer Anthony Tran. In season five, which is currently in production in Canada, Captain Burnham and the crew of the U.S.S. Discovery uncover a mystery that sends them on an epic adventure across the galaxy to find an ancient power whose very existence has been deliberately hidden for centuries. If you have not watched yet, you still have some time to catch up.
Star Trek: Lower Decks
The third season of Star Trek: Lower Decks is currently airing on Thursdays on Paramount+. The current season of the hit original animated comedy series challenges the U.S.S. Cerritos ensigns in ways they could never imagine, starting with a shocking resolution for season two’s finale. After premiering on August 25th of this year, the season will conclude on October 27th.
A conversation regarding the show was held as part of the Star Trek Day celebration, featuring voice cast members Tawny Newsome, who also co-hosted the event, Noël Wells, and Paul F. Tompkins, who served as the moderator. Voice cast member Fred Tatasciore served as this year’s “Star Trek Day” announcer at the in-person event.
Star Trek: Picard
As one of the most beloved members of the Star Trek family, Patrick Stewart needs no introduction. During the event he revealed a new teaser trailer and release date for the third and final season of Star Trek: Picard during the event. Premiering on February 16th, 2023, the new season will run for ten episodes, which will air weekly on Thursdays. The Picard conversation at the Star Trek Day celebration featured series stars Stewart, Jeri Ryan and Michelle Hurd.
The first two seasons are now available to stream on Paramount+. The show follows Stewart reprising his iconic role as Jean-Luc Picard, which he played for seven seasons on Star Trek: The Next Generation. LeVar Burton, Michael Dorn, Jonathan Frakes, Gates McFadden, Marina Sirtis, Brent Spiner, Jeri Ryan and Michelle Hurd star alongside him in the third and final season of this story.
If you have not seen the trailer yet we recommend you grab a seat (just not in the Captain’s Chair.)
After watching the sneak peak be sure to read our interview with Emmy-nominated Picard costume designer Christine Biesilen.
Star Trek: Prodigy
As officially announced during the Star Trek Day celebration, season one of original animated (not just for kids) series Star Trek: Prodigy will have its mid-season return on Thursday, October 27th. A new clip was also revealed, featuring the U.S.S. Protostar crew and Murf (Dee Bradley Baker) as he completes what he calls his “metamurfosis.” You can watch the entertaining clip below.
Other big news, Billy Campbell will be joining the voice cast for Prodigy’s debut season. Campbell will reprise his Star Trek: The Next Generation role as Thadiun Okona, a roguish space captain who’s constantly outrunning trouble caused by his own tactics.
“From early on in the writers’ room, we knew we wanted Captain Thadiun Okona to return and become a questionable guide to our impressionable crew,” said executive producers Kevin and Dan Hageman. “It was so much fun to not only explore where Okona’s outrageous life has taken him in his later years, but to also work with Billy Campbell who effortlessly fell back into the role of Okona like he had never left.”
The Prodigy conversation featured in the livestream included series voice cast members Kate Mulgrew (everyone’s favorite Admiral, Janeway) and series star Brett Gray as guests.
Strange New Worlds
There was plenty of news about The ‘Verse!’s favorite Star Trek series, starting with a new cast member. It is none other than Academy Award nominee Carol Kane! She will join Strange New Worlds with a recurring role as Pelia, who solves problems calmly and brusquely, thanks to her many years of experience. The conversation at the “Star Trek Day” celebration regarding this series featured cast members Rebecca Romijn, Celia Rose Gooding, Jess Bush, Christina Chong, Babs Olusanmokun (who you can listen to our interview with here) and Melissa Navia.
Navia plays one of our favorite characters from the series, Ortegas. A character we love so much we may have coined a new term “MOREtegas” on Twitter during an interaction with the actress. The term refers to our wish for more of the character on the series, preferably in the form of an Ortegas-focused episode. Well, our wish may have been granted. A new clip right out of this show’s upcoming second season was revealed during Star Trek Day and it promises MOREtegas!
Strange New Worlds is based on the years Captain Christopher Pike manned the helm of the U.S.S. Enterprise. The series features fan favorites Anson Mount as Captain Christopher Pike, Rebecca Romijn as Number One and Ethan Peck as Science Officer Spock. The series follows Captain Pike, Science Officer Spock and Number One in the years before Captain Kirk boarded the U.S.S. Enterprise, as they explore new worlds around the galaxy.
Be sure to listen to podcast for The ‘Verse! Academy: Star Trek 101 episodes where we introduce Star Trek to new fans (including two of our hosts) through breakdowns and discussions of all the episodes of Strange New Worlds first season. The episodes are a lot of fun, informative, and can be enjoyed by fans old and new.
Be sure to read our interview with Strange New Worlds costume designer Bernadette Croft too.
In a very touching moment, the event celebrated the legacy of Nichelle Nichols – the actress, pioneer, and hero to countless fans and beyond. Nichols, who played Lt. Uhura in the original Star Trek series and films, passed away recently. It was a fitting tribute.
What an event! Prepare for more Star Trek coverage here and on The ‘Verse! Until then, catch up on all your Star Trek needs on Paramount+. Also, let us know in the comments below what was your favorite moment out of the 2022 Star Trek Day celebration?
(Co-written by Diego Peralta and Steven Prusakowski)
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