lukonianlogic
As a lifelong Trekkie, I jumped at the chance to attend the Star Trek panel at New York Comic Con. I was eager to hear the latest news about the upcoming shows and movies. So, when I learned that my press table interviews would be almost exclusively with the cast and director of Star Trek: Section 31 after watching its trailer, my heart sank a bit.
For those unfamiliar, Section 31 is an intelligence and black-ops organization within the Star Trek universe, first introduced in Deep Space Nine. Tasked with defending the Federation, Section 31 has a complicated relationship with fans. Its existence seems, at first glance, to directly challenge Star Trek’s ideals. Yet, this contradiction is why Section 31 has endured, often portrayed as a necessary, morally ambiguous partner rather than the hero.
I’ve often said that Star Trek succeeds because it serves as the perfect stage for exploring various genres and storylines: action-adventure, courtroom drama, even whimsical musicals. With Section 31, I had hoped for a cerebral spy thriller—something along the lines of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy or Three Days of the Condor. Judging by the trailer, it seems Alex Kurtzman chose a different path. Watch it here:
While it’s unfair to judge a movie by a teaser, my enthusiasm for the project waned. Adding to my skepticism was the troubled history of the production: Section 31 started as a series, was later shortened to a film, and has now been shifted to a streaming-only release on Paramount+ in late January. It felt like a project that had been abandoned. This was particularly disappointing because I absolutely adore the leads, Michelle Yeoh and Sam Richardson. So, I approached the interviews with the director and cast with some skepticism, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that everyone involved shared a commitment to the core ideals of Star Trek.
Director Olatunde Osunsanmi described Section 31 as a deeply allegorical film exploring themes of redemption, change, and striving for goodness. “One of the major themes of Section 31 is… everyone is capable of transforming themselves and being better… it’s a really important message to tell,” said Osunsanmi.
As a longtime Star Trek director—having helmed 14 episodes of Discovery as well as a few Short Treks—Osunsanmi acknowledged that while Section 31 delves into some of Star Trek‘s darker and seedier sides, he wanted the film to ultimately uplift viewers and retain Star Trek’s aspirational spirit. “We didn’t want to make a movie that left people feeling sad,” said Osunsanmi. “We wanted [fans] to feel the way I felt watching Star Trek growing up.”
Growing up as the son of immigrants in a predominantly white, suburban Orange County, California, Osunsanmi found representation in Star Trek. “I felt represented by [Geordi La Forge],” he shared. “It didn’t matter who you were; [characters] were just accepted and all on the same team.”
It was also reassuring to see lead actor Robert Kazinsky, who plays the chaotic character Zeph, display a genuine passion for the series. Kazinsky demonstrated his Star Trek bona fides by quoting Deep Space Nine in defense of Section 31’s role in the Federation.
“The whole idea is we bought into the optimistic outlook of what the future… but the truth is… it’s easy to be a saint in Paradise… if you’re going to actually have a realistic interpretation of what the Federation is, it will always have a Section 31,” said Kazinsky.
Kazinsky’s deep knowledge of the series served as a resource for the cast, ensuring they stayed within Star Trek‘s bounds. Omari Hardwick, who plays Alok, the most grounded member of the ragtag Section 31 team, praised Kazinsky’s expertise and dedication to telling a Star Trek story.
“He is our connoisseur… our Star Trek connoisseur… He’s such the Trekkie out of the cast,” said Hardwick. “There was still the conversation about making a movie for the fandom. The fan base is the biggest part of this whole thing… maybe we got loose and figured out our characters more by doing it, but you still have to stay within the confines of what the fans want to watch.”
By the end of the interviews, I was genuinely impressed by the commitment from the cast and crew to tell a Star Trek story that upholds the ideals that make the franchise beloved. I have to admit, I was won over.
In the spirit of openness and exploration, when Section 31 premieres on January 24th on Paramount+, I’ll be tuning in with an open mind, ready to watch Emperor Philippa Georgiou and her team embark on their latest adventure.
[…] Check out our coverage from The ‘Verse!’s Lucas Longacre from the panel AND EXCLUSIVE PRESS ROOM INTERVIEWS with the Section 31 cast and team, here. […]