Star Trek: Starfleet Academy has been renewed for a second season, even before the first season premiered. The upcoming series is one of many Star Trek projects at Paramount+, joining the likes of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Star Trek: Lower Decks, and Star Trek: Section 31. Star Trek held a panel at New York Comic Con over the weekend, where a host of announcements were made. One of those announcements was for Star Trek: Starfleet Academy Season 2, as well as the addition of She-Hulk star Tatiana Maslany as a recurring special guest star during its first season.

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is currently in production in Toronto. Executive producer and co-showrunner Alex Kurtzman made a surprise appearance during the Star Trek Universe panel at NYCC when a livestream from the Toronto set was shown to the audience. Kurtzman announced Starfleet Academy being greenlit for a second season alongside cast members including Sandro Rosta, Kerrice Brooks, Bella Shepard, George Hawkins, Karim Diané, and Zoë Steiner.

The series will follow a new class of Starfleet cadets who all have the dream of becoming a part of the decorated Starfleet officers. They will navigate blossoming friendships, explosive rivalries, first loves, and a new enemy that threatens both the Academy and the Federation itself, so it sounds like there will be plenty of action and drama for longtime fans and newcomers alike.

Before portraying Jennifer Walters/She-Hulk, Emmy winner Tatiana Maslany was known for her breakout performance in Orphan Black. “I’ve had the incredible privilege of being able to direct her, and I can tell you that she is such a genius… she is just incredible,” Alex Kurtzman said about Maslany. “She has been just an amazing addition to the cast.”

It can always be a tricky proposition to introduce fans to a whole new group of characters within an established franchise, but it shouldn’t be something that keeps viewers away from Star Trek: Starfleet Academy. It boasts an impressive cast list including the recently-added Kerrice Brooks (My Old Ass), Bella Shepard (Wolf Pack), and George Hawkins (Tell Me Everything), who all play cadets at Starfleet Academy. They join previously announced cast members, Holly Hunter, playing a Starfleet captain and current chancellor of Starfleet Academy, and Paul Giamatti, playing Star Trek: Starfleet Academy Season 1’s villain.

Are you excited for Tatiana Maslany in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy? Let us know your thoughts on social media @ComicBook!

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Star Trek: Strange New Worlds has cast actor Rhys Darby as another legacy character from the Star Trek Universe – but who is it? The creators of Strange New Worlds got Star Trek fans wondering during the franchise’s panel at New York Comic-Con, where it was announced that Darby will have a guest-starring role in Season 3. Darby is best known for his role as Stede Bonnet in the pirate comedy Our Flag Means Death, as well as playing Nigel in the Jumanji reboot films. He also has a long list of voice-acting roles in some popular gaming and animated series (The Venture Bros., We Bare Bears, The Simpsons, Bob’s Burgers, SpongeBob, etc).

One early theory is that Darby (50) could guest star as George Samuel Kirk Sr., the father of James T. Kirk (Paul Wesley) and “Sam” Kirk (Dan Jeannotte). The Kirk brothers have already appeared in Strange New Worlds, with Sam appearing first in Season 1, before James (future captain of the USS Enterprise) appeared at the end of the first season, becoming a regular cast member in Season 2.

The only onscreen appearance of George Kirk Sr. was in J.J. Abrams’s Star Trek (2009), which used the character as the catalyst for a major timeline change, creating Star Trek’s “Kelvin Timeline” in which Abrams’ films take place. The “Prime Timeline” of the Star Trek franchise has yet to explore George Kirk’s character. We know that his total devotion to Starfleet and its mission took him away from his wife and sons quite often – leading to James, in particular, having conflicted feelings about his father choosing exploration and aiding strangers over his own family. Darby has demonstrated that he can nail the kind of comedy-drama line that Star Trek: Strange New Worlds revels in; an episode of Kirk family drama would also be the kind of Star Trek canon expansion that the series has excelled at.

As always, however, fans should hold on to any casting theories loosely, as there are literally a dozen characters from classic Star Trek: TOS episodes and lore that Strange New Worlds could be refitting for the modern era.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds stars Anson Mount, Rebecca Romijn, Ethan Peck, Jess Bush, Christina Chong, Celia Rose Gooding, Melissa Navia, Babs Olusanmokun and Martin Quinn, along with special guest stars Paul Wesley and Carol Kane. The series is produced by CBS Studios, Secret Hideout, and Roddenberry Entertainment. Alex Kurtzman, Akiva Goldsman, Jenny Lumet, Henry Alonso Myers, Aaron Baiers, Dana Horgan, Davy Perez, Frank Siracusa, John Weber, Rod Roddenberry and Trevor Roth serve as executive producers.

You can stream Star Trek: Strange New Worlds on Paramount+.

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Michelle Yeoh’s Star Trek: Section 31 finally has a release date, and it’s just around the corner. Paramount+ continues to expand the Star Trek franchise, and fans are excited to see more of Academy Award winner Michelle Yeoh’s Emperor Philippa Georgiou. New York Comic Con announced Star Trek: Section 31 will premiere January 24, 2024, and a new poster featuring Yeoh was also revealed to go along with the news. Star Trek hosted a panel at New York Comic Con that also featured a new look at the animated Star Trek: Lower Decks, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 3, and an update on Star Trek: Starfleet Academy.

Star Trek: Section 31 has the distinction of being Paramount+’s first original Star Trek movie. Joining Yeoh in the star-studded cast are Omari Hardwick as “Alok”, Kacey Rohl as Rachel Garrett, Sam Richardson as Quasi, Sven Ruygrok as Fuzz, Robert Kazinsky as Zeph, Humberly Gonzalez as Melle, and James Hiroyuki Liao (Barry). Miku Martineau (Kate) is playing a young Georgiou, and Joe Pingue (The Expanse), and Augusto Bitter (EZRA) also help round out the cast.

The cast of Section 31 took time to speak about their love of Star Trek at the NYCC panel.

“Star Trek informed not just the kind of things I like, but it informed me as a human being,” Robert Kazinsky said during the Star Trek panel. “I took my moral center from the next generation – from everything they did on there. So to be of it – I never thought I would get the jewel in the crown, which is Star Trek.”

While a lot of the cast are playing new characters, Kacey Rohl gets to reprise an established character in the young Rachel Garrett. Tricia O’Neil played Garrett in Star Trek: The Next Generation‘s “Yesterday’s Enterprise” episode.

“Obviously Rachel Garrett has got some big boots to fill and Tricia O’Neil did such incredible work,” Rohl said. “Let’s have a clap for Tricia! I watched that episode a bunch and tried to translate that through my stuff, to try and bring Rachel Garrett into this moment. It’s exciting to be in something on more the spicer side.”

It’s a season of change for Star Trek projects on Paramount+. Star Trek: Discovery debuted its fifth and final season earlier this year. Star Trek: Lower Decks debuts its final season in October. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 3 debuts in 2025 and the show is already renewed with Season 4 on the horizon. Star Trek: Starfleet Academy hasn’t debuted and it’s already also been renewed for Season 2.

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Star Trek movies featuring the characters from the classic series, as well as the ones featuring characters from Star Trek: The Next Generation, have a new streaming home for the second time since they first left Paramount+. In recent days, the movies relocated to MGM+, the streaming service formerly known as Epix. Of the ten films, all but two — Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan and Star Trek: First Contact — are available on Prime Video. Prime, of course, shares an owner (Amazon) with MGM, so (as noted in a story at TrekMovie), it’s difficult to imagine why those two seem to be outliers.

Update (Oct. 18th at noon ET) — Good news, everyone! Paramount+ users can once again watch every Star Trek movie. They are still on MGM+ and Prime as well, but apparently they aren’t streaming exclusively there.

Original story continues below.

The ten movies involved in the move include all six classic movies made between Star Trek: The Motion Picture in 1979 and Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country in 1991. The four The Next Generation movies — Star Trek: Generations, Star Trek: First Contact, Star Trek: Insurrection, and Star Trek: Nemesis — continued the original timeline from 1994 until 2002.

At present, the JJ Abrams-led “Kelvin Timeline” reboot, which launched in 2009, is not part of the deal.

The Star Trek franchise was once viewed as one of the crown jewels of CBS All Access/Paramount+, particularly since the streamer was the home of all new Trek, including Star Trek: Discovery and Star Trek: Prodigy, and other TV series. Right around the time Paramount+ cancelled Prodigy in 2023, they also started toying with the idea of giving up their exclusive hold on Star Trek. A new season of Prodigy is coming to Netflix soon, and in early 2024, the ten “classic” movies moved to Max, splitting the series between two different streamers. They returned to Paramount+ in June, but that obviously didn’t last long.

So far, the Kelvin Timeline movies have remained at Paramount+, meaning that no other streamer has successfully hosted all 13 Star Trek movies. Excepting Prodigy, Paramount has also maintained control of the Star Trek TV shows, which have mostly been critical and commercial successes.

Of course, as much as any other franchise, Star Trek is fairly insulated from the whims of the streaming market. One of the biggest fandoms in entertainment, many Trek fans likely own the movies, either on digital marketplaces like Apple and Fandango at Home or on physical media. Star Trek: The Original Series and Star Trek: The Next Generation received new box sets not long before Picard launched on Paramount+, and there have been two new box sets featuring that character since — one collecting the Picard streaming show and another titled Picard: The Movie and TV Collection, which packaged some key TNG episodes along with the four TNG-era movies.

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The east coast’s biggest pop culture event is less than one week away. New York Comic Con returns to the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center on Thursday, October 17th and stretches until Sunday, October 20th, running the six-figure capacity venue for its 18th year. First launching in 2006, NYCC has been annual to the autumn entertainment scene for nearly two straight decades.

“I was a fan,” ReedPop Event Manager Chris D’Lando told ComicBook. “Long before I worked here, I was at Marvel Comics in their publicity department out of New York. This will actually be, my God, my 17th New York Comic Con. I’ve been to every one since 2007, which is everyone except the first.”

D’Lando is one of the men behind the machine, as he captains the ReedPop team that is responsible for piecing together the four-day extravaganza. He has been with ReedPop for seven and a half years, wearing hats in the content department before locking into his general event management position in recent years.

“The industry has changed so dramatically in those last couple of years, incrementally, year over year. If you look back at the show in 2017 versus now, you’ll see a lot of very different things,” D’Lando explained how NYCC has evolved during his time with ReedPop. “As far as industries go, we’ve seen the rise and explosion of anime over the last couple of years. Our team has really honed in on that. We spend a lot of time looking at our post-show data after the shows are over. That’s kind of the Bible by which we dictate strategy for the next year.

“Over the last couple of years, our fans have asked a lot for more interactive programming, community programming, and late night programming. Those are sort of changes that that we have implemented over the last few years.”

That post-show data has been especially unique in recent memory. NYCC 2020 was pivoted to an online event due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the 2021 event remained a gradual return to in-person normalcy. 2022 saw echoes of that familiarity before last year’s event, which took place in the heart of the SAG-AFTRA strike, led to the typical film and television presence being significantly reduced.

“Thankfully, we had a good amount of time to prepare and we were still able to go forward with most of our panels intact. Out of solidarity with with striking actors and writers, they were not allowed to talk about struck work, nor did we ask them to. Those conversations ended up being more personal,” D’Lando reflected on NYCC 2023. “We’re really excited that the those two sides came to an agreement, and that not only could work resume, but we’re really excited that studios are back at the show and promoting new properties. It’s it’s a big piece of what our fans are asking for at the show. They want to see big premieres. They want announcements. To be able to bring stuff like The Penguin or Shrinking from Apple TV or Outlander in its final season back to NYCC this year is really, really exciting.”

D’Lando also highlighted franchises like The Lord of the Rings, The Walking Dead, Goosebumps, Phineas and Ferb, and House of the Dragon as having major presences at NYCC 2024.

Outside of the blockbuster panels scheduled, D’Lando stressed that the “comic” of New York Comic Con is still the event’s “lifeblood.”

“Our show is a is a pop culture show, but it’s New York Comic Con first and foremost. Comics are the lifeblood of our show. That pop culture explosion, I think, in many ways, is traced back to comics as as a medium.

“Our team that puts together Artist Alley is, in my opinion, the best in the world,” D’Lando continued, spotlighting the comic-centric area of NYCC. “Our Artist Alley is second to none this year. It’s over 500 tables some of the biggest names in the industry. It’s incredible to walk down and just see the level of talent. It’s a real melting pot of some of the most creative people you’ll ever meet.”

The pop culture presence and Artists Alley only scratch the surface of what NYCC has in store for 2024. D’Lando teased that the ReedPop team has supersized this year’s event in an effort to make the Javits Center itself the total attraction throughout attendees’ stays.

“New York City has built up a lot of a lot of stuff around the Javits Center to do, restaurants and bars, but it’s still not a really a hub area. By offering more things to do inside the building, it adds more value to the ticket,” D’Lando noted. “It makes them feel like they got their money’s worth coming for a day because, yeah, the show floor may have closed seven, but they got to go to panels until 11 o’clock. They got to go to the gaming area until 11 o’clock. Artist Alley was open a little bit later.”

As for which day’s ticket will yield the most value, D’Lando pointed to NYCC’s kickoff.

“We always say Thursday is is the best day. Thursday is really stacked,” D’Lando said, adding that Thursday NYCC tickets are still available. “Elizabeth Olsen is there on Thursday and Friday. Our guest lineup for Thursday is looking stacked. Thursday is a great day to shop on the show floor before things are sold out. Thursday is a great day to get on commission lists for people on Artists Alley. I always recommend Thursday for people, especially folks who are not super convention savvy. It’s usually the easiest day to attend.”

New York Comic-Con kicks off on Thursday, October 17th and stretches until Sunday, October 20th. Stay tuned to ComicBook for live coverage all weekend!

The post New York Comic Con: 2024’s Event Will Be “Second to None” (Preview) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Paramount+ has released a new trailer for Star Trek: Lower Decks Season 5, the final season of the animated comedy series. The trailer features plenty of familiar faces from the U.S.S. Cerritos crew, and reveals the return of Star Trek: Voyager‘s Harry Kim — or is that Harry Kims? Harrys Kim? — to the Star Trek universe. In the trailer’s final scene, the former member of the U.S.S. Voyager‘s crew is aghast to see that myriad versions of himself are all still ensigns, referencing a running in-joke among Star Trek fans over Kim’s lack of promotion throughout Voyager‘s seven-year journey home through the Delta Quadrant.

The trailer is framed by Captain Freeman reflecting on how competent and well-adjusted her crew has been recently. This is, of course, followed by a series fo scenes depicting the crew getting into all sorts of misadventures and interpersonal conflicts, as is their way. You can see it all for yourself in the Star Trek: Lower Decks trailer embedded above.

What to Expect from Star Trek: Lower Decks Season 5

The Star Trek: Lower Decks Season 5 trailer seems to show several storylines and plot points hinted at during ComicBook’s conversation with the Lower Decks crew, including showrunner Mike McMahan and members of the show’s voice cast, during San Diego Comic-Con. Those plots include an episode dealing with the complicated romance between Beckett Mariner and her Andorian crewmate, Jennifer Sh’reyan, as well as another storyline digging deeper into Orion culture.

“I really love the Jennifer episode… I love the stuff Tendi gets to do this season,” Tawny Newsome, who voices Mariner, said at the time. “It really warms my heart the way this show… this 22-minute nonsense show… is the one that has advanced Orion canon so much. As a rabid fan, no other show has given as much to the Orion culture, so it’s wild that we’ve expanded that.”

Meanwhile, Kim’s appearance in the trailer follows through on McMahan’s promise about significant cameos in Lower Decks‘ final season. “There’s also some classic legacy cameos this season that are pretty bonkers,” he said. “They’re sort of sprinkled throughout, but since we had a head’s up that this would be our last, we started going to the wish list and everyone wanted to be on. It was pretty wild. I was sure we weren’t going to get everyone, but you’ll see some familiar faces this season.”

Star Trek: Lower Decks follows the support crew serving on one of Starfleet’s least important ships, the U.S.S. Cerritos. The Star Trek: Lower Decks voice cast includes Tawny Newsome, Jack Quaid, Noël Wells, and Eugene Cordero as the junior officers and Dawnn Lewis, Jerry O’Connell, Fred Tatasciore, and Gillian Vigman as the Cerritos bridge crew.

Star Trek: Lower Decks Season 5 premieres on Paramount+ on October 24th with two new episodes. For those who may want to catch up with the series, Star Trek: Lower Decks Season 4 is currently streaming for free on YouTube. The Cerritos crew will embark on new adventures in the Star Trek: Lower Decks comic book series launching in November.

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Paramount Home Media recently released the Star Trek: The Picard Legacy Collection, a limited edition, individually numbered (only 11,750 copies worldwide), 54-disc Blu-ray collection that includes every series and film featuring Jean-Luc Picard with over 35 hours of special features tossed in for good measure. If that wasn’t enough Picard for you, the set will also include an exclusive edition of The Wisdom of Picard with new artwork and quotes, a one-of-a-kind deck of playing cards, a magnet sheet with Captain Picard’s badges, and four custom Chateau Picard drink coasters. They also recently released the complete Picard series on Blu-ray, and both of these options are currently heavily discounted as part of Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days event. 

At the time of writing, the Star Trek: Picard – The Complete Series Blu-ray is available here on Amazon for $44.99, which is 36% off. If you want to go all out, the ultimate Picard Blu-ray box set is currently on sale here on Amazon for $139.49 which is 43% off the list price. As a bonus, you can even grab the Star Trek: TOS The Complete Series Steelbook Blu-ray for 44% off.  After you decide which set is right for you, make sure to check out our interviews with Star Trek: Picard production designer Dave Blass and makeup artist James MacKinnon regarding their work on Star Trek as it relates to the Legacy Blu-ray box set. Buy Star Trek: Picard – The Complete Series Blu-ray on Amazon

Star Trek: The Picard Legacy Collection Features:

• 35 hours of bonus features
• Premium Packaging Containing 54 Blu-ray Discs and Exclusive Collectables 
• All Series and Films Featuring Captain Jean-Luc Picard
  • Star Trek: The Next Generation – Seasons 1-7
  • Star Trek: Picard – Seasons 1-3
  • Star Trek: Generations
  • Star Trek: First Contact
  • Star Trek: Nemesis
  • Star Trek: Insurrection 
• Exclusive Collectables:
  • Magnetic Captain Picard Badges
  • 4 Custom Chateau Picard Drink Coasters 
  • Custom Deck of Playing Cards
  • Exclusive Version of The Wisdom of Picard, The Wisdom of Picard: The Legacy Collection Edition
    • Featuring New Cover Art
    • Including quotes from the latest seasons of Star Trek: Picard

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Star Trek: Lower Decks debuts its fifth and final season later this month, but the U.S.S. Cerritos will continue to embark on new adventures thanks to a new Star Trek: Lower Decks ongoing comic book series from IDW Publishing. Helmed by Eisner Award-winning writer Ryan North, who penned the previous Star Trek: Lower Decks comic book miniseries and the upcoming Star Trek: Lower Decks interactive graphic novel, the Star Trek: Lower Decks ongoing series launches in November. ComicBook.com has an exclusive first look at the debut issues of the new Star Trek: Lower Decks comic book series, which you can find below.

“Lower Decks is my favorite Star Trek, and I have seen every single Star Trek there is to see, except for one episode I will never reveal,” North said in a press release when IDW announced the new series. “This raises the obvious question: will something in this comic contradict something that I missed in that one episode I never saw? Thankfully the answer is no, because the entire Lower Decks team – both at IDW and Paramount – has been so amazing – supportive, clever, brilliant. We’re making a big funny heartfelt book with huge sci-fi ideas, important character developments, tons of that Trek flavor, and a bunch of jokes, too. If you love Lower Decks you’ll love this comic!”

Star Trek: Lower Decks #1 goes on sale on November 13th. The final day to pre-order from your local comic book store is this Monday, October 7th. Check out the solicitation info and preview pages below.

Star Trek: Lower Decks #1 

• Writer Ryan North
• Artist Derek Charm
• On sale 11/13/24
• Pre-order deadline 10/7/24

 Hot off their Eisner nomination for Lower Decks tie-in Shax’s Best Day, stellar duo Ryan North and Derek Charm are kicking off a brand-new ongoing series that’s a big fun adventure on a big fun ship…

…wherein Dr. T’Ana saves the crew from a virulent, purple-boiled disease that is sure to— Wait, no, everyone’s cured pretty quickly, actually.

Okay…wherein Deep Space 2’s distress call is mysteriously cut off and the crew has to— Wait, nope, they just needed some help resetting their comms systems.

ALL RIGHT, WHEREIN Mariner gets so totally frustrated with the lack of thrills aboard the Cerritos that she drags her friends into a holodeck adventure that would definitely kill them in reality! Should totally provide them all with a sense of purpose and well-being, right? Right.

Or at least it would have. If the U.S.S. Bonaventure hadn’t shown back up from the Delta Triangle to provide them with a real challenge. It’s time to explore a ghost ship, baby!

Star Trek: Lower Decks #1 Cover A

Star Trek: Lower Decks #1 Cover B

Star Trek: Lower Decks #1 Retailer Incentive Cover

Star Trek: Lower Decks #1 Credits Page

Star Trek Lower Decks #1 Preview Page 1

Star Trek Lower Decks #1 Preview Page 2

Star Trek Lower Decks #1 Preview Page 3

Star Trek Lower Decks #1 Preview Page 4

Star Trek Lower Decks #1 Preview Page 5

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It has been almost a decade since Zachary Quinto played Mister Spock in Star Trek Beyond, the latest feature film based on the beloved franchise, but the actor has not given up on the idea of returning to the role. While Quinto has stayed busy enough over the years that he hasn’t been out there lobbying for more Star Trek all the time, he says he loves the franchise, and trusts that there will always be more opportunities to come back to it if somebody gets the right idea.

Speaking about his new NBC medical drama Brilliant Minds, Quinto took a little time out to look back at his Star Trek role and forward to what might be next. 

“The great thing is Star Trek is a limitless universe,” Quinto told Variety. “Look at all the television shows, look at all the stories, look at all the characters and timelines. Anything is possible. That’s the joy of the franchise. That’s why it’s lasted for 55, 60 years. I’m open to it. I would love it. I would absolutely love it.”

He’s already passed up the opportunity to return to one of his big early roles — Heroes — years removed from the original series. Of course, the Heroes Reborn sequel didn’t seem to work very well on its own, and Quinto seems confident that’s less likely to happen with Star Trek.  

“There’s no cutoff,” Quinto said. “The original cast did movies for decades, well into their 50s, 60s. The stories might be different. We might not be running as fast on the other planets, but I think anything’s possible, and I think there’s nothing more fulfilling as an artist then to come back to something after time has passed, and cultivate a relationship with it from a completely different perspective, and a completely new point of view.”

Here’s the official synopsis for Brilliant Minds, Quinto’s series which has a new episode coming on Monday:

Dr. Oliver Wolf is an eccentric but incredibly gifted neurologist who suffers from a rare condition that gives him a unique perspective on care, fueling his mission to change the way the world sees his patients. After his unusual methods result in his dismissal, he takes his unconventional approach to a new hospital: Bronx General, where he leads a team of bright young interns in tackling some of the world’s most puzzling psychological cases. With their help, he must also challenge his own personal and social limitations by navigating all the expectations, politics and complicated relationships that come with the job.

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The ComicBook Nation crew review Transformers One, and it’s Peak Geek TV time again with Agatha All Along, The Penguin and Zack Snyder’s anime Twilight of the Gods all premiering this week!

PLUS: The Clue movie reboot may have a director; the Transformers & G.I. Joe movie gets an update; Zack Snyder’s 300 TV series is happening – and Netflix’s One Piece Season 2 drops some major casting surprises!

Transformers One Review

Here’s what ComicBook Nation’s Anime Initiative host Evan Valentine had to say about his 4-star review of Transformers One: 

I would be remiss by not calling this the best Transformers film since the 1980s animated film. If this is the future of the Transformers franchise, then Autobot and Decepticons fans have a bright future to look forward to indeed.

The Penguin Review

ComicBook’s Jenna Anderson had the following to say in her 4.5 out of 5 star review of The Penguin: 

Across its eight episodes, The Penguin redefines what verisimilitude can mean in the world of comic book adaptations. The grittiness, violence, and double-crossing that fans would expect from the title are abundantly present, but balanced with a truly heartfelt take on loss, rebirth, and personal agency. The series is not only one of the better crime dramas in recent memory, it is one of the best examples of how to branch out decades of beloved lore.The Penguin is simply a show about people trying to thrive in a world much bigger and weirder than they can even comprehend – a subject that would be universal nonetheless, but transforms into something special with its engrossing performances.

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The Star Trek universe is in for a big change in 2025 in Star Trek: Lore War. As teased in this week’s milestone Star Trek #500, Lore, Commander Data’s twisted brother, has used the power of a Bajoran Orb to remake reality, replacing the old Star Trek universe with one more to his liking. Now that Lore has taken on the role of a god, what comes next? Star Trek fans will find out in Lore War, the culmination of two years of storytelling in IDW’s Star Trek comics line, which began with the prelude story in Star Trek #400 and has continued through Star Trek, Star Trek: Defiant, and more.

Star Trek: Lore War #1 kicks off Star Trek’s second-ever comic book crossover event (the first being IDW’s previous Day of Blood event), from Collin Kelly, Jackson Lanzing, Christopher Cantwell, and Davide Tinto. The story continues in the pages of Star Trek, Star Trek: Defiant, and more one-shot specials to come.

“This is it. The moment we’ve been building to since the Theseus left spacedock and the Defiant was stolen,” Lanzing says in a press release. “The ultimate Star Trek comics crossover event – as the heroes and villains of the galaxy must band together to defend its very existence.”

“Since the line’s inception, our grander story in both titles has dealt with Star Trek’s concept of godlike beings and the rejection of those godlike beings — order and entropy as it exists throughout the four quadrants of the galaxy,” added Cantwell. “Who pulls the strings and who dares to cut them? Lore War is quite literally the apotheosis of that shared theme, two years in the making.”

“The gods are dead, and only one mad android holds the reins of our universe. With absolute power comes absolute corruption… but does it come with absolute control?” stated Kelly. “Featuring the incredible art of Davide Tinto – a newcomer to the Trek world – we’re not settling for anything less than the most impressive and world-ending Star Trek event that comics can contain.” 

Group Editor Heather Antos adds, “It’s all been building to this moment. No, literally. From the original prelude in Star Trek #400 two years ago the road map has always led to Lore War. When Collin, Jackson, and Christopher first embarked on this mission we asked the question ‘Can a man be both man and a god?’ Well now Lore is answering.”

Star Trek: Lore War #1 releases on March 26th. Star Trek #500 is on sale now.

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With Star Trek Day 2024 just around the corner on September 8th, Paramount Home Entertainment has revealed that the fully restored  Star Trek: The Motion Picture will get a limited edition 4K Blu-ray Steelbook edition to celebrate the 45th anniversary of the film. This follows a Director’s Edition and a limited-edition Collector’s Set entitled “The Complete Adventure” that launched in 2022. 

The Star Trek: The Motion Picture 4K Blu-ray Steelbook edition will come packaged with the original theatrical cut in 4K Blu-ray, a bonus remastered Blu-ray, and exclusive booklet with behind the scenes images and info from the film. It’s available to pre-order here on Amazon now with a release date set for November 19th. Details about previously released 4K editions of the film can be found below. 

Star Trek: The Motion Picture—The Director’s Edition 4K Ultra HD – See on Amazon: The newly restored, definitive version of the first big-screen adventure is presented in 4K Ultra HD with Dolby Vision and HDR-10, as well as Dolby Atmos.  Also includes access to a Digital copy of the film and the following new and legacy bonus content:

Ultra HD Disc bonus features:

• Audio Commentary with David C. Fein, Mike Matessino, and Daren R. Dochterman—NEW!
• Audio Commentary by Robert Wise, Douglas Trumbull, John Dykstra, Jerry Goldsmith, and Stephen Collins
• Text Commentary by Michael and Denise Okuda

Blu-ray Disc bonus features:

• The Human Adventure—An all-new 8-part documentary detailing how the Director’s Edition came to life—NEW!
• Preparing the Future – How the remastering began
• A Wise Choice – The storied history of Robert Wise
• Refitting the Enterprise – How the Enterprise design shaped future federation starships
• Sounding Off – Exploring new dimensions of sound in Dolby Atmos
• V’ger – The conception and restoration of an iconic alien antagonist
• Return to Tomorrow – Reaching an already high bar with new CGI effects
• A Grand Theme – Behind the iconic, influential music score that shaped the franchise’s future
• The Grand Vision – The legacy and evolving reputation of this classic movie
• Deleted Scenes—NEW!
• Effects Tests—NEW!
• Costume Tests—NEW!
• Computer Display Graphics—NEW!
• Additional legacy bonus content

Star Trek: The Motion Picture—The Director’s Edition—The Complete Adventure 4K Ultra HD – See on Amazon: This Limited-Edition Collector’s Set includes all of the above, plus an additional 4K Ultra HD disc containing:

• The Theatrical Cut
• The first-ever widescreen presentation of the Special Longer Version of Star Trek: The Motion Picture, originally created for broadcast television in 1983 

The set is presented in deluxe packaging along with exclusive collectibles, including reproductions of original promotional material, a booklet with behind-the-scenes images, stickers, and more.

Star Trek: The Original Motion Picture Collection – See on Amazon: This comprehensive 15-disc collection includes the first six big-screen adventures featuring the original series crew in 4K Ultra HD with Dolby Vision and HDR-10. (Star Trek: The Motion Picture—The Director’s Edition also includes Dolby Atmos).  Both Star Trek V: The Final Frontier and Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country are making their 4K Ultra HD debuts.  The set also includes access to Digital copies of each of the six films, as well as hours of new and legacy bonus content.  Below is a breakdown of disc contents:

• Star Trek: The Motion Picture – The Director’s Edition – Ultra HD & Blu-ray
• Additional Blu-ray with bonus content
• Star Trek: The Motion Picture (Theatrical Cut) – Ultra HD & Blu-ray
• Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan – Ultra HD & Blu-ray
• Includes Director’s Cut
• Star Trek III: The Search for Spock – Ultra HD & Blu-ray
• Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home – Ultra HD & Blu-ray
• Star Trek V: The Final Frontier – Ultra HD & Blu-ray
• Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country – Ultra HD & Blu-ray
• Includes Director’s Cut 

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Star Trek Day is approaching, commemorating the first day that Star Trek TOS premiered on TV screens (September 8, 1966). This year, the franchise has partnered with Code.org (which teaches computing to grade-school students), DoSomething.org (promoting youth social activism), and Outright International (an LGBTIQ inclusion and global equality initiative), to launch the campaign “Take the Chair, Make an Impact.” It will be a “global campaign encouraging fans to embrace the optimistic vision of a brighter future and to give back to the inclusive community of fans that Star Trek has fostered over the years.”

The main theme of this year’s digital experience event is having fans take a seat in the captain’s chair of the U.S.S. Enterprise, and ask themselves a profound question: “What would I do if I were setting the course to the future?” All fans will be able to engage in that topic digitally, over on StarTrek.com. During September, 25% of all Star Trek product sales in the US will be donated to the three nonprofits above. 

Star Trek Day 2024 will also offer various pop-up activations that fans can experience, where they will be able to literally “Take the Chair,” snap photos, “obtain a personalize admission and receive a limited edition enamel pin.” 

• Taste of Chicago, Chicago, Ill., which will feature the U.S.S. Enterprise captain’s chair, will run Sept. 6-8 from 11am – 7pm
• ALEXA Mall, Berlin, Germany, featuring a modern architectural interpretation of the captain’s chair crafted from sustainable materials, will run on Sept. 8 from 1pm – 6pm
• Richmond Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia, featuring a modern architectural interpretation of the captain’s chair crafted from sustainable materials, will run on Sept. 8 from 11am – 7pm

Finally, Paramount is will be offering a free sampling of Star Trek content. Viewers will get select episodes of Star Trek TV series offered to them for free, as well as a handful of shorts from the Star Trek: Short Treks series. The content will be offered through the Paramount+ free content page (for US viewers), as well as partnership platforms like Amazon, Roku, and Apple, the Paramount+ YouTube page, and Pluto TV. 

Full list of Free Star Trek Day 2024 Episodes

• Star Trek: The Original Series, “The Cage”
• Star Trek: The Next Generation, “Encounter at Farpoint, Part I & II”
• Star Trek: Voyager, “Caretaker, Part I & II”
• Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, “The Emissary, Part I & II”
• Star Trek: Enterprise, “Broken Bow Part I & II”
• Star Trek: The Animated Series, “Beyond the Farthest Star”
• Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, “Strange New Worlds”
• Star Trek: Lower Decks, “Second Contact”
• Star Trek: Discovery, “The Vulcan Hello”
• Star Trek: Picard, “Remembrance”
• Star Trek: Short Treks – “The Girl Who Made the Stars,” “The Trouble with Edward,” “Ask Not,” “Runaway,” and “Ephraim and Dot”

via: StarTrek.com

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James Darren, the former teen idol who played Vic Fontaine in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine has died. He was 88 years old. The actor and musician, whose breakout role was as Moondoggie, the singing, surfing leading man in the Gidget movies, became a fairly household name when his song “Goodbye Cruel World” hit #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1961. The actor played the lounge singer across seven episodes of Deep Space Nine‘s final two seasons, and became a fan-favorite recurring character.

Born James William Ercolani on June 8, 1936, in Philadelphia, Darren would take on his stage name in 1955 when he moved to Hollywood, reportedly naming himself after the Kaiser-Darrin sports car. He signed a deal with Columbia, and played minor roles in several movies between 1956 and 1959, as well as appearing on TV’s The Donna Reed Show. It would only be a few years before he broke through in 1959’s Gidget. He would do two sequels — Gidget Goes Hawaiian and Gidget Goes to Rome — before moving on from the role.

In those early days, Darren palled around with the Rat Pack, and remained close to some of those legendary performers for years, even being named godfather to Frank Sinatra’s granddaughter.

Darren worked in feature films almost exclusively in the 1960s, but embraced TV starting in the 1970s, leading The Time Tunnel and the sci-fi pilot The Man From the 25th Century. All throughout, he continued to tour as part of his music career, making sure he kept busy year round.

In the 1970s, Darren would appear as a guest star in shows like S.W.A.T., Charlie’s Angels, The Love Boat, and Fantasy Island before taking on a series regular role on T.J. Hooker, in which he would star alongside Star Trek legend William Shatner., Besides Deep Space Nine, his ’90s acting included roles on Silk Stalkings, Diagnosis: Murder, and Melrose Place.

Even when he embraced acting, Darren would regularly incorporate song and dance into his roles, from Gidget all the way up through his lounge-singing days in space. 

After Deep Space Nine, Darren largely retired from acting, appearing only in a pair of feature films — 2001’s Random Acts and 2017’s Lucky. In 1999, he released an album of the songs he had performed on Deep Space Nine, and did only two more records during the last 20 years of his life.

According to TheWrap, Darren’s son Jim Moret has told the media that his father had a scheduled heart surgery last week, but that the procedure was considered too high risk because Darren was so weak at the time. He was sent home, but returned to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center sometime after. Darren passed away there, surrounded by family.

While his time on Deep Space Nine was short, relative to his illustrious and decades-long career, Darren had nothing but positive things to say about it in interviews.

“I loved… everybody,” he told StarTrek.com in 2021. “There wasn’t a single person who I didn’t have a good relationship with, whether it was on the set, on screen, or off. They were all incredibly considerate and kind, to say the least.”

Darren is survived by his wife, actress and former Miss Denmark Evy Norlund, and their two sons. Our condolences go out to Mr. Darren’s family, friends, collaborators and fans during this difficult time.

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Star Trek: Starfleet Academy has officially started production, as marked by new photos shared from the set of this latest Star Trek Universe TV series. The Photos show the principal cast of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy outside “The Star Trek Stage” studio where Paramount shoots its Star Trek content; the second Photo reveals the cast and crew (like Star Trek Universe head Alex Kurtzman) gathered around for what looks like a table read. 

A caption on the photos reads: “School is in session, cadets! Today marks the official start of production as the #StarTrek Stage welcomes #StarfleetAcademy.”

As you can see in the comments on the post, there is some muted hype for Starfleet Academy, right now. A lot of Star Trek fans were hoping that hype for Star Trek: Picard’s third and final season would segue into a “Star Trek: Legacy” spinoff – which was admittedly teased by the ending of the Star Trek: Picard Season 3 Finale. The son of Jean-Luc Picard and Beverly Crusher and daughters of Geordi La Forge all came together and stepped up to help their parents (and the rest of the Enterprise-D crew) defeat the Borg and save Starfleet. That epic origin story looked like it would segue into a series following the next generation after Star Trek: TNG; instead, we’re getting the successor series to Star Trek: Discovery, which took things into the 32nd Century, and a time when the Federation’s presence was greatly diminished, after the cataclysmic event known as “The Burn” caused every active warp core to denoate. The Discovery crew helped solve the mystery of The Burn, and restore the values and mission of Starfleet – leading to a new generation of cadets being recruited for the interstellar organization. 

Synopsis: “Star Trek: Starfleet Academy introduces viewers to a young group of cadets who come together to pursue a common dream of hope and optimism. Under the watchful and demanding eyes of their instructors, they discover what it takes to become Starfleet officers as they navigate blossoming friendships, explosive rivalries, first loves and a new enemy that threatens both the Academy and the Federation itself.”

The new series features Star Trek newcomers like Holly Hunter, playing a Starfleet captain serving as the current chancellor of Starfleet Academy, and Paul Giamatti as the season’s main villain. Kerrice Brooks, Bella Shepard, George Hawkins, Karim Diané, and Zoë Steiner star as Starfleet Academy students, while Gina Yashere (Bob Hearts Abishola) will have a recurring role as an academy instructor. 

There will also be a number of legacy characters from previous Star Trek projects returning for Starfleet Academy – including actors Tig Notaro (Jett Reno), Oded Fehr (Fleet Admiral Charles Vance), and Mary Wiseman (Sylvia Tilly) of Star Trek: Discovery and Robert Picardo (The Doctor/Lewis Zimmerman) of Star Trek: Voyager and Star Trek: Prodigy

Alex Kurtzman and Noga Landau are the showrunners of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, as well as serving as executive producers. Other executive producers working on the series include Gaia Violo, Aaron Baiers, Olatunde Osunsanmi, Jenny Lumet, Rod Roddenberry, Trevor Roth, Frank Siracusa, and John Weber. Violo wrote Star Trek: Starfleet Academy‘s premiere episode.

Star Trek: Starfleet Acadeemy does not yet have a premiere date. It will stream on Paramount+.

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At one point, it was widely reported Quentin Tarantino was going to helm a film in the Star Trek franchise, surprising longtime fans of the auteur. After all, the director has long said he’s going to retire from filmmaking once he makes 10 movies, a sum he’ll reach with the release of his next picture. Because of that, Tarantino says, his Star Trek movie is never going to happen.

“It’s never going to happen. There’s been so much misinformation about what it was going to be—nothing but misinformation. I live in a special zone and part of my zone is because I’m not on Instagram and Facebook, I’m not creating this constant dialogue with the world with what’s going on with my life,” Tarantino explained on the latest episode of Bill Maher’s podcast. “Consequently, if you’re Joe Schlomoka and you’re some transient reporter of some kind, if you hear Quentin is going to make a Star Trek movie or a make a movie called The Movie Critic, or any f–king thing, it’s a little bit like that guy who wrote the Howard Hughes biography that ended up being a hoax. The thing is, they can say anything. My point being though, they write it in a show biz magazine and then that gets picked up in 140 pieces because I’m not shutting that down because I’m not connected.”

Interestingly enough, screenwriter Mark L. Smith has said he penned a script based on a story idea by Tarantino, suggesting he was, at least at one point, attached to a Star Trek project.

“Quentin and I went back and forth; he was gonna do some stuff on it, and then he started worrying about the number, his kind of unofficial number of films,” Smith told Collider last year. “I remember we were talking, and he goes, ‘If I can just wrap my head around the idea that Star Trek could be my last movie, the last thing I ever do. Is this how I want to end it?’ And I think that was the bump he could never get across, so the script is still sitting there on his desk.”

Smith continued, “I know he said a lot of nice things about it. I would love for it to happen. It’s just one of those things that I can’t ever see happening. But it would be the greatest ‘Star Trek’ film, not for my writing, but just for what Tarantino was gonna do with it. It was just a balls-out kind of thing.”

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The cast of Star Trek: Lower Decks are giving their take on what their favorite moments and cameos are before the series wraps up. The Paramount+ original animated series is a spinoff of the popular Star Trek franchise and focuses on the crew of the lesser known Cerritos in the 24th century. After four seasons on the streaming service, Star Trek: Lower Decks is ending its run with Season 5, though there is some time before fans have to say their goodbyes. The show’s cast and showrunner recently shared the episodes they’re looking forward to the most, and looked back at which episodes were their favorites.

ComicBook spoke to Star Trek: Lower Decks‘ creator/showrunner Mike McMahan and actors Jerry O’Connell, Tawny Newsome, and Noël Wells at San Diego Comic-Con, where we asked them to look back at the animated comedy and share the things that they will remember. When asked what episode they’re looking forward to the audience seeing, Jerry O’Connell replied, “Probably the finale. I found it to be very emotional.” When asked what his character Jack Ransom is doing, he teased, “You’ll have to see,” with Newsome and McMahan also chiming in with positive Jack Ransom feedback.

“I really love the Jennifer episode… I love the stuff [D’Vana] Tendi gets to do this season,” Newsome said. “It really warms my heart the way this show… this 22-minute nonsense show… is the one that has advanced Orion canon so much. As a rabid fan, no other show has given as much to the Orion culture, so it’s wild that we’ve expanded that.”

Wells added, “I think the premiere sets up the season so well. From there, it’s really going to take off.”

Star Trek: Lower Decks showrunner teases final season cameos

Showrunner Mike McMahan revealed that the final season of Star Trek: Lower Decks will include some special cameos that even he wasn’t sure they’d be able to pull off.

“There’s also some classic legacy cameos this season that are pretty bonkers,” he said. “They’re sort of sprinkled throughout, but since we had a head’s up that this would be our last, we started going to the wish list and everyone wanted to be on. It was pretty wild. I was sure we weren’t going to get everyone, but you’ll see some familiar faces this season.”

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The opening of Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood is right around the corner, but this won’t be the only nighttime event fans can look forward to on the horizon, as the park has announced today that it will be kicking off Universal Fan Fest Nights in spring 2025, allowing guests to celebrate their favorite Universal properties in all-new ways. The limited-time, after-hours experience will allow fans to immerse themselves in the worlds of Star Trek, Back to the Future, and Dungeons & Dragons, all of which will match the impressive production quality of what Universal unveils every year at Halloween Horror Nights. You can head to the Universal Fan Fest Nights official website to sign up to be able to purchase tickets.

“For decades, Universal Studios Hollywood has been a leader in creating and executing innovative special events that are consistent with our brand,” Scott Strobl, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Universal Studios Hollywood, shared in a statement. “From our esteemed Halloween Horror Nights event to this all-new Universal Fan Fest Nights experience, we are thrilled about how this breakthrough program will continue to elevate the guest experience in an all-new way.”

The brands being showcased are described as follows:

• Star Trek: This experience is inspired by the Star Trek universe, one of television’s most enduring franchises, which is known for its groundbreaking storytelling that addresses social, political, and cultural issues as well as entertaining millions of fans. Star Trek’s optimistic view of the future and reflection on what it means to be human has inspired generations of dreamers and doers.
• Back to the Future: This exciting experience is inspired by the blockbuster 1985 Back to the Future movie. The groundbreaking adventure sparked one of the most successful trilogies in film history, won an Academy award, and launched a franchise that would go on to generate almost $1 billion globally.
• Dungeons & Dragons: 2024 has been a banner year for Dungeons & Dragons(D&D). On the heels of the acclaimed film, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, and the smash hit video game Baldur’s Gate 3, D&D is celebrating 50 years of the WORLD’S GREATEST ROLEPLAYING GAME. More than 64 million D&D fans love rolling dice, slaying monsters, and envisioning themselves as the amazing heroes they all are inside.
  

Per press release, “In spring 2025, Universal Studios Hollywood will introduce guests to Universal Fan Fest Nights, an all-new interactive and immersive separately ticketed event that brings the most compelling worlds of Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Gaming, and Anime to life from the creators of its highly acclaimed Halloween Horror Nights event.”

“Featuring a slate of all-new, thrilling, and unique fan-favorite experiences, the inaugural Universal Fan Fest Nights 2025 at Universal Studios Hollywood will debut these exciting properties with more to be announced soon. 

“Universal Fan Fest Nights will be a limited-time, after-hours experience, exclusive to Universal Studios Hollywood that will showcase a dynamic line-up of captivating, immersive in-world experiences along with engaging celebratory activations throughout the theme park, from live entertainment to cosplay, inviting guests to embrace their favorite characters and share their enthusiasm with like-minded fans.

“Additionally, fans can look forward to an enticing menu of themed foods and new merchandise, including collectibles, apparel, drinkware, accessories, and more, to show off their fandom during Universal Fan Fest Nights and beyond.”

You can head to the Universal Fan Fest Nights official website to sign up to be able to purchase tickets.

Will you be checking out the event? Contact Patrick Cavanaugh directly on Twitter or on Instagram to talk all things Star Wars and horror!       

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In the landscape of science fiction television, no shows have had an impact quite like Doctor Who and Star Trek. The two franchises have joined forces in the realm of comic books, even crossing over together in their respective mobile games early next month. Still, fans have advocated for some sort of live-action crossover between the two — and apparently, it isn’t completely out of the cards. During their joint panel at San Diego Comic-Con 2024, Doctor Who showrunner Russell T. Davies and Star Trek executive producer Alex Kurtzman revealed what might be standing in the way of a proper crossover episode.

“We would love to bring you a crossover episode and the way we can make that happen is the fans,” Davies explained. “The fans continue to make crossover art, and stories and continue to ask and push to bring these two universes together. Because we must get together. It must happen.”

“We share values,” Kurtzman added. “We share perspectives of the world. We want to tell stories that are illuminating about the human race. Each iteration of The Doctor and each iteration of Trek has endeavoured to do that for every generation that it serves. It’s that beautiful connection.”

When Will Doctor Who Return With New Episodes?

Season 2 (under the Disney+ branding) of Doctor Who has already wrapped production, although an exact release date has yet to be set. Both Gatwa and Gibson are confirmed to return for Season 2, as well as Varada Sethu as a mysterious second companion.

“It feels so much fun now,” Gatwa previously said of acclimating to the role. “I’ve relaxed and [the Doctor] seems to have sunk down a little bit deeper, from my chest into my gut.”

The first season of Doctor Who is available to stream exclusively on Disney+. If you haven’t signed up for Disney+ yet, you can try it out here.

Note: If you purchase one of the awesome, independently chosen products featured here, we may earn a small commission from the retailer. Thank you for your support.

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Star Trek: Lower Decks is heading into its fifth and final season in October, but the misadventures of the U.S.S. Cerritos crew will continue in comic book form. During last week’s San Diego Comic-Con, IDW Publishing announced it will launch an ongoing Star Trek: Lower Decks comic book series from multiple Eisner Award-winning writer Ryan North. The news comes as IDW Publishing freshly renews its claim to the Star Trek comics license. The Star Trek: Lower Decks ongoing series will launch in November, following the release of the Star Trek: Lower Decks – Warp Your Own Way interactive graphic novel (also written by North) in October.

“Lower Decks is my favorite Star Trek, and I have seen every single Star Trek there is to see, except for one episode I will never reveal,” North said in a press release. “This raises the obvious question: will something in this comic contradict something that I missed in that one episode I never saw? Thankfully the answer is no, because the entire Lower Decks team – both at IDW and Paramount – has been so amazing – supportive, clever, brilliant. We’re making a big funny heartfelt book with huge sci-fi ideas, important character developments, tons of that Trek flavor, and a bunch of jokes, too. If you love Lower Decks you’ll love this comic!”

Star Trek: Lower Decks Returns as a Comic

Star Trek: Lower Decks will have episodic storytelling and each story will come from a different artist. Derek Charm will draw the debut issue, reuniting the team behind the Eisner-nominated .

“I get to team up with some of my favorite artists for this book, starting with Derek Charm, who we last teamed up with on the Eisner-winning Unbeatable Squirrel Girl and on the Eisner-nominated Shaxs’ Best Day. He is: the best.”

IDW Group Editor Heather Antos adds, “Just when you thought we couldn’t go lower… we’re BACK with the first ever ONGOING Lower Decks series. Just like the fans out there, we too want more Lower Decks and this time we’re giving it to you tenfold!”

Antos continues, “Ryan North is showing us just how deep of a Trek nerd he is with these stories, and paired with the comedic geniuses of Derek Charm, Jack Lawrence and more on art duties for a rotating cast of ‘episodic’ issues, this series is a mission so fun that even the Lower Deckers themselves won’t want to miss it!”

Star Trek: Lower Decks #1 goes on sale on November 13th. Star Trek: Lower Decks – Warp Your Own Way goes on sale on October 22nd. Star Trek: Lower Decks Season 5 debuts October 24th on Paramount+.

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Star Trek will embark on new adventures with IDW Publishing. During last week’s San Diego Comic-Con, IDW Publishing announced that it had extended its partnership with Paramount Global to continue publishing Star Trek comic books. IDW Publishing has been publishing Star Trek comics since 2007 and will celebrate 500 Star Trek issues across various ongoing and limited series with the appropriately titled Star Trek #500 in September. Over 17 years, IDW Publishing has published comics based on Star Trek: The Original Series, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Voyager, Star Trek: Discovery, Star Trek: Picard, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Star Trek: Lower Decks, and the rebooted Star Trek film series (stories featuring the cast of Star Trek: Enterprise have appeared in anthology issues, making Star Trek: Prodigy the only Star Trek series that IDW hasn’t featured in its comics).

“Star Trek is not just an iconic franchise, but a universe that celebrates diversity and creativity,” Davidi Jonas, CEO of IDW Media Holdings, said in a press release. “The Star Trek community is one that we’re proud to serve and be part of. The team at Paramount share our love of storytelling, universe expansion, and delighting fans. We are humbled and excited to renew our commitment, and plan on years of going boldly forward with our partners and fans.”

IDW Publishing Will Continue to Publish Star Trek Comics

IDW Publisher Mark Doyle added, “I have always loved Star Trek for its positive vision of the future. It’s been such a joy to watch and support the editorial and creative teams as they tell bold new stories in this universe that have really resonated with audiences old and new. From Eisner nominations to glowing fan praise, the Star Trek community has really embraced the stories we’re telling and I cannot wait for them to see where we go next!”

According to IDW, Star Trek #500 is a “massive milestone issue” that will include a prelude to the next major crossover event to the refreshed line of interconnected Star Trek comics the publisher launched in 2022, which has gone on to win the Star Trek franchise its first Eisner Awards attention (Star Trek #400 preceded that launch and had a similar story setting up Star Trek’s first comic book crossover event, ). Star Trek #500 also includes a short story co-written by Patton Oswalt and more.

IDW Publishing will release the interactive graphic novel Star Trek: Lower Decks – Warp Your Own Way in October. The Star Trek and Star Trek: Defiant ongoing series will continue for the foreseeable future, with the spinoff miniseries having recently concluded.

Star Trek #500 goes on sale September 4th. Star Trek: Lower Decks – Warp Your Own Way hits stores on October 22nd.

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Star Trek is getting its first live-action comedy series, which is in development over at Paramount+. The series was a surprise reveal during San Diego Comic-Con 2024’s Star Trek Universe panel in Hall H. During the Star Trek: Lower Decks portion of the panel, series star Tawny Newsome and panel moderator Justin Simien (Dear White People) broke off to announce that they are the creative team behind this new Star Trek comedy series: 

A post from the official Star Trek Twitter account revealed the first details of this new Star Trek live-action comedy: 

A new @StarTrek series is in development from co-creators Justin Simien and @TrondyNewman! In this live action comedy, Federation Outsiders serving a gleaming resort planet find out their day-to-day exploits are being broadcast to the entire quadrant.

There is one important takeaway from that synopsis: this Star Trek live-action comedy is in no way stepping on the toes of The Orville. Seth MacFarlane’s Star Trek parody series earned a dedicated fandom during its run (2017-2022) and is going to be the biggest thing some people point to as the reason for NOT needing this new show.

However, both Star Trek diehards and casual fans alike were critical of Lower Decks when it was first announced – but as series star Jerry O’Connell pointed out that initial “frosty” reception melted into a burning fandom after fans got to engage with the show. Star Trek Universe head Alex Kurtzman has already sung big praises about Newsome’s work writing this new series, and the premise does sound like an intriguing “Star Trek Truman Show” idea that could work just like Lower Decks – i.e., pulling from Star Trek canon while also commenting on it from a humorous-but-loving satirical point of view. 

What is Star Trek: Lower Decks Season 5 about?

According to Paramount+’s official synopsis: 

In season five of Star Trek: Lower Decks, the crew of the U.S.S. Cerritos is tasked with closing ‘space potholes’ – subspace rifts which are causing chaos in the Alpha Quadrant. Pothole duty would be easy for Jr. Officers Mariner, Boimler, Tendi and Rutherford…if they didn’t also have to deal with an Orion war, furious Klingons, diplomatic catastrophes, murder mysteries and scariest of all: their own career aspirations. This upcoming season on Paramount+ is a celebration of this underdog crew who are dangerously close to being promoted out of the lower decks and into strange new Starfleet roles.

Star Trek: Lower Decks follows the support crew serving on one of Starfleet’s least important ships, the U.S.S. Cerritos. The Star Trek: Lower Decks voice cast includes Tawny Newsome, Jack Quaid, Noël Wells, and Eugene Cordero as the junior officers and Dawnn Lewis, Jerry O’Connell, Fred Tatasciore, and Gillian Vigman as the Cerritos bridge crew.

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The ComicBook Nation crew gives a spoiler-free review of Deadpool & Wolverine, and then dips into all of the breaking news from San Diego Comic-Con so far! We also review Kite Man: Hell Yeah! And then talk Transformers, Joker 2, Absolute Power, and comics, along with a preview of this year’s Gen Con!

PLUS: Two Bonus Episodes – one LIVE from Comic-Con! ComicBook Nation host Kofi Outlaw teams with Phase Zero hosts Brandon Davis and Jenna Anderson, and ComicBook.com’s Chris Killian to break down the biggest reveals, wild happenings, and crazy behind-the-scenes stories from Thursday and Friday at San Diego Comic-Con! 

A second BONUS episode reunites ComicBook Nation hosts Kofi Outlaw, Janell Wheeler and Matt Aguilar summon their energy reserves to recap SDCC after the convention is done. Tune in for it all! 

Deadpool & Wolverine Review 

Phase Zero host Jenna Anderson said this in her 4.5. out of 5-star Deadpool & Wolverine Review: 

Amid the never-ending conversation around superhero fatigue, too many spoilers, and not enough effective storytelling, it feels rare to be truly surprised by a new superhero adaptation. Deadpool & Wolverine is such a pleasant surprise – both in its jaw-dropping elements and in the sentimental reason for those elements even existing – that it almost feels like a miracle. The movie’s handful of flaws are outweighed by its pure blockbuster storytelling and the gleeful rapport of its two protagonists. Through its no-holds-barred execution and the wildly entertaining performances of its ensemble cast, Deadpool & Wolverine serves as the most unlikely reminder of why we care about superhero movies in the first place.

Comic-Con Recap

ComicBook Nation is here to wrap up all the biggest news from Friday at San Diego Comic-Con! The Boys season 5 news and a Soldier Boy spin off! A new Lord of the Rings Rings of Power Season 2 Trailer! Huge anime updates for One Piece and much, much more!

 ComicBook Nation is bringing you ALL the big news, huge reveals, and major returns cough* Robert Downey Jr * cough from San Diego Comic-Con 2024!

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The post Deadpool & Wolverine Discussion, Comic-Con Recap (ComicBook Nation) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

East Side Games Group has announced a massive collaboration coming to two mobile games soon during San Diego Comic-Con, an event that will feature the crossover between two beloved science fiction universes – Star Trek and Doctor Who – sending the two universes on collision course with one another in a new story specifically crafted for Intergalactic Friendship Day. The limited time event will be available August 1st in the Star Trek: Lower Decks Mobile and Doctor Who: Lost in Time mobile games, with each game offering a look at the same story from a different perspective. 

“We are beyond excited to bring together these iconic franchises for a crossover event that fans have only dreamed about,” said Kevin Jorge, Head of Games at BBC. “This collaboration offers a unique opportunity to explore a brand-new storyline where The Doctor and Star Trek characters can work together!”

Per the press release to coincide with the Comic-Con announcement, in the event “The player will experience the story of a mysterious space-time ripple that throws the Doctor onboard Star Trek: Lower Deck‘s U.S.S. Cerritos, while Lieutenant Brad Boimler and Ensign Beckett Mariner find themselves thrust into the enigmatic Doctor Who universe. With the ripple disrupting the very fabric of reality, the Doctor must join forces with the resourceful crew of the Cerritos, while Boimler and Mariner team up with the legendary River Song. Together, they race against time to repair the ripple and set things right.”

Doctor Who and Star Trek have referenced one another throughout the years, with Star Trek: Enterprise even making a reference to a time ship that’s “bigger on the inside” in Season 2, and have also seen crossover stories released in multiple comic issues published by IDW Publishing – one of which, “Assimilation²,” ran eight issues and featured the Eleventh Doctor as portrayed by Matt Smith in the television series teaming up with Captain Jean-Luc Picard to fight the Cybermen and the Borg. 

“It’s been thrilling to bring together an iconic sci-fi franchise like Star Trek with another timeless franchise like Doctor Who in an unprecedented mobile game event,” said Doug Rosen, SVP, Games and Emerging Media at Paramount. “We can’t wait for fans of both of these series to experience the magic that happens when these two worlds collide.”

Both mobile games that will feature the sci-fi crossover event of the summer are available to download now, with the new content coming next week. 

The post SDCC 2024: Doctor Who and Star Trek to Crossover in Mobile Games for Intergalactic Friendship Day appeared first on ComicBook.com.

During the Star Trek universe panel on Saturday at San Diego Comic-Con 2024, Paramount+ released the first trailer for Star Trek: Section 31, the upcoming straight-to-streaming movie starring Academy Award winner Michelle Yeoh. Some of Yeoh’s co-stars — Omari Hardwick, Sam Richardson and Kacey Rohl – attended the panel with executive producer Alex Kurtzman and director Olatunde Osunsanmi. Yeoh “interrupted” the panel to introduce the trailer for the movie, which offer the first look at young Philippa Georgiou, played by Miku Martineau (Kate). Star Trek: Section 31 is set to premiere in early 2025, with Yeoh reprising hre role as Emperor Philippa Georgiou from Star Trek: Discovery, the former emperor of the Terran Empire in the Mirror Universe who has since come to the Prime Timeline and joined Section 31, a secret division within Starfleet tasked with protecting the United Federation of Planets.

Star Trek: Section 31 sees Georgiou on mission while also reckoning with the sins of her past. You can watch the trailer below.

Star Trek: Section 31 Movie Cast

In addition to Yeoh, Star Trek: Section 31 stars Omari Hardwick (Power), Kacey Rohl (Hannibal), Emmy winner Sam Richardson (Ted Lasso), Sven Ruygrok (One Piece), Robert Kazinsky (Pacific Rim), Humberly Gonzalez (Ginny & Georgia), and James Hiroyuki Liao (Barry). Miku Martineau (Kate) is the latest addition to the cast, playing young Philippa Georgoiu.

Olatunde Osunsanmi directed Star Trek: Section 31 from a screenplay by Craig Sweeny. Alex Kurtzman, Sweeny, Aaron Baiers, Osunsanmi, Frank Siracusa, John Weber, Rod Roddenberry, Trevor Roth, and Yeoh are executive producers. CBS Studios, in association with Secret Hideout and Roddenberry Entertainment, is producing.

Star Trek: Section 31 will stream exclusively on Paramount+ in the U.S. and in all international markets where the service is available. Paramount Global Content Distribution will distribute the movie.

Star Trek: Section 31 is Paramount+’s first original Star Trek movie. It wrapped filming earlier this year. Star Trek: Discovery debuted its fifth and final season earlier this year. Star Trek: Lower Decks debuts its final season in October. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 3 is debuts in 2025 and the show is already renewed for  with Season 4 on the horizon. Star Trek: Starfleet Academy. 

Star Trek: Section 31 debuts on Paramount+ in early 2025. Yeoh’s first appearances as Georgiou in Star Trek: Discovery Seasons 1-3 are streaming now on Paramount+.

The post Star Trek: Section 31 Movie Trailer Released appeared first on ComicBook.com.

During the Star Trek universe panel on Saturday at San Diego Comic-Con, Paramount+ revealed that legacy Star Trek actors Tig Notaro, Oded Fehr, and Mary Wiseman of Star Trek: Discovery and Robert Picardo of Star Trek: Voyager and Star Trek: Prodigy have joined the cast of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy. The Star Trek alumni will have various roles and guest appearances in the upcoming series, which begins production in August. Star Trek: Starfleet Academy co-showrunners Alex Kurtzman and Noga Landau announced the casting a the Star Trek panel. They also revealed a casting reaction video (seen below) featuring the previously announced actors playing Starfleet Academy cadets on the show: Kerrice Brooks, Bella Shepard, George Hawkins, Karim Diané, and Zoë Steiner.

Notaro and Picardo will be Star Trek: Starfleet Academy series regulars as they reprise their roles as Jett Reno and The Doctor. Fehr and Wiseman will be guest stars reprising their roles as Admiral Vance and Sylvia Tilly. Additional previously announced cast include Holly Hunter and recurring guest stars Gina Yashere and Paul Giamatti.

What is Star Trek: Starfleet Academy about?

According to the official synopsis, “Star Trek: Starfleet Academy will follow the adventures of a new class of Starfleet cadets as they come of age in one of the most legendary places in the galaxy. The series will introduce viewers to this young group of cadets as they come together to pursue a common dream of hope and optimism. Under the watchful and demanding eyes of their instructors, they will discover what it takes to become Starfleet officers as they navigate blossoming friendships, explosive rivalries, first loves and a new enemy that threatens both the Academy and the Federation itself.”

Alex Kurtzman and Noga Landau are co-showrunners and executive produce the series alongside executive producers Gaia Violo, Aaron Baiers, Olatunde Osunsanmi, Jenny Lumet, Rod Roddenberry, Trevor Roth, Frank Siracusa, and John Weber. Violo wrote Star Trek Starfleet Academy’s premiere episode. CBS Studios, in association with Secret Hideout and Roddenberry Entertainment, produces Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, Paramount Global Content Distribution distributes.

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is the newest project to join Paramount+’s Star Trek offerings. Star Trek: Discovery debuted its fifth and final season earlier this year. Star Trek: Lower Decks debuts its final season in October. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 3 is debuts in 2025 and the show is already renewed for  with Season 4 on the horizon. Star Trek: Section 31 starring Michelle Yeoh, Paramount+’s first original Star Trek movie, wrapped filming earlier this year.

Star Trek: Starfleet Acadeemy does not yet have a premiere date. It is set during the same era s Star Trek: Discovery, which is streaming now on Paramount+.

The post Star Trek: Starfleet Academy Brings Back Voyager’s Robert Picardo and More Legacy Cast appeared first on ComicBook.com.

During the Star Trek universe panel in Hall H at San Diego Comic-Con 2024, Paramount+ revealed the first teaser trailer for Star Trek: Lower Decks Season 5, the final season of Star Trek’s animated comedy series. Star Trek: Lower Decks cast members Tawny Newsome, Jack Quaid, Noël Wells, and Jerry O’Connell were at the event, along with Star Trek: Lower Decks executive producers Alex Kurtzman and Mike McMahan, to introduce the trailer. The panel also revealed that Star Trek: Lower Decks Season 5 will premiere on Paramount+ on Thursday, October 24 in the U.S. and internationally, debuting the first two episodes on the same day. After the premiere, new episodes the 10-episode-long Star Trek: Lower Decks Season 5 will debut weekly on Thursdays on Paramount+, setting the Star Trek: Lower Deck series finale to premiere on Thursday, December 19.

Star Trek: Lower Decks Season 4 ended with Tendi leaving the Cerritos. Watch the Star Trek: Lower Decks Season 5 trailer below to see what’s next for the Cerritos crew:

What is Star Trek: Lower Decks Season 5 about?

According to Paramount+’s official synopsis, “In season five of Star Trek: Lower Decks, the crew of the U.S.S. Cerritos is tasked with closing ‘space potholes’ – subspace rifts which are causing chaos in the Alpha Quadrant. Pothole duty would be easy for Jr. Officers Mariner, Boimler, Tendi and Rutherford…if they didn’t also have to deal with an Orion war, furious Klingons, diplomatic catastrophes, murder mysteries and scariest of all: their own career aspirations. This upcoming season on Paramount+ is a celebration of this underdog crew who are dangerously close to being promoted out of the lower decks and into strange new Starfleet roles.”

Star Trek: Lower Decks follows the support crew serving on one of Starfleet’s least important ships, the U.S.S. Cerritos. The Star Trek: Lower Decks voice cast includes Tawny Newsome, Jack Quaid, Noël Wells, and Eugene Cordero as the junior officers and Dawnn Lewis, Jerry O’Connell, Fred Tatasciore, and Gillian Vigman as the Cerritos bridge crew.

CBS’ Eye Animation Productions, Secret Hideout, and Roddenberry Entertainment produce Star Trek: Lower Decks. The show’s executive producers include Alex Kurtzman, Mike McMahan, Aaron Baiers, Rod Roddenberry, and Trevor Roth. Titmouse is the animation studio behind the series.

Star Trek: Lower Decks streams exclusively on Paramount+ in the U.S. and Latin America. Star Trek: Lower Decks Season 5 premieres on Paramount+ on Thursday, October 24th, with the debut of the final season’s first two episodes.

The post Star Trek: Lower Decks Season 5 Trailer, Release Date Revealed appeared first on ComicBook.com.

During the Star Trek universe panel in Hall H at San Diego Comic-Con 2024, Paramount+ revealed the first clip from Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds cast members Rebecca Romijn and Ethan Peck, and executive producers Alex Kurtzman, Akiva Goldsman, and Henry Alonso Myers were on hand to introduce the clip, which sees four members of the Enterprise crew altering their biology to become Vulcan. Thanks to the transformative concoction fully altering their human DNA, those crew members are now, even more, Vulcan than Spock, whose mother is human, a fact that they do not let Spock forget. You can watch the clip below.

The panel also revealed that Star Trek: Strange New Worlds has cast Cillian O’Sullivan (In From the Cold) in the recurring guest star role of Dr. Roger Korby. Korby is a character first introduced in the Star Trek: The Original Series episode “What Are Little Girls Made Of?” played by Michael Strong. Korby is the brilliant scientist whose fellowship accepted Nurse Chapel (Jess Bush) in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 2. By the time of The Original Series, Korby and Chapel had been engaged for a time before calling it off, suggesting the potential for a love triangle between them and Spock in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 3.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds returns in 2025

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds brings viewers aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise in the years that Captain Christopher Pike captained the storied starship. The series follows Captain Pike, Science Officer Spock, Number One, and the rest of the U.S.S. Enterprise crew in the years before Captain Kirk boarded the starship, as they explore new worlds around the galaxy.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds stars Anson Mount, Rebecca Romijn, Ethan Peck, Jess Bush, Christina Chong, Celia Rose Gooding, Melissa Navia, Babs Olusanmokun, and Martin Quinn, with special guest stars Paul Wesley and Carol Kane. CBS Studios, Secret Hideout, and Roddenberry Entertainment produce Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. Alex Kurtzman, Akiva Goldsman, Jenny Lumet, Henry Alonso Myers, Aaron Baiers, Dana Horgan, Davy Perez, Frank Siracusa, John Weber, Rod Roddenberry, and Trevor Roth are executive producers.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds streams exclusively on Paramount+ in the U.S., the U.K., Latin America, Australia, South Korea, Italy, France, Germany, Switzerland and Austria. It streams on SkyShowtime in the Nordics, the Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, and Central and Eastern Europe.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds debuts in 2025. Paramount+ already renewed .

The post Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 3 Sneak Peek Reveals Vulcanized Enterprise Crew appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Star Trek came to San Diego Comic-Con ready to let fans know where the franchise is boldly going next! It’s a pivotal time in the franchise, as some familiar series (Star Trek: Discovery, Picard) have ended, while others are just hitting their best strides (Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Lower Decks). Of course fans were eager to hear more about some of the exciting new things that are on the way, including the new Star Trek: Starfleet Academy series, and the highly-anticipated Section 31 movie that’s coming to Paramount+ streaming! 

Star Trek Universe SDCC 2024 Panel Recap (LIVE) 

Hosting the panel was Justin Simien. He teased the panel covering shows like Strange New Worlds, Lower Decks, and Section 31. Strange New Worlds stars Rebecca Romijn and Ethan Peck along with Star Trek Universe producers  Akiva Goldsman Henry Alonso Myers and Alex Kurtzman took the stage Kurtzman thanked fans for their continued support, promising some fun updates from the upcoming slate.

Goldsman apologized for Strange New Worlds star Anson Mount being absent due to personal reasons, but he sent his love to fans. Speaking of love, Goldsman teased Star Trek’s “Love Stories in Space,” and teased a romantic triangle with the arrival of Dr. Korby. Romijn teased seeing a softer side of her character Una/Number One in the upcoming season. She can’t quickly choose an emoji that can express it…Kurtzman addressed the fact that Strange New Worlds is already getting Seasons 3 and 4, saying the “secret sauce” is mixing old school r and new in the best way.

A clip shows the crew getting shots from Nurse Chapel, after a few seconds they all seem to lose control of their physical and emotional control. Carol Keene’s character feels nothing – as the rest of the crew is turned into Vulcans. Keene speculates that her race may have kept her from transforming and kept her from enjoying LSD for years. Spock is a bit perturbed to see his crewmates acting and feeling like Vulcans, but they get an epic slow-motion walk down the halls of the ship in Vulcan warrior garb. Pike beams them down, calling it four and a half Vulcans to beam down – Spock takes that personally Scotty loves the new look.The team returns and are unbothered by the challenge the faced; Spock is not so happy with suddenly being the least Vulcan guy in the room. A twist is thrown in when the serum to make them Vulcan doesn’t wear off – and Spock is suddenly facing his worst nightmare.

Peck talks about filming the episode and the experience of seeing his co-stars play as Vulcans. He loved seeing them do the Vulcan eye mannerisms and of course the ears. Rebecca teases the joy of getting back into the captain’s chair in Season 3. Goldsman teases the variety of storytelling they’re borrowing from for Season 3 – including a Hollywood Murder mystery. He says that their ability to reframe and redefine genre is key to the series. A Q&A has one fan request to see a plush toy he has in Lower Decks -but we’re still just talking SNW. A second question was about how Star Trek can teach conflict resolution in a divided world – and Kurtzman says we can’t define ourselves by not being the opposition, there needs to be more unity. A third fan thanks Star Trek’s modern makers for taking up the torch, and helping fans like himself get through hurdles like coming out to his family.

The question is what about Star Trek makes the creators watch over and over? Goldsman takes the answer as just watching the elements of Star Trek that pull us out of binary thinking. Myers wants to bring DS9’s Odo back, Romjin wants Jack Ransom to come back.

Myers answered a fan question about the musical episode and how the singing reinforced so much emotion and story. Goldsman teases the musical episode becoming an actual stage production. Peck and Rojmin are SHOCKED. Shocked.

Twney Newsome Jack Quadi Noel Wells Jerry O Connell Mike Mcmahan and Alex Kurtzman came out for the Star Trek Lower Decks panel. Simien ask Newsome to spoil the new season – which Quaid pretends to endorse. Newsome jokes the new season is in her top 5 of Lower Decks; McMahon says he calls every season the best one – but this one is the BEST ONE. Boos from the crowd over the mention that Lower Decks is the final one on Paramount+ leads to BIGGER BOOS. McMahon says because they knew it was ending, they really could make it a celebration of all things Star Trek. 

Newsome teases how Mariner has grown a bit, and is now going to be giving people sh*t from a mature leadership angle. McMahon tees up a new teaser trailer. Voiceover teams how the last five years have shown the epic journey of Star Trek greats, while a sizzle reel of footage from Lower Decks plays. The narrator keeps extolling their greatness, and the one last adventure coming – then the video freezes, as the Lower Decks again wonder if the narrator is even talking about them. He is. Quaid confirms they are important. Sizzle reels of actual scenes tease an alternate universe Captain Becky appearing, and a lot of other shenanigans – like a “Klingon as hell” episode with Brad and Mariner having to enter some crazy Klingon ritual. 

Quaid talks about how Brad has changed after getting into the captain’s chair – and how he meets a new alt-dimension role model who he starts to shadow, leading to real hijinks. Newsome messes with Quaid, trying to get out of him if its icons like Kirk or Khan. Quaid won’t crack.

O’Connell almost lets a spoiler fly b/c he mistakenly thought it was in the footage. He won’t share because he wants Season 6. He teases Emotional growth and not just peck growth this season, saying he was getting teary-eyed making this Final Season. O’Connell remembers 5 years back announcing the series at SDCC and fans being… “Frosty” on the idea at first. Now he thanks them for coming around so far with their love and celebration for the series. Quaid adds an anecdote about the moment he went to a convention and saw the crowd cheering “Lower Decks!” Before the fans. O’Connell jokes he wears his uniform at home to let his wife (Romijn) know she’s not the only Number One.

Kurtzman calls Lower Decks‘ secret sauce the love of Star Trek being the core of the comedy – not making fun of the series. McMahan teases something really special coming for fans, born out of the realization that it’s the last run. He teases Star Trek icons making guest appearances, and a big event fans will love to see air. 

A fan question says Lower Decks grew into his fav Star Trek show. He asks if there could be another chance after Lower Decks for its characters to “collab” on another show. O’Connell says he wants an ep where he meets the hottest Number One in Starfleet. Noel wants to be painted green for the crossover ep.

Another fan gets the crowd chanting “Lower Decks!” One last time – O’Connell steps in saying it’s weird for him since he spends time on the bridge. The crowd won’t chant bridge. A fan dressed as Brad asks which character inspires the cast. Quaid is touched – until Newsome mocks him. Newsome likes Ben Sisko; Wells reps the Lower Decks roster; O’Connell loved Jon Frakes b/c his character is “California Ryker”. McMahan also says Frakes, b/c Frakes kept leaning on him to be in Season 1. Quaid also goes with Frakes, sharing how his The Boys co-star Karl Urban introduced them at a convention, which ended in “Convention Steaks with Frakes.” McMahan goes back and throws in George Takei, out of deep guilt for not doing so originally.

McMahan and Kurtzman tell fans if they want to save the show, watch the final season a million times. Kurtzman praises the fan petitions, telling them to do for Lower Decks what they did for Prodigy.

Newsome is asked about being the most badass character in Star Trek – she loves the love, but also says that as an older black female actress the true joy is getting to be a character who is a mess, and not the sassy superwoman she gets type cast as. O’Connell shares his friendship with Wi Weaton and how Star Trek made that happen. He thanks fans for accepting him into the franchise.

An older fan asks the franchise not to make her wait decades for another set of strong female characters like Burnham and Mariner. A younger fan says he doesn’t really mess with Star Trek, but wants some good concept pitches for films or series. Newsome says she wants to go to a Marvel panel and ask the same.

A fan thanks Kurtzman for the new universe and celebrates the inclusionary themes of the series. Being in a wheelchair, she asks if the franchise will offer more disability inclusion. Kurtzman reveals they just built a Delta wheelchair for a character in Starfleet Academy. So definitely.

Simien and Newsome do a bit about the fan who indirectly asked about black Star Trek. Kurtzman tees up Newsome as a writer saying she’s “crazy good.” They joke about the unplanned nature of the announcement and Simien reveals they are pregnant… with a new Star Trek show. Simien credits Star Trek: TNG (Q’s Paradox ep) for inspiring him to make Dear White People. Newsome thanks Kurtzman for his words and talks about the anxiety of joining the Starfleet Academy writers’ room. She jokes about coming from Second City performer’s background and how she found a voice (along with a drinking problem) that has helped her write Star Trek. She stops the panel to tell fans to be nicer to Kurtzman, who personally paid the Starfleet Academy writer through the strike, out of pocket. 

Newsome and Simien and Newsome tease how much they can say with Kurtzman teasing that it’s not much. Newsome wants to feed the blogs with cryptic loglines. Newsome and Simien each pitch funny bad bloglines that are vague or outright ridiculous. 

“Vibes,” is the one Kurtzman likes – until he reveals that it’s Star Trek’s first live-action comedy show.

Starfleet Academy is up next, with Nova Landau and Kurtzman taking the stage. Kurtzman explains the show is set in the 32nd Century and Holly Hunter is a “very different kind” of chancellor and instructor at the academy. He tells fans to go watch Raising Arizona and her Oscar-winning The Piano performance. 

Kurtzman recounts learning Paul Giamatti is a Trek fan and how he wants to be a Klingon. He reveals Giamatti cried when they offered him a role. The Oscar-winning actor chose his own role and shocked Kurtzman and Landau when he jumped in to be the villain for the whole season. 

Kurtzman and Landau tease a very different kind of show – a hybrid chow that’s part about school and part classic Trek. They play a video of the cast each learning they got their roles, and their reactions over video calls – which are priceless. Lot of tears, shock, and validation, and the personality of each cast member really shows through. The panel praises the young cast of the show as both beautiful and talented. 

Kurtzman reveals that legacy cast members will be in Starfleet Academy: Tig Notaro, Aded Fehr, Mary Wiseman, and Robert Picardo will all be coming to Starfleet Academy. 

Landau leaves the stage, and Section 31 is announced. Latunde Osunsanmi, Sam Richardson, Kacey Rohl, and Omari Hardwick join Kurtzman onstage. Hardick’s pink leather jacket and chaps are a look.  Video interrupts the panel, and it’s Michelle Yeoh, saying that no one was talking Section 31 without her. She announces some new footage that will play. 

The SEction 31 footage opens with a desert, and a girl covered in blood standing in it, The Sizzle reel and narration tease this Young Georgiaou murdering villagers and getting her Terran Empire armor. And older Georgious is shown joining Section 31 and walking with her squall as Beyonce’s “Formation” plays. A sizzle reel of action espionage and comedy plays briefly, culminating in Richardson’s character at a table with the Squad, saying that they can’t trust her at all but hey, they gotta rely on her? 

The trailer hits so hard that they replay it.  Simien is marveling at how Beyonce giving them music. Kurtzman teases how well the film turned out, and what could happen if fans support it. Hardwick describes working with Michelle Yeoh and how dialed in and incredible she is – including the action. Richardson jokes about the fighting shooting and sitting down he did in the film, praising the stunt coordinators and Yeoh as a “Kung Fu Queen.” 

Director Osunsanmi talks about the shock of seeing Georgia killed off so quickly at first, and how took the character in a new direction with her Terran mirror variant. He says making the film with Yeoh was a pleasure and fans should love the result.

Rohl talks about playing canon character Rachel Garrett (Trish O’Neal) and being so happy with it. Hardwick is asked to spill tea and says he will go there: calling Section 31 “Guardians of the Galaxy on Steroids,” full of ass-kicking, humor, and indeed, sitting. He says the Star Trek expertise and acting talent allowed them to make a “beautiful mess” of an ensemble movie. He thanks fans for giving them a shot. Richardson’s breakout line from the trailer about a ship flight being “Bumpy and Bad” is going to be a meme for 2024. Richardson will play a Camoloid from Star Trek 6 – a shapeshifter. 

Q&A starts with a fan asking if we’ll get an official Star Trek/Doctor Who crossover. Kurtzman tells him to come to the Star Trek/Doctor Who panel to get that answer. 

Hardwick is asked if he’s coming back to Power. He jokes that in an alt-universe he was kidnapped by Kurtzman and leveled up by joining Star Trek. So probably not. 

The post SDCC 2024: Star Trek Universe Panel (Recap) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy has added Gina Yashere to its cast as a recurring guest star playing the role of a Starfleet Academy instructor. Yashere is an actor, writer, and comedian who created the CBS series Bob Hearts Abishola. Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is the upcoming series following the adventures of a new class of Starfleet cadets coming of age at one of the galaxy’s most storied institutions. CBS Studios produces the Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, which begins production this summer. Yashere joins previously announced cast members Holly Hunter as a Starfleet captain serving as the current chancellor of Starfleet Academy, Paul Giamatti as the first season’s villain, and Kerrice Brooks, Bella Shepard, George Hawkins, Karim Diané, and Zoë Steiner as Starfleet Academy students.

According to the series’ official synopsis, “Star Trek: Starfleet Academy introduces viewers to a young group of cadets who come together to pursue a common dream of hope and optimism. Under the watchful and demanding eyes of their instructors, they discover what it takes to become Starfleet officers as they navigate blossoming friendships, explosive rivalries, first loves and a new enemy that threatens both the Academy and the Federation itself.”

What is Star Trek: Starfleet Academy?

Alex Kurtzman and Noga Landau are Star Trek: Starfleet Academy‘s co-showrunners and executive producers. Other executive producers working on the series include Gaia Violo, Aaron Baiers, Olatunde Osunsanmi, Jenny Lumet, Rod Roddenberry, Trevor Roth, Frank Siracusa, and John Weber. Violo wrote Star Trek: Starfleet Academy‘s premiere episode.

CBS Studios produces Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, working with Secret Hideout and Roddenberry Entertainment. Paramount Global Content Distribution will distribute the series. 

The casting news comes ahead of Paramount+’s Star Trek panel in Hall H at San Diego Comic-Con. Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is the newest project to join Paramount+’s Star Trek offerings. Star Trek: Discovery debuted its fifth and final season earlier this year. Star Trek: Lower Decks will have its final season later this year. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 3 is currently in the works with Season 4 on the horizon. Star Trek: Section 31 starring Michelle Yeoh, Paramount+’s first original Star Trek movie, wrapped filming earlier this year. Ahead of Star Trek: Discovery Season 5’s premiere, ComicBook asked Kurtzman about Star Trek’s future.

“I spent a lot of time that first season [of Discovery] really kind of meditating on, you know, this incredible universe that has been around for so long and how much more can be done with it, how many amazing stories there are to tell. There’s really an infinite number of stories to tell. I only want to make another Star Trek show if there’s something to say. I don’t wanna do it just to do more. I think that would be a huge disservice to Star Trek; it would be a huge disservice to the fans, and I think the fans would feel it instantaneously. They would know this is not authentic. Because if there’s one thing that Trek fans know, it’s authenticity.”

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy does not yet have a release window. Fans may get new information about the series during Star Trek’s panel in Hall H at San Diego Comic-Con on Saturday.

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Colossal Laboratories and Biosciences, a biotech company that’s putting together plans to orchestrate the de-extinction for animals like the dodo and the wooly mammoth, made some waves on Reddit recently when they petitioned the United Federation of Planets — the fictional governing body of the Star Trek universe — to waive restrictions on gene editing. In-universe, laws passed following the Eugenics Wars create a scenario where cloning based on damaged or partial DNA would be virtually impossible, as Colossal couldn’t “fix” the holes in the DNA (think Jurassic Park using frogs to plug holes in the dinosaur DNA and you’re in the right neighborhood). It’s a fun way of bringing visibility to the company’s wildly ambitious plans, and for the most part, Reddit took it in the intended spirit.

The comments are full of very serious conversations about the laws of the Federation and how they would and would not apply to Colossal’s business. When one commenter notes that cloning itself isn’t forbidden, just editing to “improve” a being, Colossal counters that they previously “used genetic engineering to alter the embryos of the endangered Australian northern quoll to protect them against a poison excreted by an invasive species of cane toad,” a practice legal in the modern day but presumably covered by the Federation’s gene-editing ban.

Some commenters even pointed out instances where, in-universe, Star Trek characters seem to have bent these roles for the greater good. Of course, its likely the writers just weren’t thinking about whether or not Dr. Crusher modifying Barclay’s immune system would be a criminal act.

You can “sign the petition” in question here, if you’re so inclined. Colossal, in addition to its de-extinction efforts directed at a number of animals, has scientists working on more conventional biosciences dealing with medical care, conservation, and the like, as well.

You can read the text of their application to the Federation below.

To the Esteemed Members of the Federation Council,

The early 21st century witnessed groundbreaking scientific advancements, one of the most significant being the development of CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) technology. This revolutionary technique allows for precise genetic modifications, offering unprecedented potential for therapeutic and scientific applications. However, the misuse of genetic engineering led to one of the darkest chapters in human history—the Eugenics Wars.

Led by the genetically enhanced superhuman Khan Noonian Singh, a group of scientists created a race of super people who sought to dominate the world. Their actions nearly led Earth to its destruction, feeding directly into the catastrophic Third World War. In the aftermath of these events, genetic engineering was universally outlawed on Earth and subsequently enshrined in Federation law.

This decision, while necessary to prevent the horrors of human genetic enhancement and eugenics, has also stymied the potential benefits of CRISPR technology. By imposing a total ban, we have inadvertently put many endangered species on the brink of extinction, limiting our ability to restore ecological balance and ensure a thriving planet for future generations.

We urge the Federation to re-evaluate this comprehensive ban and consider a more nuanced approach that allows for the responsible use of CRISPR technology for the preservation and protection of endangered animals.

Why Lift the Ban on Genetic Modification for Animal Preservation?

1. Prevent the Extinction of Countless Species:

   • Many species are facing imminent extinction due to habitat loss, climate change, and other human-induced factors. CRISPR technology offers a lifeline by enabling us to enhance genetic diversity, bolster disease resistance, and adapt species to changing environments.

2. Restore Ecological Balance:

   • The loss of any species can have cascading effects on entire ecosystems. By using genetic modification responsibly, we can restore ecological balance, ensuring that ecosystems remain resilient and functional.

3. Ensure a Thriving Planet for Future Generations:

   • Our planet’s biodiversity is a precious resource that supports human well-being. Ensuring the survival of endangered species through genetic modification is crucial for maintaining the natural heritage that future generations will inherit.

Ethical Considerations

While human genetic enhancement must remain illegal to prevent a repeat of the Eugenics Wars, the application of CRISPR technology to animal preservation can be governed by strict ethical guidelines and oversight. The following principles should guide its use:

• Transparency: All genetic modification efforts must be transparent and subject to rigorous ethical review.

• Responsibility: Scientists and conservationists must adhere to the highest standards of responsibility, ensuring that modifications are safe and effective.

Conclusion

We acknowledge the Federation’s commitment to preventing the misuse of genetic engineering. However, the total ban on CRISPR technology is a double-edged sword that risks sacrificing our planet’s biodiversity. By lifting the restrictions on genetic modification for animal preservation, we can harness the power of CRISPR technology to avert the extinction of countless species, restore ecological balance, and ensure a thriving planet for future generations.

We, Colossal Biosciences, respectfully urge the Federation Council to reconsider the ban on genetic modification and adopt a more balanced approach that safeguards both ethical principles and the future of our natural world.

Together, we can boldly go where no conservation effort has gone before.

The post Real-Life Biotech Firm Petitions Star Trek’s Federation on Reddit to Change Galactic Law appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The ComicBook Nation crew reacts to the final Deadpool & Wolverine Trailer and breaks down the finales of The Boys Season 4 and Star Wars: The Acolyte. Breaking news reactions include The Russo Bros. returning to Avengers movies; Halo being canceled by Paramount, new trailers for Beetlejuice 2, Dune: Prophecy, and Alien: Romulus – and so much more with San Diego Comic-Con 2024 on the horizon! 

ComicBook Nation LIVE Show (Video) 

Deadpool & Wolverine Trailer 

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Dune: Prophecy Trailer 2 

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Star Trek: Starfleet Academy has enrolled two more cadets in its inaugural class. On Thursday, Paramount+ revealed that it had cast Karim Diané (One of Us Is Lying) and Zoë Steiner (Significant Others) in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, the upcoming Star Trek series following the exploits of a new class of Starfleet cadets coming of age at one of the galaxy’s most storied institutions. CBS Studios produces the Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, which begins production this summer. As cadets, Diané and Steiner join previously announced castmates/classmates Kerrice Brooks, Bella Shepard, and George Hawkins. Star Trek: Starfleet Academy also stars Holly Hunter as a Starfleet captain serving as the current chancellor of Starfleet Academy, and Paul Giamatti as the first season’s villain.

According to the series’ official synopsis, “Star Trek: Starfleet Academy introduces viewers to a young group of cadets who come together to pursue a common dream of hope and optimism. Under the watchful and demanding eyes of their instructors, they discover what it takes to become Starfleet officers as they navigate blossoming friendships, explosive rivalries, first loves and a new enemy that threatens both the Academy and the Federation itself.”

What is Star Trek: Starfleet Academy?

Diané previously starred in One Of Us Is Lying and 1266. He can next be heard on the This American Life podcast episode “Afrikanas.” Diané is a Guinean singer and actor who began his career as a contestant on The X Factor. He found his first recurring role in the second season of the series StartUp. Steiner made her professional acting debut as the lead in Significant Others.

Alex Kurtzman and Noga Landau are Star Trek: Starfleet Academy‘s co-showrunners and executive producers. Other executive producers working on the series include Gaia Violo, Aaron Baiers, Olatunde Osunsanmi, Jenny Lumet, Rod Roddenberry, Trevor Roth, Frank Siracusa, and John Weber. Violo wrote Star Trek: Starfleet Academy‘s premiere episode.

CBS Studios produces Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, working with Secret Hideout and Roddenberry Entertainment. Paramount Global Content Distribution will distribute the series. 

The casting news comes ahead of Paramount+’s Star Trek panel in Hall H at San Diego Comic-Con. Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is the newest project to join Paramount+’s Star Trek offerings. Star Trek: Discovery debuted its fifth and final season earlier this year. Star Trek: Lower Decks will have its final season later this year. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 3 is currently in the works with Season 4 on the horizon. Star Trek: Section 31, Paramount+’s first original Star Trek movie, wrapped filming earlier this year.

The post Star Trek: Starfleet Academy Adds Two More to Cast appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Star Trek: Prodigy Season 2 was released on Netflix this month and the show marks the franchise’s first computer-animated series and first installment made for younger viewers. While fans await news of a third season, the creators behind the series are sharing some storylines and appearances that didn’t make the cut in Season 2. Co-showrunner Dan Hageman recently revealed that they almost made Kathryn Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) the Captain of the Enterprise. While Mulgrew does reprise her role from Star Trek: Voyager in the entire animated series, she’s not the only big name from the franchise who could have been a part of the show. Turns out, they also wanted Chris Pine to reprise the role of Captain Kirk.

“At one point, I think we had discussed the possibility of what other universes can we explore?” co-executive producer Aaron J. Waltke explained to Screen Rant. “And I think at one point, we talked about trying to bring in even the Kelvin universe, but we just simply didn’t have time in the ‘Cracked Mirror’ episode, where they’re going into all the different universes. And we were like, ‘Oh, what if we brought in that Captain Kirk, and he had to help them for a couple of episodes?'”

“It was a cool idea, but it was just a little bit too many sauces in the stew kind of a thing,” he continued. “I think it would have been fun. But I think it would have diverted from the story we were telling. It would have been the Captain Kirk show for a couple of episodes. Maybe that’s season three, we’ll find out.” 

Will Chris Pine Play Captain Kirk Again?

There have been many rumors that a fourth installment to the Kelvin Timeline would be coming, but there have been no positive updates in recent years. Pine spoke with ComicBook ahead of the release of Wish last year, and he revealed he hadn’t seen any new scripts or heard anything new in a while. 

“Not that I know [of],” Pine told ComicBook.com when asked about plans for a fourth film. When we asked if he had seen any scripts, he said, “Of course not.”

Pine played Captain James T. Kirk in a trilogy of films between 2009 and 2016. In Star Trek, Star Trek Into Darkness, and Star Trek Beyond, Pine was joined by a crew that included Zachary Quinto, Simon Pegg, Zoe Saldana, and Karl Urban. The movies represented the first time Star Trek had been rebooted since its original TV series in 1966, and even seemingly tied off the old continuity by bringing back Leonard Nimoy to bring a close to his version of Spock.

Stay tuned for more updates about Star Trek. Currently, you can stream the first two seasons of Star Trek: Prodigy on Netflix. 

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Star Trek and Doctor Who are joining forces to celebrate the first Intergalactic Friendship Day at San Diego Comic-Con. Timed to coincide with the annual International Friendship Day, the celebration will take place throughout San Diego Comic-Con 2024 via the “Friendship is Universal” gallery experience in San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter. The exhibition will feature props and costumes from Star Trek and Doctor Who’s histories. On Friday, July 27, Star Trek television franchise head Alex Kurtzman and Doctor Who  will appear together on the Intergalactic Friendship Day panel, moderated by TVLine‘s Keisha Hatchett. Kurtzman and Davies will discuss storytelling in their respective sci-fi universe and friendship. More info on both events can be found below.

In addition to the shared panel and exhibition, Star Trek and Doctor Who will have significant individual presences at Comic-Con. Doctor Who and Millie Gibson will join Davies for a Hall H panel on Friday, July 26th. Paramount+ will present its current and upcoming Star Trek projects – Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Star Trek: Lower Decks, Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, and Star Trek: Section 31 – during a panel in Hall H on Saturday, July 27th, just hours before the Intergalactic Friendship panel. CBS is bringing Star Trek: Prodigy for a panel and screening on Sunday in Room 6DE, with Star Trek star Kate Mulgrew in attendance.

Intergalactic Friendship Panel: Star Trek x Doctor Who

Saturday, July 27, 5:30 – 6:30 PM, Room 6A

The collaboration will kick off at San Diego Comic-Con, where Alex Kurtzman, showrunner and executive producer of the Star Trek franchise, and Russell T Davies, showrunner and executive producer spearheading the Doctor Who Whoniverse, come together for an exclusive creator-to-creator conversation about the art of storytelling in alternative universes and to celebrate the power of friendship. The SDCC Intergalactic Friendship Panel: Star Trek x Doctor Who will be on Saturday, July 27, from 5:30-6:30 PM, in Room: 6A, and will be moderated by Keisha Hatchett, staff editor of TVLine. Attendees to the creator conversation will each receive a special Doctor Who X Star Trek poster designed by artist Dusty Abell.

“Friendship is Universal” Gallery Experience

Thursday, July 26 – Sunday, July 28, 226 and 230 5th Avenue in Gaslamp Quarter

Under the banner of “Friendship is Universal,” Star Trek and Doctor Who will operate a special celebratory gallery experience at 226 and 230 5th Avenue in the Gaslamp Quarter of San Diego. The gallery experience will feature original costumes and props from across the storied histories of both, highlighting themes of friendship and shared values between the two universes. There will also be photo opportunities for fans as well as special friendship bracelet giveaways. “Friendship is Universal” activation hours of operation are Thursday, July 25 through Saturday, July 27 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM, and Sunday July 28 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Admission is free. No SDCC badge is required.

The post Star Trek, Doctor Who Announce Surprise Comic-Con Team-Up appeared first on ComicBook.com.

William Shatner may be a Star Trek legend, but it turns out he hasn’t really seen much of the franchise. Speaking with ET, Shatner, who played Captain Kirk in Star Trek: The Original Series in 1966 and has appeared in various projects in the overall franchise throughout his career, revealed that not only has he not watched any of the Star Trek spinoffs, but he’s only seen some of the Star Trek that he’s actually in. Shatner said that while he loves Star Trek and thinks “it’s great”, he just doesn’t watch television.

“I’m gonna tell you something that nobody knows,” Shatner said. “I’ve never seen another Star Trek and I’ve seen as few Star Treks of the show I was on; I’ve seen as few as possible. I don’t like to look at myself and I’ve never seen any other. I love it, I think it’s great, I just don’t, you know, I don’t watch television per se. I’m watching documentaries. I’m watching the news. I’m watching sports, I’m watching things that were, documentaries that were made but I don’t watch television for some reason. I’ve been urged to watch certain shows by my family, ‘You’ll love this,’ and I just never get around to it.”

Shatner Considers Star Trek V: The Final Frontier the Biggest Regret of His Career

When it comes to Star Trek, Shatner has been involved with more than just the original television series. He also both starred in and directed Star Trek V: The Final Frontier. The film, released in 1989, was poorly received by critics and audiences alike and, for Shatner, is the biggest regret of his career.

“I wish that I’d had the backing and the courage to do the things I felt I needed to do,” Shatner explained to earlier this year. “My concept was, ‘Star Trek goes in search of God,’ and management said, ‘Well, who’s God? We’ll alienate the nonbeliever, so, no, we can’t do God.’ And then somebody said, ‘What about an alien who thinks they’re God?’ Then it was a series of my inabilities to deal with the management and the budget. I failed. In my mind, I failed horribly. When I’m asked, ‘What do you regret the most?,’ I regret not being equipped emotionally to deal with a large motion picture. So, in the absence of my power, the power vacuum filled with people that didn’t make the decisions I would’ve made.”

Shatner Has Said He’d Be Open to Returning to Star Trek With Digital De-Aging

While Shatner may not watch much in the way of Star Trek, he’s said he’s open to returning to the franchise through the use of digital de-aging to portray a younger version of Captain Kirk — as long as there’s a good idea for it.

“It’s an intriguing idea,” he said. “It’s almost impossible but it was a great role and so well-written and if there were a reason to be there and not just to make a cameo appearance, but if there were a genuine reason for the character appearing, I might consider it.”

Shatner also had some ideas for how Captain Kirk could make an appearance, considering that the character’s last appearance was in 1994’s Star Trek Generations where the character was killed off. Shatner said that he could potentially portray a younger version of the character, citing digital de-aging technology that “takes years off of your face, so that in a film you can look 10, 20, 30, 50 years younger than you are.” He also suggested that the character could be resurrected.

“A company that wants to freeze my body and my brain for the future might be a way of going about it,” he said. “We’ve got Captain Kirk’s brain frozen here. There’s a scenario. Let’s see if we can bring back a little bit of this, a little salt, a little pepper. Oh, look at that. Here comes Captain Kirk!”

The post Star Trek’s William Shatner Admits He Hasn’t Watched Any Spinoffs Since Original Series appeared first on ComicBook.com.

San Diego Comic-Con is a mecca for creators, cosplayers, and celebrities alike. After two cancelled in-person Comic-Cons were followed by the virtual SDCC@Home (in 2020 and 2021), a pared-down fall “Special Edition” (also in 2021), the pandemic-proofed version (in 2022), and then a confab most of the major studios sat out amid the actors’ strike (in 2023), geekdom’s biggest pop culture convention is back in full force with its most robust panel lineup in years.

Marvel Studios and DC Studios are among the major players that will be returning to Hall H and/or the convention floor with footage and reveals from their upcoming slates. Paramount+ already announced plans to promote the Star Trek Universe, animated series Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob SquarePants 25th Anniversary, with Paramount Pictures primed to roll out the celebrity voices behind the Autobots and Decepticons of Transformers One.

Below, ComicBook rounded up all the official panel descriptions from across film (including Transformers One and Star Trek: Section 31) and television (including The Penguin, Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Silo, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, Harley Quinn, Dexter: Original Sin, The Boys, Batman: Caped Crusader, and more). Panel details can be found beneath the four-day SDCC 2024 schedule, which will be updated as more panel times are revealed.

SDCC 2024: THURSDAY, JULY 25th

11:45am – 12:45pm — Transformers One (Hall H)
1:00pm – 2:00pm – Celebrating 25 Years of SpongeBob Squarepants (Hall H)
2:15pm – 3:15pm — Percy Jackson and the Olympians (Hall H)
2:15pm – 3:15pm — Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Room 6BCF)
3:00pm – 4:00pm — Behind the action of Peacock’s gladiator epic Those About to Die (Ballroom 20)
3:30pm – 4:30pm — What We Do in the Shadows Farewell Kickoff (Hall H)
6:00pm — TBA (Hall H)

SDCC 2024: FRIDAY, JULY 26th

10am – 11am — The Boys (Hall H)
11:05am — The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (Hall H)
1pm — Adapting Fan Favorites: A Conversation with Prime Video’s Adult Animation Creators (Indigo Ballroom)
2:30pm — Like a Dragon: Yakuza (Room 5AB)
5:45 – 6:45pm — Dexter: Original Sin (Ballroom 20)
8:15 – 9:15pm — Harley Quinn & Kite Man: Hell Yeah! Panel (Room 6BCF) 

SDCC 2024: SATURDAY, JULY 27th

10:00am — 10:45am — Ghosts (Ballroom 20)
10:00am — 11:00am — My Adventures With Superman (Indigo Ballroom)
11:15am — 12:15pm — Everybody Still Hates Chris (Indigo Ballroom)
11:15am — 12:15pm — Superman & Lois (Hall H)
1:45pm – 3:15pm — The Star Trek Universe (Hall H)
2:45pm — 3:45pm — Batman: Caped Crusader (Room 6BCF)
4:45pm — 5:45pm — The Penguin Panel (Hall H)
6:00pm — 7:00pm — Marvel Studios (Hall H)
6:45pm — From (Indigo Ballroom)
Time and Location TBA: Silo 

SDCC 2024: SUNDAY, JULY 28th

10:00am — 11:00am — Star Trek: Prodigy (Room 6DE)
More to come…

Transformers One

Paramount Animation and Hasbro Entertainment bring a panel discussionand exclusive footage presentation to fans with talent Chris Hemsworth,Brian Tyree Henry, Keegan-Michael Key, along with the director, AcademyAward-winner Josh Cooley, and producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura.

Hall H: 11:45am – 12:45pm on Thursday, July 25th

Celebrating 25 Years of SpongeBob Squarepants

What’s funnier than 24? 25! Nickelodeon is celebrating SpongeBobSquarePants’ landmark 25th anniversary with a panel that will take fansdown to Bikini Bottom and beyond for a special look at its iconicorigins, including a live cast table read of “Help Wanted,” exclusivecontent, and the nautical nonsense to come. Join the voice cast, TomKenny (SpongeBob), Bill Fagerbakke (Patrick), CarolynLawrence (Sandy), Rodger Bumpass (Squidward), Clancy Brown (Mr. Krabs),and Mr. Lawrence (Plankton), along with executive producers MarcCeccarelli and Vincent Waller, and special guests as they celebrate oneof the most popular characters and beloved animated series of all time.It’s going to be the “Best Day Ever!” Moderated by Good Burgers’ Ed (KelMitchell).

Hall H: 1:00pm – 2:00pm on Thursday, July 25th

Percy Jackson and the Olympians

The Disney+ hit original series Percy Jackson and the Olympians willmake its debut at Comic-Con with an epic panel filled withbehind-the-scenes stories and secrets from the set. WalkerScobell (Percy Jackson), Leah Sava Jeffries (Annabeth Chase), AryanSimhadri (Grover Underwood), and Jonathan E. Steinberg (co-creator,executive producer) and Dan Shotz (executive producer) reflect on thetriumphant first season, discuss bringing the iconic characters to life,answer burning questions during an exclusive fan Q&A session, andtake a look back at moments from production and the global launch of theseries. Whether you’re a mortal or a demigod, let’s celebrate allthings Percy Jackson and the Olympians!

Hall H: 2:15pm – 3:15pm on Thursday, July 25th

Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Cowabunga! From the studios that brought audiences the “MutantMayhem” film, the all-new Paramount+ original series “Tales of theTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” explores the adventures of everyone’sfavorite pizza-loving heroes as they emerge from the sewers and onto thestreets of NYC. Join the voices of Leo, Raph, Donnie, Mikey and specialguests, as well as series producers, for an exclusive panel featuringnever-before-seen content moderated by host, writer, podcaster andstand-up comedian Claire Lim.

Room 6BCF: 2:15 – 3:15pm on Thursday, July 25th

Behind the Action of Peacock’s Gladiator Epic Those About to Die

Dive into the Roman Empire’s explosive intersection of sports, politics,and dynasties as featured in Those About To Die with an exclusivebehind-the-scenes look at the making of the Peacock series alongsideexecutive producer/director Roland Emmerich and stars Iwan Rheon, SaraMartins, Moe Hashim, Jojo Macari, and Dimitri Leonidas.

Ballroom 20: 3:00 – 4:00pm on Thursday, July 25th

What We Do in the Shadows Farewell Kickoff

You are summoned to join America’s favorite vampire roommates as theykick off their farewell tour at Comic-Con! Join the cast and producersfor a high-spirited conversation, and be among the first to see abrand-new episode from the sixth and final season. The first fiveseasons of the hit FX award-winning comedy are available to stream onHulu.

Hall H: 3:30pm – 4:30pm on Thursday, July 25th

The Boys

Join showrunner and executive producer Eric Kripke and the series’ starsfor a post-season finale celebration. Hear from the cast and creatorabout the head-exploding, jaw-dropping fourth season, along withbehind-the-scenes secrets, favorite moments, and thrilling surprises.Based on The New York Times best-selling comic by Garth Ennis and DarickRobertson, The Boys is a fun and irreverent take on whathappens when superheroes, who are as popular as celebrities, abuse theirsuperpowers rather than use them for good. It’s the powerless againstthe super-powerful as The Boys embark on a heroic quest to expose thetruth about The Seven.

Hall H: 10am – 11am on Friday, July 26th

The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon – The Book of Carol

The new season picks up where The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon left off,following fan-favorite characters Daryl Dixon (Norman Reedus) and CarolPeletier (Melissa McBride). They both confront old demons while shefights to find her friend and he struggles with his decision to stay inFrance, causing tension at the Nest. Additionally, Genet (AnneCharrier)’s movement builds momentum, setting Pouvoir on a violentcollision course with the Union of Hope in the fight for France’sfuture.

Panelists include Gimple, Showrunner and Executive Producer DavidZabel, Executive Producer and Director Greg Nicotero; ExecutiveProducer and Star Reedus, Executive Producer and Star McBride and CastMember Louis Puech Scigliuzzi. Moderated by Hardwick, the panel willdebut the official trailer for the new season returning Sunday,September 29 at 9pm ET on AMC and AMC+.

Hall H: 2:45-3:45pm on Friday, July 26th

The Walking Dead: Dead City

The Walking Dead: Dead City follows fan-favorite characters Maggie(Lauren Cohan) and Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) as they travel into apost-apocalyptic Manhattan, long ago cut off from the mainland. Thecrumbling city is filled with the dead and denizens who have made NewYork City their own world full of anarchy, danger, beauty, and terror.In season two, in the growing war for control of Manhattan, Maggie andNegan find themselves trapped on opposite sides. As their pathsintertwine, they come to see that the way out for both is morecomplicated and harrowing than they ever imagined.

Having recently wrapped production on Season 2, the panel willfeature an exclusive look at the new season, returning next year withpanelists including Chief Content Officer of the Walking Dead UniverseScott M. Gimple, Showrunner and Executive Producer Eli Jorné, ExecutiveProducer and Star Cohan, Executive Producer and Star Morgan, Cast MemberGaius Charles and Cast Member Željko Ivanek. The panel will bemoderated by Chris Hardwick.

Hall H: 1:45-2:45pm on Friday, July 26th

Snowpiercer

Set more than seven years after the world has become a frozenwasteland, Snowpiercer centers on the remnants of humanity who inhabit aperpetually moving train, with 1001 cars, that circles the globe. Classwarfare, social injustice and the politics of survival play out in thisriveting television adaptation based on the graphic novel series byJacques Lob and Jean-Marc Rochette, and the film from Oscar(R)-winnerBong Joon Ho (Parasite). The action-packed finale of Season 3 left asplit with Melanie Cavill (Jennifer Connelly) leading the Eternal Engineand those passengers who chose to stay aboard Snowpiercer for relativesafety, and Andre Layton (Daveed Diggs) leading the others on Big Alicechoosing to adventure to the unknown, outside world of New Eden.

Ballroom 20: 11:15am-12:30pm on Friday, July 26th

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power

Join the series’ showrunners and cast as they give an inside look intothe highly anticipated second season, premiering August 29, 2024 onPrime Video. Get ready to experience stunning visuals, thrillingsurprises, and unique insight into the darkness that has returned tothreaten all of Middle-earth this season.

Hall H: 11:05am on Friday, July 26th

Adapting Fan Favorites: A Conversation with Prime Video’s Adult Animation Creators

Join executive producers Robert Kirkman (“Invincible”), Vivienne Medrano(“Hazbin Hotel”), Travis Willingham (“The Legend of Vox Machina”), andKyle Hunter (“Sausage Party: Foodtopia”) as they discuss adapting someof the most popular comic books, crowdfunded gems, films, and more intosuccessful television series, give sneak peeks into upcoming seasons,and share exclusive news from each of their respective series.

Indigo Ballroom: 1pm on Friday, July 26th

Like a Dragon: Yakuza

Join series lead Ryoma Takeuchi, producers, and a surprise A-list starfrom the cast, as they share an exclusive first look and delve into thecreation of this adaptation based on SEGA’s iconic game loved by fansglobally. Fans will walk away with an exclusive souvenir from the panel.

Room 5AB: 2:30pm on Friday, July 26th

Dexter: Original Sin

The cast, showrunner and executive producers discuss the upcomingprequel to the fan-favorite series “Dexter.” Join showrunner andexecutive producer Clyde Phillips, executive producer Scott Reynolds andcast members Christian Slater (Harry Morgan), Patrick Gibson (DexterMorgan) and Molly Brown (Debra Morgan) as they share what to expect fromthe new series and unveil a few exciting surprises. Moderated by”Dexter: Original Sin” special guest star, Sarah Michelle Gellar.

Ballroom 20: 5:45 – 6:45pm on Friday, July 26th

Harley Quinn & Kite Man: Hell Yeah! Panel

Featuring sneak peeks at unreleased “Kite Man: Hell Yeah!” scenes and alook at what’s in store for “Harley Quinn”‘s upcoming fifth season, jointhe cast and creators for a special discussion spanning both MaxOriginal adult animated series from DC and WB Animation. Panelistsinclude Lake Bell (“Poison Ivy”), Matt Oberg (“Kite Man”), JamesAdomian(“Bane”), Dean Lorey (EP) virtual, Justin Halpern (EP), PatrickSchumacker (EP).

Room 6BCF: 8:15 – 9:15pm on Friday, July 26th

My Adventures With Superman

Join executive producers Jake Wyatt, Josie Campbell, Brendan Clogher, and voice cast members Jack Quaid, Alice Lee, Ishmel Sahid, and Kiana Madeira as they answer your burning questions from season 2. Plus get the early scoop on all the action, comedy, and romance that awaits Clark, Lois, and Jimmy in Season 3. Airing on Adult Swim, My Adventures with Superman is produced by Warner Bros. Animation.

Indigo Ballroom: 10:00am – 11:00am on Saturday, July 27th

Ghosts

Ghosts, one of television’s top comedies on CBS and Paramount+, followsSamantha and Jay, a couple running a bed and breakfast inhabited byghosts that only Samantha can see and hear. Please join series starsUtkarsh Ambudkar, Richie Moriarty, Román Zaragoza, Rebecca Wisocky andexecutive producers Joe Port and Joe Wiseman for a lively and spiritedpanel conversation discussing the season three cliffhanger and upcomingreveals for what’s ahead in season four moderated by Perri Nemiroff,senior producer at Collider.

Ballroom 20: 10:00am—10:45am on Saturday, July 27th

The Star Trek Universe

The fan-favorite STAR TREK universe panel returns to San Diego Comic-Con,featuring exclusive back-to-back conversations with cast and producersfrom “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds,” “Star Trek: Lower Decks,” “StarTrek: Starfleet Academy” and “Star Trek: Section 31,” plus reveals andsurprises you won’t want to miss! Moderated by award-winning filmmaker,director and executive producer Justin Simien. “Strange New Worlds” castmembers scheduled to appear include Anson Mount, Rebecca Romijn andEthan Peck, alongside executive producers Alex Kurtzman, Akiva Goldsmanand Henry Alonso Myers. “Lower Decks” will feature voice cast membersJack Quaid, Tawny Newsome, Noël Wells and Jerry O’Connell, along withcreator and executive producer Mike McMahan and executive producer AlexKurtzman. “Starfleet Academy” will feature executive producers andco-showrunners Alex Kurtzman and Noga Landau. “Section 31” will have itsHall H debut with cast members Omari Hardwick, Sam Richardson and KaceyRohl, along with executive producer Alex Kurtzman and director OlatundeOsunsanmi.

Hall H: 1:45 – 3:15pm on Saturday, July 27th

Batman: Caped Crusader

Join executive producer Matt Reeves and cast members Hamish Linklater,Jamie Chung, and Minnie Driver for the world-premiere screening of theupcoming and highly anticipated series followed by a moderated Q&Awhere they will discuss their characters and tease key storylines in theupcoming season.

Room 6BCF: 2:45pm on Saturday, July 27th

The Penguin Panel

The HBO Original limited series, from Warner Bros. Television and DCStudios, continues Matt Reeves’ “The Batman” epic crime saga and centerson the character played by Colin Farrell in the film. The series debutson HBO in September. Panelists include Colin Farrell—virtually (Oz Cobbaka “The Penguin” / EP), Cristin Milioti (Sofia Falcone), Rhenzy Feliz(Victor Aguilar), Matt Reeves (EP), Lauren LeFranc (Showrunner / EP),and Dylan Clark (EP).

Hall H: 4:45 – 5:45pm on Saturday, July 27th

From

MGM+’s “From” unravels the mystery of a nightmarish town that traps allthose who enter. As the unwilling residents fight to keep a sense ofnormalcy and search for a way out, they must also survive the threats ofthe surrounding forest – including the terrifying creatures that comeout when the sun goes down. Join executive producers Jeff Pinkner, JackBender, John Griffin and the stars of the series Harold Perrineau,Elizabeth Saunders, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Eion Bailey, and DavidAlpay for a sneak peek at the new questions and threats that await thetownsfolk in Season 3.

Indigo Ballroom: 6:45pm on Saturday, July 27th

Silo

“Silo” will make its San Diego Comic-Con debut on Saturday, July 27, 2024 for apanel and conversation around what fans can look forward to in thehighly anticipated second season. The panel will feature “Silo” star andexecutive producer Rebecca Ferguson, star Common, creator andshowrunner Graham Yost and executive producer Hugh Howey, plus surprisespecial guests. The panel will be moderated by Adam Savage(Editor-in-Chief, Tested.com).

Room and Time TBA: Saturday, July 27th

A Celebration of Hazbin Hotel, Hosted by Hot Topic

It’s a happy day in Hell! Join Hot Topic for a helluva fun celebrationof Prime Video’s “Hazbin Hotel” with exclusive merch reveals, trivia andprizes, sing-along, and more! Dressing up as your favorite demon ishighly encouraged. Plus, special guest appearances you do not want tomiss.

Room 6BCF: 10pm on Saturday, July 27th

Superman & Lois

Join executive producers Todd Helbing and Brent Fletcher with series stars Tyler Hoechlin and Elizabeth Tulloch as they make their Comic-Con debut in Hall H! After season 3 ended on a major cliffhanger, fans won’t want to miss an exclusive trailer for the epic final season and learn what’s in store as Clark and Lois continue to navigate the challenges of parenthood while saving the world. Season 4 of SUPERMAN & LOIS returns with a special two-hour premiere event on Thursday, October 17 on The CW. Based on the characters from DC created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, SUPERMAN & LOIS is from Berlanti Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television, with executive producers Greg Berlanti (Arrow, The Flash, Batwoman, Supergirl), Todd Helbing (The Flash, Black Sails), Brent Fletcher (Lost, Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.), Sarah Schechter (All American, Riverdale), and Geoff Johns (Titans, DC’s Stargirl).

Hall H: 11:15am — 12:15pm on Saturday, July 27th

Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire and Anne Rice’s Mayfair Witches

In Interview with the Vampire in the year 2022, the vampire Louis dePointe du Lac (JacobAnderson) recounts his life story to journalistDaniel Molloy (Eric Bogosian). Picking up from the bloody events in NewOrleans in 1940 when Louis and teen fledgling Claudia (Delainey Hayles)conspired to kill the Vampire Lestat de Lioncourt (Sam Reid), Louistells of his adventures in Europe, a quest to discover Old WorldVampires and the Theatre Des Vampires in Paris, with Claudia, and it isin Paris that Louis first meets the Vampire Armand (Assad Zaman). Overtwo seasons, Interview has attracted a loyal base of passionate fans andwidespread critical acclaim, with the rare distinction of receiving98-point scores for both its first and second seasons on RottenTomatoes. The panel will feature Mark Johnson, who oversees the AnneRice Immortal Universe, Showrunner and Executive Producer Rolin Jones,Production Designer Mara LePere-Schloop and cast members Sam Reid, AssadZaman and Delainey Hayles. They will discuss the recent explosivesecond season and tease the recently announced third season.

Immediately following, the Mayfair Witches cast and creativeswill take the stage to discuss their highly anticipated second season,returning early next year. Based on Anne Rice’s Lives of the MayfairWitches, season two continues the journey of Rowan Mayfair (AlexandraDaddario) after she has unwittingly given birth to the demon Lasher(Jack Huston). She is determined to understand what he has become –human or monster? – and to use him to fulfill her purpose as a healer,but when tragedy strikes, she must put aside her own desires and fightto protect her family. Joining the panel are Johnson, Showrunner EstaSpalding and cast members Daddario, Harry Hamlin, Tongayi Chirisa,Huston, Ben Feldman and Alyssa Jirrels.

Ballroom 20: 5:00-6:15pm on Saturday, July 27th

Everybody Still Hates Chris

Inspired by Chris Rock’s experience growing up in Brooklyn during thelate 1980s, Everybody Still Hates Chris is a reimagined adult animatedseries coming to Comedy Central later this year. Join series voice castTerry Crews, Tichina Arnold, Tim Johnson Jr, Ozioma Akagha, TerrenceLittle Gardenhigh, Gunnar Sizemore and executive producer and showrunnerSanjay Shah for an exclusive first look at the series and a paneldiscussion filled with surprises.

Indigo Ballroom: 11:15am —12:15pm on Saturday, July 27th

Star Trek: Prodigy

CBS Studios invites you to a special screening of a season two episodeof Star Trek: Prodigy, followed by an exclusive conversation with StarTrek legend and voice actor Kate Mulgrew, voice actor Brett Gray andexecutive producers Kevin & Dan Hageman to discuss the new seasoncurrently streaming on Netflix. Moderated by Ryan Britt, editor atInverse, the panel will also include a special giveaway item.

Room 6DE: 10:00am — 11:00am on Sunday, July 28th

Marvel Studios

Marvel Studios is confirmed to return to San Diego Comic-Con’s Hall H, but panelists and presentations are TBA. The slate from Kevin Feige’s Marvel Studios includes the upcoming movies Deadpool & Wolverine (in theaters July 26th), Captain America: Brave New World (February 14th, 2025), and Thunderbolts* (May 5th, 2025), and the television series Agatha All Along (September 18th), Daredevil: Born Again (March 2025), and Ironheart (2025), as well as the Disney+ animated series Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man and Eyes of Wakanda. 

Hall H: 6:00pm on Saturday, July 27th

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Paramount+ is boldly going where it has gone before. On Wednesday, the streamer announced its return toSan Diego Comic-Con after Paramount Pictures was the only movie studio to beam into last year’s pop culture confab. The Star Trek Universe — including Star Trek series Strange New Worlds, Lower Decks, Starfleet Academy, and the upcoming Paramount+ exclusive movie Star Trek: Section 31 — is making the voyage to San Diego Comic-Con 2024, where Paramount+ will also tout its new Nickelodeon animated series Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and SHOWTIME’s Dexter prequel series Original Sin.

See the full schedule and the lineup of Paramount+’s San Diego Comic-Con 2024 panels below.

Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

This year’s convention, which runs July 25th—July 28th, will kick off with the cast and crew of Tales of the TMNT, the all-new animated series spinning out of 2023’s hit Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem movie. Voice actors Nicolas Cantu (Leonardo), Micah Abbey (Donatello), Shamon Brown Jr. (Michelangelo), and Brady Noon (Raphael) will join series producers for a panel hosted by stand-up comedian Claire Lim on Thursday, July 25th, from 2:15—3:15 PM PT in room 6BCF. The exclusive panel will present never-before-seen content from the show ahead of its August 9th premiere on Paramount+.

Dexter: Original Sin

Dexter: Original Sin cast members Christian Slater (Harry Morgan), Patrick Gibson (Dexter Morgan), and Molly Brown (Debra Morgan) will join showrunner and executive producer Clyde Phillips and executive producer Scott Reynolds to preview the spinoff and unveil a few exciting surprises. Sarah Michelle Gellar, who will guest star on the 1991-set prequel series, is moderating the panel set for Friday, July 26th, from 5:45—6:45 PM PT in Ballroom 20.

Star Trek Universe

The Star Trek Universe returns to Comic-Con’s Hall H with exclusive back-to-back conversations with the cast and producers from Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Star Trek: Lower Decks, Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, and Star Trek: Section 31. Moderated by filmmaker Justin Simien, the 90-minute panel is set to host franchise executive producer Alex Kurtzman and cast members from Strange New Worlds (Anson Mount, Rebecca Romijn, Ethan Peck), Section 31 ((Omari Hardwick, Sam Richardson, Kacey Rohl), and Lower Decks (Jack Quaid, Tawny Newsome, Noël Wells and Jerry O’Connell). The star-studded panel promises reveals and surprises from across the Star Trek Universe, which takes over the Hall H stage on Saturday, July 27th, from 1:45—3:15 PM PT.

Paramount+’s The Lodge Activations

Paramount+ also announced a series of SDCC activations throughout the convention. At the new Star Trek Menagerie booth (#3529) on the convention floor, fans can participate in an immersive photo opportunity and get an up-close look at creatures and specimens from Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Star Trek: Discovery, Star Trek: Lower Decks, Star Trek: Picard, and Star Trek: The Original Series.

At Paramount+’s The Lodge, returning to San Diego’s Gaslamp District for its second year, guests can participate in immersive activations inspired by such Paramount brands as Star Trek, SpongeBob SquarePants, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, CBS’ Ghosts, CBS Sports, the IF movie, and Paramount+ exclusive series Tulsa King, Criminal Minds: Evolution, and Ink Master. Step onto a Star Trek starship, explore Bikini Bottom’s Jellyfish Fields, be paired with your own Imaginary Friend from IF, or grab a slice with the heroes in a half-shell at the TMNT-themed pizza parlor when The Lodge takes over the Happy Does Bar (340 Fifth Ave, San Diego, CA 92101) on July 24th (from 6-10 PM), July 25th—July 27th (12-10 PM), and July 28th (10 AM-7 PM). Admission is free and no Comic-Con badge is required to enter, but a reservation system is in place here on Feverup. There will be a stand-by line daily if no reservations are available.

Fans can take part in a city-wide digital scavenger hunt via www.ParamountPassport.com. Once registered, guests can visit all seven activation sites to scan an item and receive a passport stamp they can redeem for limited edition prizes at Paramount+’s The Lodge. The Passport is not an official SDCC activation, therefore no badge is required for participation. The locations are as follows:

1. Paramount+’s The Lodge at Happy Does Bar (340 Fifth Ave, San Diego, CA 92101)
   
   
2. SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS Fountain at the Omni Hotel (675 L St, San Diego, CA 92101)
   
   

3. SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS in the lobby of the Hard Rock Hotel (207 Fifth Avenue, San Diego, CA 92101) 

4. STAR TREK Menagerie (San Diego Convention Center, Booth #3529)

5. Nickelodeon / SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS (San Diego Convention Center, Booth #4113)

6. Super7 x TMNT: Mikey’s Pizza Parlor Pop-Up (550 14th St #116, San Diego, CA 92101) *Friday, 7/26 only 

7. IF Photo Opp – Take a Picture with Blue! (Interactive Zone at Petco Park, 100 Park Blvd, San Diego, CA 92101

Paramount previously announced plans for Paramount Animation and Hasbro’s Transformers One panel (featuring cast members Chris Hemsworth, Brian Tyree Henry, and Keegan-Michael Key), and panels and activations Celebrating 25 Years of Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob SquarePants with the voice cast (Tom Kenny, Bill Fagerbakke, Carolyn Lawrence, Rodger Bumpass, Clancy Brown, and Mr. Lawrence). Stay tuned to ComicBook.com for the latest news and updates out of San Diego Comic-Con 2024.

The post Paramount+ San Diego Comic-Con 2024 Panels: Star Trek, Dexter, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and More appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy has enrolled three new cadets. On Tuesday, Paramount+ revealed that it had cast Kerrice Brooks (My Old Ass), Bella Shepard (Wolf Pack), and George Hawkins (Tell Me Everything) in the upcoming Star Trek: Starfleet Academy . Brooks, Shepard, and Hawkins will play cadets at Starfleet Academy. They join previously announced cast members, Holly Hunter, playing a Starfleet captain and current chancellor of Starfleet Academy, and Paul Giamatti, playing Star Trek: Starfleet Academy Season 1’s villain. Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is the coming-of-age story of a group of Starfleet cadets finding themselves at one of the prestigious institutions in the galaxy.

Paramount+’s Star Trek: Starfleet Academy series “will follow the adventures of a new class of Starfleet cadets as they come of age in one of the most legendary places in the galaxy.” CBS Studios is producing Star Trek: Starfleet Academy. Production begins this summer.

What is Star Trek: Starfleet Academy about?

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is set in the 32nd century of Star Trek’s universe, first seen in the later season of Star Trek: Discovery. According to the official synopsis, “Star Trek: Starfleet Academy introduces viewers to a young group of cadets who come together to pursue a common dream of hope and optimism. Under the watchful and demanding eyes of their instructors, they discover what it takes to become Starfleet officers as they navigate blossoming friendships, explosive rivalries, first loves and a new enemy that threatens both the Academy and the Federation itself.”

Brooks’ past work includes her feature film debut in My Old Ass. She also stars in the upcoming 70s coming-of-age comedy, Feeling Randy. Her other credits include The Prom, The Cypher, How We Roll, and On My Block.

Shepard led the Paramount+ Series Wolf Pack and is best known for her work on the Brat TV series On the Ropes and A Girl Named Jo, and for leading the series Two Sides. Shepard has also appeared in The Wilds, Witch Hunt, and the , and had a guest role on the final season of Orange Is the New Black and recurring roles on Life in Pieces and Grace and Frankie.

Hawkins is best known for playing Dylan in Tell Me Everything. His other credits include playing Sean in the film Boiling Point and Adam in Gassed Up.

Alex Kurtzman and Noga Landau are co-showrunners and executive producers of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy. The other executive producers on the series include Gaia Violo, Aaron Baiers, Olatunde Osunsanmi, Jenny Lumet, Rod Roddenberry, Trevor Roth, Frank Siracusa, and John Weber. Violo wrote Star Trek: Starfleet Academy‘s premiere episode. CBS Studios produces Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, in association with Secret Hideout and Roddenberry Entertainment. Paramount Global Content Distribution will distribute the series.

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is the latest addition to Paramount+’s Star Trek library. Star Trek: Discovery , and Star Trek: Lower Decks is headed into its fifth and final season. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is currently in production on its third season and is already renewed for its fourth. Paramount+’s first Star Trek original movie, Star Trek: Section 31 , wrapped filming earlier this year.

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Star Trek: Lower Decks is coming to an end, but creator Mike McMahan is hinting that there could be spinoffs. 

McMahan did an interview on the Extended ‘Verse! podcast, where he discussed how the ending of Star Trek: Lower Decks also comes with setups for new series that could follow it: 

“The ending of season 5 it is the ending of a chapter that I knew I wanted to do. There are things that happen in it… I’m being very careful… that are sort of setting up spinoffs and setting up backdoor pilots,” McMahan explained. “There’s characters I’m introducing that you’ll see clearly I wanted to do more with.”

Star Trek: Lower Decks has turned out to be a major pioneer for what Star Trek content can be. Lower Decks at once opened lanes to Star Trek having comedic content; animated content, and more adult-oriented content, all at once. The series has also gotten a much warmer welcome than many of the other new Star Trek series that have debuted on Paramount+ (Discovery, Picard). Star Trek Prodigy continued to expand one of those lanes with kid-friendly animated content, but Lower Decks still stands apart as a one-of-a-kind Star Trek experience. 

More importantly, Lower Decks and its cast of B-level (C-level) Starfleet officers have become fan favorites. In fact, two Lower Decks characters (Jack Quaid’s Ensign Boimier and Tawny Newsome’s Ensign Mariner) have already made the jump from animation to live-action, as part of a crossover Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. 

So, when Mike McMahan says there are characters that could be exported into a spinoff series of Lower Decks, he’s not kidding. As Paramount+ is entering the Star Trek movie business with the straight-to-streaming Star Trek: Section 31 and rumors of another Jean-Luc Picard adventure, McMahan hasn’t ruled out the idea of a Star Trek: Lower Decks movie happening:

“I have an idea for an animated Lower Decks movie,” McMahan told ComicBook. “I have ideas for live-action Lower Decks movies. And I have ideas for brand new, totally original Star Trek movies that don’t tie into anything we’ve seen before. I think Star Trek is an amazing genre to think about. I love the idea of not micro but small-budget Star Trek movies, where you get the bigness of a movie set, but you get to tell a Star Trek story that drives across a moment instead of a thing that has to be dealt with, like a Khan.”

Star Trek: Lower Decks is streaming now on Paramount+. Season 5 does not have a premiere date but is expected to be 10-episodes long and will be released in late 2024. 

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Last season on Star Trek: Prodigy, our young heroes got a lot of their advice from Kathryn Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) — well, kind of. Their ship had a hologram based on Captain Kathryn Janeway and modeled on Janeway’s physical appearance in the early 2370s, complete with uniform — so she basically looked just like she did on Star Trek: Voyager. At the end of the season, though, we found out that the real Janeway, still very much alive and now an Admiral, was on her way to pay a visit. The show’s second season will deal with that — and how she’s different from her AI counterpart — but apparently, Janeway was almost made the Captain of the Enterprise in the show’s second season.

With the real Janeway around, the kids will now have a new mentor — and it will be Voyager‘s The Doctor, voiced by Robert Picardo, which reteams him with Mulgrew. Now, there will be a lot to talk about, with the real Janeway being different from the hologram Janeway and The Captain back in the mix.

“We knew the Season 2 relationship between the kids and their mentor was going to change from hologram Janeway to Admiral Janeway, who was a little bit harder on them,” co-showrunner Dan Hageman told IGN. “As the Admiral doesn’t have time to be by their side every day and moment, we just thought how perfect it would be for The Doctor to get involved. We’d loved this idea that we always imagined [where] in Season 1 hologram Janeway is a bit of a Mary Poppins. In this one, The Doctor wants to be Mary Poppins but he’s more like a Mr. Belvedere. He wants to be endeared by the kids but the kids are like, ‘You’re no Janeway.'”

The series was actually cancelled at Paramount+, but rescued by Netflix, who are the current home of Prodigy‘s first season and will debut the second season (and potentially beyond). The show was saved, in part, due to a campaign by fans, who Mulgrew praised shortly after it got saved.

“I’ve always held that the Star Trek fan base is among the strongest and most intelligent in the world. They have shown their collective passion, and we’re happy to be able to celebrate Prodigy once again,” said Mulgrew at the time.

Star Trek: Prodigy‘s voice cast includes Kate Mulgrew reprising her role as Kathryn Janeway from Star Trek: Voyager. The main cast features Brett Gray (Dal R’El), Ella Purnell (Gwyn), Rylee Alazraqui (Rok-Tahk), Angus Imrie (Zero), Jason Mantzoukas (Jankom Pog), Dee Bradley Baker (Murf), John Noble (The Diviner) and Jimmi Simpson (Drednok). 

Star Trek: Prodigy‘s recurring voice cast includes newcomers Daveed Diggs (Commander Tysess), Jameela Jamil (Ensign Asencia), and Jason Alexander (Doctor Noum). Robert Beltran also reprises his role as Chakotay from Star Trek: Voyager, and Billy Campbell plays Thadiun Okona from Star Trek: The Next Generation.

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Star Trek: Prodigy Season 2 is finally here. It’s been a long road (to steal a line from another Star Trek series), but Star Trek: Prodigy is now streaming on its new home, Netflix, after being canceled and removed from Paramount+. Since Star Trek: Prodigy Season 1 arrived on Netflix on Christmas Day, all 40 episodes of the animated Star Trek series are now streaming on Netflix. Star Trek: Prodigy Season 2 continues the adventure of the young heroes who recovered an abandoned, experimental Starfleet vessel and used it to cross the galaxy and join Starfleet, saving the universe along the way.

ComicBook had the opportunity to chat with Star Trek: Prodigy creators Dan and Kevin Hageman about the new season, touching on new characters and how they balance the expectations of longtime Star Trek fans and the demands of children’s programming. Here’s what they had to say:

When you sat down to start breaking Star Trek: Prodigy Season 2, what was the “prime directive,” so to speak? What was your guiding light when figuring figure out what this season was going to look like?

Dan Hageman: I think we wanted to make it more Trek, with the young cadets, so to speak, in the adult world. We thought that was very interesting. And then we go, “This isn’t just about the kids learning from the adults, but also the adults learning from the kids.” And I think that’s where it opened the door for what the season would be. And then also trying to tie the bow on what happens in Season 1, furthering those storylines and making sure that we have conclusions for those.

Kevin Hageman: I was also going to add, very early on we felt like, okay, Season 1 is these kids steal a ship; Season 2 is they earn a ship, and what does that look like? And along with that, these next 20 are like the back half of Season 1. It’s all a 40-episode story really, and so there’s so much to wrap up, and to pay off, and places to go, but we also didn’t want to forget, this show is an on-ramp for anyone who doesn’t know Star Trek. So how do we still have these little greatest hits, these ideas, whether it’s Vulcans, Klingons, Tribbles, what are the elements that makeup Star Trek that we should be introducing people to?

What was your production timeline like? Had anyone seen Season 1 while you were working on Season 2 and breaking it down, or was it all really part of a whole for you all in the writer’s room?

DH: I mean, COVID hit, and I think everything’s a bit fuzzy.

KH: Yeah, I don’t think Season 1 was out yet. Maybe-

DH: I don’t think Season 1 was out. Yeah, because we were upped before Season 1 had dropped, and I just remember we had finished — You know what it was, we had finished the last script of Season 1 when COVID hit, and then we were ramping up and getting a room for Season 2 over COVID, that first year of COVID.

You say you wanted this season to be “more Star Trek,” but it’s still a kids’ show. That makes me wonder if you read Temporal Mechanics 101 because there’s a lot of time-travel stuff in here. Did you have any hard and fast rules of thumb or guidelines about how to deal with time travel in a way that makes sense — because we all know time travel isn’t always consistently handled in Star Trek — and is accessible for this younger audience as compared to an adult audience?

DH: I feel like we kind of have our cake and eat it too, where if you really dig into the science, it’s there, but then at the same time there’s a very simple Back to the Future premise in Season 2 for a younger audience that goes, okay, I can get that very simple thing. But yeah, I remember thinking not only are we going to be doing a time travel season, but we’re also going to do a Star Trek time travel season, which is like, we know the fans are going to be looking at that, looking for all the plot holes. There’s always plot holes.

KH: Yeah, we mapped it out, we showed it to our astrophysicist advisor, “Does this work?” And she was redoing the drawing. She’s like, “Yes, this can work.”

Star Trek: Prodigy Season 2 adds a new young character into the mix with the Vulcan Nova Squadron cadet Maj’el, which brings up a couple of questions. First, has there ever been a member of Nova Squadron that hasn’t come off like a jerk at first? Because I’m starting wonder why Starfleet Academy allows that to continue to exist.

DH: [Laughs] I think Nova Squadron’s the coolest of the cool.

Second, when you were looking at adding Maj’el to the cast, what was the impetus there? What did you feel like she brought to the group? How did that alter the group dynamic in a way that you felt would be beneficial for this second season going forward?

KH: In Season 1, we really didn’t explore Vulcans at all, and so we felt like we need to have a Vulcan. And with Gwyn being separated from our group for a period of time, it was like, yeah, let’s introduce a new character. So that’s where that started. Oh, what I love though is I don’t want to say she’s a jerk. It’s interesting. We wanted to use her as the sort of mirror to our kids.

DH: Who are they up against?  The best of the best are going to Starfleet. Who else are they going against?

KH: “We’re the best of the best,” yeah. This is Top Gun, and our kids, yeah, they saved the universe, but-

DH: They’re a far cry from those Delta flyers.

You do not hold back in the season with altering – sometimes literally, and physically – who these characters are. Since you are programming for kids, are you ever concerned about is this going to upset them, or are you always assuming they’re as game as any adult would be for this kind of dynamic narrative choice?

DH: I just want to say, in our childhood, Spielberg put a dead E.T. on a table, so we’ve got free game to do whatever we want.

KH: That’s the storytelling we grew up with was the old Amblin storytelling, the Close Encounters. Very powerful, magical, wondrous, frightening, heartbreaking. That’s the type of story we like to tell.

DH: It sticks to your bones. As you grow up you remember that.

KH: It sticks, exactly. We want our shows to stick to your bones. So even with Ninjago, we had some huge character deaths and twists and kids were crying, and it’s probably sad and painful in that moment, but I think they’re going to look back and go, “God, I loved Ninjago. I loved Prodigy. It really moved me.”

DH: It’s always funny. When Kevin and I come out of a Marvel movie we’re always like, “They should kill more characters.” In Endgame they take out one or whatever, and I’m like, “Oh, come on, that’s it? Let’s go, yo.”

We’ve got some bloodthirsty children’s content creators right here.

KH: That’s the caption of your article.

DH: Let’s go, yo.

I’ll leave you with the question that I’m sure you’re going to get a lot of while promoting this season, but can you offer any update to those hoping that there will be more Prodigy in the future? Or whether we might see these characters anywhere else in the future, even if Prodigy doesn’t get an official renewal or anything like that?

KH: That is our hope. That’s everyone’s hope. Everyone on our team and all of our cast and crew, and it really just comes down to, the show needs to do gangbusters on Netflix. And then I hope it just warrants something, whether it’s a season, whether it’s an animated feature follow-up, or something that might be more business cost-effective, something to just keep this going.

DH:  And I think it’s fitting. I’m not going to spoil anything, but if you really get to the end of Season 2, where they are is kind of metaphoric of where the show is. So that’s something to read into once you finish episode 40.

Star Trek: Prodigy is now streaming on Netflix.

The post Star Trek: Prodigy’s Creators on Making Season 2 More Trek and What Fans Can Do to Help Get a Season 3 appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The Star Trek movies are once again streaming on Paramount+. 

Ten Star Trek movies in total moved to Warner Bros. ‘ Max streaming service back in January – but now that the licensing deal is done, Star Trek is headed back to Paramount+, as Paramount is the home studio of the franchise. 

The list of returning films includes six Star Trek TOS films (Star Trek: The Motion Picture, The Wrath of Khan, The Search for Spock, The Voyage Home, The Final Frontier, and The Undiscovered Country). In addition, four Star Trek: The Next Generation movies are also coming back over (Star Trek: Generations, First Contact, Insurrection, and Nemesis). 

You can now watch all 10 of those Star Trek films on Paramount+ – OR, you can check out the synopses below to pick and choose which specific installments you want to watch! 

Stra Trek: The Motion Picture

A massive alien spacecraft of enormous power destroys three powerful Klingon cruisers as it makes its way towards Federation space. Admiral James T. Kirk is ordered to take command of the USS Enterprise for the first time since her historic five-year mission. The Epsilon IX space station alerts the Federation, but they are also destroyed by the alien spacecraft. The only starship in range is the Enterprise, after undergoing a major overhaul in drydock orbiting Earth. Kirk rounds up the rest of his crew, and acquires some new members, and sets off to intercept the alien spacecraft. However, it has been three years since Kirk last went into deep space–is he up to the task of saving Earth?

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan

It is the 23rd century. Admiral James T. Kirk is an instructor at Starfleet Academy and feeling old; the prospect of attending his ship, the USS Enterprise–now a training ship–on a two-week cadet cruise does not make him feel any younger. But the training cruise becomes a deadly serious mission when his nemesis Khan Noonien Singh–infamous conqueror from late 20th century Earth–appears after years of exile. Khan later revealed that the planet Ceti Alpha VI exploded, and shifted the orbit of the fifth planet as a Mars-like haven. He begins capturing Project Genesis, a top secret device holding the power of creation itself, and schemes the utter destruction of Kirk.

Star Trek III: The Search for Spock

In the wake of Spock’s ultimate deed of sacrifice, Admiral Kirk and the Enterprise crew return to Earth for some essential repairs to their ship. When they arrive at Spacedock, they are shocked to discover that the Enterprise is to be decommissioned. Even worse, Dr. McCoy begins acting strangely and Scotty has been reassigned to another ship. Kirk is forced to steal back the Enterprise and head across space to the Genesis Planet to save Spock and bring him to Vulcan. Unbeknownst to them, the Klingons are planning to steal the secrets of the Genesis Device for their own deadly purpose. 

Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home

The most acclaimed Star Trek adventure of all time with an important message. It is the 23rd century, and a mysterious alien probe is threatening Earth by evaporating the oceans and destroying the atmosphere. In their frantic attempt to save mankind, Admiral Kirk and his crew must time travel back to 1986 San Francisco where they find a world of punk, pizza and exact-change buses that are as alien to them as anything they have ever encountered in the far-off reaches of the galaxy. William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy return as Kirk and Spock, along with the entire Star Trek crew.

Star Trek V: The Final Frontier

When the newly-christened starship Enterprise’s shakedown cruise goes poorly, Captain Kirk and crew put her into Spacedock for repairs. But an urgent mission interrupts their Earth-bound shore leave. A renegade Vulcan named Sybok has taken three ambassadors hostage on Nimbus III, the Planet of Galactic Peace. This event also attracts the attention of a Klingon captain who wants to make a name for himself and sets out to pursue the Enterprise. Sybok’s ragtag army captures the Enterprise and takes her on a journey to the center of the galaxy in search of the Supreme Being.

Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country

After an explosion on their moon, the Klingons have an estimated 50 years before their ozone layer is completely depleted, and they all die. They have only one choice – to make peace with the Federation, which will mean an end to 70 years of conflict. Captain James T. Kirk and crew are called upon to help in the negotiations because of their experience with the Klingons. Peace talks don’t quite proceed, and Kirk and McCoy are convicted of assassinating the Klingon High Chancellor, and imprisoned on Rura Penthe, a snowy hard-labor prison camp. Will they manage to escape? And will there ever be peace with the Klingons?

Star Trek: Generations

In the late twenty-third century, the gala maiden voyage of the newly-christened U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-B boasts such luminaries as Pavel Chekov, Montgomery Scott, and the legendary Captain James T. Kirk as guests. But her maiden voyage turns into a disaster as the unprepared starship is forced to rescue two transport ships from a mysterious energy ribbon. The Enterprise manages to save a handful of the ships’ passengers and barely succeeds out intact, but at the cost of Captain Kirk’s life. Seventy-eight years later, Captain Jean-Luc Picard and the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-D crew find themselves at odds with renegade scientist Dr. Tolian Soran, who is destroying entire star systems. Only one man can help Picard stop Soran’s scheme, and he has been dead for seventy-eight years.

Star Trek: First Contact

In the twenty-fourth century, the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-E has been ordered to patrol the Romulan Neutral Zone by the Federation to avoid interference with their battle against the insidious Borg. Witnessing the loss of the battle, Captain Jean-Luc Picard ignores orders and takes command of the fleet engaging the Borg. But the Borg plan to travel back into the twenty-first century through a vortex with the intention to stop Earth’s first contact with an alien race (the Vulcans). Following the Borg sphere, Picard and his crew realize that they have taken over the Enterprise in order to carry out their mission. Their only chance to do away with the Borg and their seductive Queen is to make sure that Zefram Cochrane makes his famous faster-than-light travel to the stars.

Star Trek: Insurrection

While on a mission to observe the peaceful Ba’ku race, Lieutenant Commander Data suddenly behaves as if having to fear for his existence. The immortal Ba’ku, whose planet offers regenerative radiation, and therefore incredible lifespans, live in harmony with nature and reject advanced technology. Their planet and their culture is secretly researched by the Federation associated with an alien race called the Son’a. But the Son’a intend to abduct the Ba’ku in order to take the planet for themselves and for the Starfleet officials who all would like to regenerate their bodies. But they did not think of the loyalty of Captain Jean-Luc Picard and the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-E to the Prime Directive.

Star Trek: Nemesis

After a joyous wedding between William Riker and Deanna Troi, Captain Picard and the Enterprise crew stumble upon a positronic signature which results in a prototype version of the android Data. Then the Enterprise is invited to Romulus to negotiate a peace treaty with the Romulans by their new leader, Praetor Shinzon. However, Shinzon is revealed to be a clone of Picard who was raised on Remus, a slave planet to the Romulans. Later on, Picard discovers that this peace treaty was nothing more than a set-up on account of the fact that Shinzon needs Picard in order to survive. But little do the Enterprise crew know that Shinzon also plans to do away with the Federation by unleashing a weapon that could destroy a whole planet.

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Everyone knows that the best way to celebrate the July 4th holiday is with fireworks, barbecues, and heavily discounted collectibles. Paramount Shop is happy to help you out with, surprisingly, more than one of those things thanks to a deal that offers 25% off everything in the store. This includes items from beloved franchises like Star Trek, South Park, SpongeBob SquarePants, Yellowstone, and more. 

When we say sitewide, really really do mean sitewide. Even this $2000 Star Trek: First Contact Borg Queen skull prop replica is eligible, not to mention the coveted Spongebob Squarepants Painty the Pirate canvas. All you need to do is head to the Paramount Shop and enter the code “FOURTH” at checkout to activate the 25% off offer. We’ve added some useful links below to help you find something fantastic. 

• Star Trek Replicas
• See All Star Trek Items at the Paramount Shop
• SpongeBob SquarePants Items
• South Park Items
• Yellowstone Items
• Garfield Items
• Avatar the Last Airbender Items

What is Star Trek: Starfleet Academy about?

According to Paramount’s official synopsis: 

“Star Trek: Starfleet Academy introduces viewers to a young group of cadets who come together to pursue a common dream of hope and optimism. Under the watchful and demanding eyes of their instructors, they discover what it takes to become Starfleet officers as they navigate blossoming friendships, explosive rivalries, first loves and a new enemy that threatens both the Academy and the Federation itself.”

Alex Kurtzman and Landau are Star Trek: Starfleet Academy‘s co-showrunners. They also serve as executive producers alongside Gaia Violo, Aaron Baiers, Olatunde Osunsanmi, Jenny Lumet, Rod Roddenberry, Trevor Roth, Frank Siracusa, and John Weberby. 

Ahead of Star Trek: Discovery Season 5’s premiere, ComicBook asked Kurtzman about Star Trek’s future: 

“I spent a lot of time that first season [of Discovery] really kind of meditating on, you know, this incredible universe that has been around for so long and how much more can be done with it, how many amazing stories there are to tell. There’s really an infinite number of stories to tell. I only want to make another Star Trek show if there’s something to say. I don’t wanna do it just to do more. I think that would be a huge disservice to Star Trek; it would be a huge disservice to the fans, and I think the fans would feel it instantaneously. They would know this is not authentic. Because if there’s one thing that Trek fans know, it’s authenticity.”

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy joins Star Trek: Discovery, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, animated series Star Trek: Lower Decks, and the upcoming Star Trek: Section 31 movie among Paramount+‘s Star Trek offerings (Star Trek: Prodigy has since moved to Netflix). 

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Star Trek: Lower Decks is headed toward its final season on Paramount+, but it doesn’t feel like the end for series creator Mike McMahan. In April, Paramount+ announced that Star Trek: Lower Decks of the animated comedy series set in the Star Trek universe. Fans (including Star Trek: Lower Decks) immediately began campaigning for another streaming service to rescue Star Trek: Lower Decks from its fate (having had similar success with Star Trek: Prodigy after its cancellation and removal from Paramount+). For his part, McMahan tells Awards Radar he was never thinking about the end of Star Trek: Lower Decks, and instead hoped to continue making the show indefinitely.

“For me, it’s like, I’m greedy,” McMahan says. “I would have kept making this show forever, but getting five seasons is such a miracle. It’s insane that this show even existed. Every season I felt like was a miracle. There are grand stories I’m telling for the characters in Lower Decks. So season five feels like an amazing sendoff. It feels like the end of a chapter, but not the end of a series. I had enough time to know that it had to be special.”

What’s next for Star Trek: Lower Decks?

While Star Trek: Lower Decks is ending, assuming it doesn’t find a new streaming home, Star Trek fans know that the end of a Star Trek television show isn’t always the end of that crew’s adventures. The ends of Star Trek: The Original Series and Star Trek: The Next Generation led to movies starring the casts of those shows. With Paramount+ entering the Star Trek movie business with the straight-to-streaming Star Trek: Section 31 and rumors of another Jean-Luc Picard adventure, the idea of a Star Trek: Lower Decks movie isn’t out of the question. In 2023, McMahan told ComicBook that he had ideas along those lines.

“I have an idea for an animated Lower Decks movie,” McMahan said. “I have ideas for live-action Lower Decks movies. And I have ideas for brand new, totally original Star Trek movies that don’t tie into anything we’ve seen before. I think Star Trek is an amazing genre to think about. I love the idea of not micro but small-budget Star Trek movies, where you get the bigness of a movie set, but you get to tell a Star Trek story that drives across a moment instead of a thing that has to be dealt with, like a Khan.”

The first four seasons of Star Trek: Lower Decks are streaming now on Paramount+. Star Trek: Lower Decks Season 5 does not have a premiere date.

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Star Trek: Prodigy‘s Protostar crew is back in the new Star Trek: Prodigy Season 2 trailer. On Thursday, CBS Studios released the Star Trek: Prodigy Season 2 trailer and key art. Star Trek: Prodigy, the Star Trek franchise’s first computer-animated series and first installment aimed at younger viewers, brings its second 20-episode season to Netflix on Monday, July 1st. All 20 Star Trek: Prodigy Season 1 episodes are streaming now on Netflix, having moved to the Netflix streaming library on Christmas Day 2023 after being canceled by Paramount+ and removed from that streaming service’s content catalog a few months earlier.

Star Trek: Prodigy follows an ad hoc crew of young aliens as they learn to work together, and towards the Starfleet ideals they hope to emulate. According to a press release, in Star Trek: Prodigy Season 2, “these six young outcasts who make up the Prodigy crew are assigned a new mission aboard the USS Voyager-A to rescue Captain Chakotay (voiced by Robert Beltran) and bring peace to Gwyn’s (voiced by Ella Purnell) home world. However, when their plan goes astray, it creates a time paradox that jeopardizes both their future and past.”

“We deeply appreciate our fans who have stood by us and our passionate crew who made this all possible. The work speaks for itself, but it’s the heart that will endure,” said Star Trek: Prodigy co-showrunners Kevin and Dan Hageman about Star Trek: Prodigy‘s Season 2 debut in a press release.

Star Trek: Prodigy received a 2023 TCA Award nomination for “Outstanding Achievement in Family Programming” and a 2022 Children’s and Family Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Animated Series. Production designer Alessandro Taini won the Children’s and Family Emmy Award Award for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Animation.

Star Trek: Prodigy Cast

Star Trek: Prodigy‘s voice cast includes Kate Mulgrew (Kathryn Janeway), Brett Gray (Dal), Ella Purnell (Gwyn), Rylee Alazraqui (Rok-Tahk), Angus Imrie (Zero), Jason Mantzoukas (Jankom Pog), Dee Bradley Baker (Murf), John Noble (The Diviner) and Jimmi Simpson (Drednok). Star Trek: Prodigy Season 2’s recurring voice cast includes Robert Beltran (Captain Chakotay), Robert Picardo (The Doctor), Jason Alexander (Doctor Noum), Daveed Diggs (Commander Tysess), Jameela Jamil (Ensign Asencia), Ronny Cox (Admiral Jellico), and Michaela Dietz (Maj’el).

CBS Eye Animation Productions, Nickelodeon Animation, Secret Hideout, and Roddenberry Entertainment produce Star Trek: Prodigy. Alex Kurtzman, Heather Kadin, Aaron Baiers, Rod Roddenberry, and Trevor Roth serve as the show’s executive producers with co-showrunners Kevin and Dan Hageman. Ben Hibon directs, is an executive producer, and serves as the creative lead of the series. Aaron Waltke and Patrick Krebs also serve as co-executive producers.

Star Trek: Prodigy Season 2 will stream on Netflix globally (excluding Canada, Nordics, CEE, Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, Poland, Russia, Belarus, and Mainland China) and is available on SkyShowtime in the Nordics, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and Central and Eastern Europe. Star Trek: Prodigy Season 1 will be available in Canada on CTV.ca and the CTV App.

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Star Trek: Prodigy Season 2 finally arrives on Netflix on July 1st. Netflix picked up after Paramount+ canceled the show during production on its second season, removing it from its streaming library a year ago. Netflix became home to Star Trek: Prodigy‘s first 20-episode season on Christmas Day 2023. Where Star Trek: Prodigy’s first season rolled out weekly in two 10-episode blocks, Star Trek: Prodigy Season 2 will adopt Netflix’s binge model, debuting all 20 of its episodes at once on July 1st. The binge model is one that showrunners Dan and Kevin Hageman — who have a history with Netflix dating back to their — fully embrace. 

“I think we’re very comfortable with our history with Netflix and shows dropping Christmas Day,” Dan Hageman told ComicBook ahead of the animated series’ Netflix debut. “So, I don’t know if you know, but Trollhunters dropped on Christmas Day, and I remember, originally, we were like, ‘That’s a horrible time.’ And they’re like, ‘No, kids get their new devices. There’s no school on. Their parents let them watch as much TV as they want, and they can binge a whole season.’ So, when that happened on Trollhunters and Trollhunters became quite a success over there, we found out we got dropped on December 25th, that’s a massive honor. We’re so proud.”

Kevin Hageman added, “I think now that people have seen our Season 1, there are similarities to Trollhunters. You understand our voice. You understand our 22-minute serialization. There’s always a hook. It’s been written and built to be a binge-able show. On Paramount+ it was week by week, which was interesting. You’re only getting 22 minutes, and 22 minutes of a good show never feels like enough. You want to kind of watch the next one.”

Will there be more Star Trek: Prodigy?

The Hagemans remained optimistic about Star Trek: Prodigy‘s future when they spoke to ComicBook.com in December. They hope that Star Trek: Prodigy follows a path similar to that of Star Trek: The Original Series.

“In Season 2, I love the end of Season 2 as much as I love the end of Season 1,” Dan Hageman said. “And we’re never wrapping up a series. We’re always having an open door for the next season, and I’m really excited at where it can go. That will be up to the fans and up to the audience.”

Kevin Hageman added, “If the audience is there, my hope is we’re following the footsteps of The Original Series. We were canceled, where we came back, and then there will be movies and future seasons. That will be amazing.”

What is Star Trek: Prodigy?

Star Trek: Prodigy is Star Trek’s first computer-animated series. It follows a group of young people who escape the prison of Tars Lamora, located deep in the Delta Quadrant of the galaxy (previously explored in Star Trek: Voyager) via an abandoned, experimental Starfleet starship, the U.S.S. Protostar.

The Protostar‘s young crew sets out to make contact with Starfleet, facing various challenges and adventures along the way and with the villainous Diviner in pursuit. The family-friendly series offers a version of Star Trek that parents and longtime fans can easily watch alongside their children or newcomers to the franchise.

Who is in the Star Trek: Prodigy cast?

Star Trek: Prodigy‘s voice cast includes Kate Mulgrew, who is reprising her role as Kathryn Janeway from Star Trek: Voyager. The main cast features Brett Gray (Dal R’El), Ella Purnell (Gwyn), Rylee Alazraqui (Rok-Tahk), Angus Imrie (Zero), Jason Mantzoukas (Jankom Pog), Dee Bradley Baker (Murf), John Noble (The Diviner) and Jimmi Simpson (Drednok). 

The recurring voice cast includes newcomers Daveed Diggs (Commander Tysess), Jameela Jamil (Ensign Asencia), and Jason Alexander (Doctor Noum). Robert Beltran also reprises his role as Chakotay from Star Trek: Voyager, and Billy Campbell plays Thadiun Okona from Star Trek: The Next Generation.

Star Trek: Prodigy Season 1 is streaming on Netflix now. Star Trek: Prodigy Season 2 debuts on Netflix on July 1st.

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There’s few movie theme songs as iconic as the one for the Star Trek franchise, with the 2013 movie Star Trek Into Darkness not only delivering fans that beloved music, but also an expansive score from Michael Giacchino. To celebrate the music, Varèse Sarabande and Craft Recordings have teamed up to bring a deluxe Star Trek Into Darkness score release, which needed three full LPs to contain the tracks on vinyl. Each LP is also colored in tribute to the various rankings of beloved Star Trek crew members, featuring yellow, red, and blue. The Star Trek Into Darkness (Deluxe Edition) score is available now to pre-order before hitting shelves on September 6th.

Per press release, “Varèse Sarabande and Craft Recordings announce the first-ever vinyl release for Michael Giacchino’s expanded Deluxe Edition score for J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek Into Darkness. The expanded Deluxe Edition version of composer Michael Giacchino’s score for the film arrives on vinyl as a 3-LP Blue, Red, and Yellow set themed after the iconic Starfleet uniforms. The collection comes housed in a premium slipcase with a Starfleet Insignia-shaped cut-out, allowing fans to pick their own cover image, and includes a 16-page booklet with behind-the-scenes photos from the set and notes from J.J. Abrams and Michael Giacchino. Releasing September 6th, and available for pre-order now, the 3-LP tricolor set (limited to 1,000 copies) will be available at retailers in North America, while a Translucent Clear set will be available for the rest of the world.”

“Into Darkness is the 12th installment in the Star Trek franchise and the sequel to the 2009 film Star Trek, as the second in a rebooted film series. The returning cast of Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Simon Pegg, Karl Urban, Zoe Saldana, John Cho, Anton Yelchin, Bruce Greenwood, and Leonard Nimoy reprised their roles from the previous film, joined by Benedict Cumberbatch as the legendary Star Trek villain Khan. Set in the 23rd century, the film follows Captain Kirk and the crew of U.S.S. Enterprise as they are sent to the Klingon homeworld seeking a former Starfleet member-turned-terrorist, John Harrison.

“The film was a financial success and received positive reviews from critics. Its gross earnings of over $467 million worldwide made it the highest-grossing entry in the Star Trek franchise. The film was nominated for Best Visual Effects at the 86th Academy Awards. One of Giacchino’s main tasks with the film was to evolve the themes from the previous installment and create new ones to reflect the film’s darker tone. A specific example of this was during the composition of the track ‘London Calling.’ ‘[Director J. J. Abrams] just wanted it to feel like we weren’t in a Star Trek movie,’ Giacchino said. ‘It was a very conscious decision to make that base sound different; then, from there, we were able to evolve to our theme for the character. I remember when J. J. heard it, he said, “Oh, it sounds English. That’s perfect!”‘ The score is also notable for featuring orchestration that contains piano, the first Star Trek score to do so since Cliff Eidelman’s music for Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991), as well as a choir singing entirely in the Klingon language (which appears on the track entitled ‘The Qo’noS Wartet’). The score also contains interpolations of the ‘Theme from Star Trek,’ written by Alexander Courage.

“Michael Giacchino’s prolific output features some of the most popular and acclaimed projects in recent history, including The Incredibles, Coco, Jojo Rabbit, Ratatouille, Star Trek, Jurassic World, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Spider-Man: No Way Home, War for the Planet of the Apes, and The Batman. His 2009 score for the Pixar hit Up earned Giacchino an Oscar, a Golden Globe, the BAFTA, the Broadcast Film Critics’ Choice Award, and two GRAMMY Awards. After almost 20 years of film scoring, Giacchino directed the very first Marvel special presentation, Werewolf by Night, in 2022.”

The Star Trek Into Darkness (Deluxe Edition) score is available now to pre-order before hitting shelves on September 6th.

Will you be adding the album to your collection? Contact Patrick Cavanaugh directly on Twitter or on Instagram to talk all things Star Wars and horror!   

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WizKids has announced a new Star Trek tabletop game due out for release later this year. Star Trek: Captain’s Chair is a new deckbuilding game that features six different captains from the Star Trek universe competing in different ways. Each of the captains have different strategies and strengths, and players can choose to lean into diplomacy, exploration, and science in addition to ship combat. The six captains featured in the game include Jean-Luc Picard, Benjamin Sisko, Michael Burnham, Koloth, the Dehar Master (from the original series and Deep Space 9), Sela (a Romulan captain from Star Trek: The Next Generation and Tasha Yar’s mother), and Thy’lek Shran (an Andorian from Star Trek: Enterprise.) 

Previews of various cards showcase a variety of characters from across the Star Trek line, with characters from the Star Trek movies and Star Trek: Lower Deck appearing alongside characters from the live-action TV show. It’s also notable that the game features a mix of different species, including an Andorian, which are usually considered afterthoughts even though they were a founding Federation member. We’ll also note that the game omits several popular Star Trek captains, including James T. Kirk, which seemingly hints that there will be room for expansions should the game be a success.

WizKids has a robust Star Trek game line that includes a mix of ship tactical miniatures games and more traditional board games. This marks WizKids’ first Star Trek card game, although there have been several other Star Trek card games, most notably the Star Trek Customizable Card Game that continues to have a competitive scene despite the game being out of print for nearly 20 years. 

Star Trek: Captain’s Chair was designed by David Turczi and Nigel Buckle, who also designed Voidfall and the Imperium Series. The game will be released in Q4 2024. 

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Paul Giamatti is enrolling in the cast of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy. The Oscar-nominated actor will reportedly appear in a “recurring guest star role” as “the season’s central villain,” who is described as being “a man with an ominous past, with a connection to one of the show’s cadets. 

This is a major franchise entry for Giamatti, who has largely preferred to stay away from franchise universes; his biggest role in one was playing an outrageously over-the-top version of Marvel villain The Rhino, in Sony’s Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014). 

That said, Giamatti has been known to favor genre material – even if it isn’t the big comic book movie studios. His filmography has plenty of prestige work (12 Years a Slave, Sideways, his most recent Oscar-nominated film The Holdovers), but also plenty of B-movie genre films (Shoot ‘Em Up, Lady in the Water, Fred Claus, The Hangover Part II, Rock of Ages, San Andreas, Gunpowder Milkshake, Jungle Cruise). If anything, it’s surprising that it’s taken this long for Giamatti to break the Star Trek/Star Wars barrier – and even more surprising to see him starting with Star Trek. 

Starfleet Academy co-showrunners and exec producers Alex Kurtzman and Noga Landau stated casting Giamatti, which reads: 

“Sometimes you’re lucky enough to discover that one of the greatest actors alive is also a huge Star Trek fan, and meeting Paul was one of those miraculous moments for us. The sheer delight with which he dove in on Starfleet Academy is only surpassed by the gratitude we feel about him joining our incredible cast,” 

Giamatti has definitely played his fair share of villains. Shoot ‘Em Up cast him as the secondary henchman villain Karl Hertz, who was a gun-toting psychopath. His version of Rhino started out as a Russian gangster, with Giamatti chewing so much scenery there was barely any left for set dressing. That’s all to say: he can definitely exhibit menace as a Star Trek villain – and will probably delight in getting to dress up like one of the series’ alien characters. 

Starfleet Academy recently cast actress Holly Hunter (Batman v Superman) as one of the series leads; Hunter will play a Starfleet captain who becomes the Chancellor of Starfleet Academy. It’s another big character actor casting that has Kurtzman and Landau thrilled, and Star Trek fans raising eyebrows about how Starfleet Academy is coming together.

What is Star Trek: Starfleet Academy about?

According to Paramount’s official synopsis: 

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy introduces viewers to a young group of cadets who come together to pursue a common dream of hope and optimism. Under the watchful and demanding eyes of their instructors, they discover what it takes to become Starfleet officers as they navigate blossoming friendships, explosive rivalries, first loves and a new enemy that threatens both the Academy and the Federation itself.

Kurtzman and Landau are Star Trek: Starfleet Academy‘s co-showrunners. They also serve as executive producers alongside Gaia Violo, Aaron Baiers, Olatunde Osunsanmi, Jenny Lumet, Rod Roddenberry, Trevor Roth, Frank Siracusa, and John Weberby. 

Violo wrote Star Trek: Starfleet Academy‘s premiere episode. CBS Studios, in association with Secret Hideout and Roddenberry Entertainment, is producing the series.

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy joins Star Trek: Discovery, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, animated series Star Trek: Lower Decks, and the upcoming  among Paramount+’s Star Trek offerings (Star Trek: Prodigy ). 

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is set to start production this summer. 

Source: THR

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