Summary
- Michelle Yeoh's Star Trek: Section 31 movie could pave the way for more Star Trek characters to become leads in their own movies, expanding the Star Trek universe.
- Captain Benjamin Sisko and Commander Ro Laren are two legacy characters who could benefit from this approach and have story material that could be developed into "event movies" exclusive to Paramount+.
- The potential for exclusive streaming Star Trek movies could provide opportunities for characters like Captain James T. Kirk, Dr. Julian Bashir, Captain Seven of Nine, Captain Worf, and President Archer to have their own films and explore new storylines within the Star Trek mythology.
Michelle Yeoh's Star Trek actors who won an Oscar, Michelle Yeoh is perfect for launching this foray into streaming exclusive movies. Surrounding her with a brand-new cast that expands the Star Trek universe is also an incredibly smart move.
Michelle Yeoh's Star Trek: Section 31 provides a potential format for future exclusive streaming Star Trek movies. By choosing one particular legacy character and surrounding them with a cast of fresh faces, Section 31 will be able to focus squarely on Yeoh's character while expanding the Star Trek universe. Multiple Star Trek legacy characters could also benefit from this approach, and some of the actors have already pitched ideas that could easily be developed into "event movies", exclusive to Paramount+.
Where You've Seen Star Trek: Section 31's New Actors Before
Star Trek: Section 31 added several new cast who will star alongside Acadamy Award-winner Michelle Yeoh in the film on Paramount+.
7 Captain Benjamin Sisko (Avery Brooks)
While it's unlikely to happen, a Sisko movie would be an unmissable event.
Captain Benjamin Sisko is the Star Trek character who most deserves his own movie, but he's played by the actor who is least likely to return to the franchise. Avery Brooks has shown no interest in reprising the role of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's captain, which is why Sisko hasn't returned to Star Trek. It's disappointing because there is rich story material in telling the story of what happens when Sisko returns from the Celestial Temple. Michelle Yeoh's Star Trek: Section 31 movie is about Georgiou reconciling the "sins of her past", and Sisko could do something similar in a DS9 spinoff movie.
Captain Sisko affirmed that he could live with his darkest moment, misleading the Romulan Star Empire into ing the Dominion War. However, a Romulan Empire struggling with the devastating loss of their home world may not be so forgiving. A political thriller about Sisko returning to face the consequences of his actions could be the perfect way to bring in a brand-new cast as Sisko's Starfleet defense counsel and his Romulan prosecutors. There's a slim chance of Star Trek: Sisko ever happening, but it's not from a lack of strong story ideas.
6 Commander Ro Laren (Michelle Forbes)
A Ro Laren movie could bridge the gap between TNG and Picard season 3.
Commander Ro Laren (Michelle Forbes) was one of Star Trek: The Next Generation's best-loved recurring characters. Her betrayal of Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) left a lasting impact on the captain of the USS Enterprise-D. Ro Laren returned in Star Trek: Picard season 3, welcomed back into the fold as a member of Starfleet Intelligence. Ro's rehabilitation would make for a fantastic Star Trek movie, bridging the gap between the Dominion's Maquis purges and her appearance in Picard season 3, episode 5, "Impostors". As with Star Trek: Section 31, Ro Laren could be surrounded by new characters during both her incarceration and her ascent through Starfleet Intelligence.
5 Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner/Paul Wesley)
Star Trek: Picard set up Kirk's resurrection.
Star Trek: Picard season 3 revealed that Starfleet is holding the corpse of Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner), for something called "Project Phoenix" which heavily implied that the legendary Enterprise captain could rise again. One last hurrah for William Shatner as Kirk could fix the controversy around his death in Star Trek Generations. Shatner is open to A.I. recreating Kirk, which could allow for the character to be de-aged for the movie. To lighten the load for the 92-year-old actor, the movie could focus on the scientists leading the controversial project, allowing for the casting of younger talent to appeal to a wider audience.
Alternatively, as Paul Wesley is already under contract with Paramount, a Kirk movie could tell parallel narratives. Perhaps focusing on Kirk's involvement with the Genesis program in the 23rd century, while scientists in the 24th century prepare to bring the older Jim Kirk back to life. Casting Shatner would be a big swing, given the costs involved, but it could pay dividends by enticing Paramount+ subscribers with the prospect of a brand-new adventure for the original Captain Kirk.
Every William Shatner & Paul Wesley Kirk Promotion & Demotion Seen In Star Trek
Star Trek's Captain James T. Kirk received multiple promotions and demotions over the course of his illustrious Starfleet career.
4 Dr. Julian Bashir (Alexander Siddig)
Could DS9's Bashir lead a Star Trek: Section 31 sequel?
Dr. Julian Bashir (Alexander Siddig) made it his life's work to bring down Section 31 in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, making him an ideal lead for any follow-up to Michelle Yeoh's movie. It's possible Georgiou could bring down the 23rd-century version of the organization at the end of Section 31, paving the way for Luther Sloan (William Sadler) to resurrect it in DS9's 24th century. Bashir's investigations into Starfleet's covert agency would bring him into with all manner of shady characters from across the Star Trek universe, allowing for the DS9 spinoff movie to cast a whole host of new actors.
3 Captain Seven of Nine (Jeri Ryan)
A Captain Seven movie could be the perfect Star Trek: Legacy pilot.
A Star Trek movie focused on Captain Seven of Nine (Jeri Ryan) and the crew of the USS Enterprise-G needn't be an expensive proposition. A Seven of Nine movie needn't rely on big-name legacy cameos from the likes of Tim Russ or John de Lancie. Instead, it could send her on a mission that introduces a brand-new alien species while introducing more of the Enterprise's crew. It would be the perfect proving ground for the proposed Star Trek: Legacy project, proving that this Enterprise crew can confidently stand on their own two feet.
2 Captain Worf (Michael Dorn)
Michael Dorn's Captain Worf concept would make a great Star Trek movie.
Michael Dorn previously pitched a Captain Worf TV show, in which the Star Trek: The Next Generation character was in command of a unique Klingon vessel. In Dorn's pitch, the Klingon Empire becomes more open to aliens serving aboard their ships. This would lead to Captain Worf commanding a crew of Klingons, Starfleet officers, and other alien species. It's a perfect way to use Worf's cross-cultural heritage to tell a new type of Star Trek story. Worf is a great mentor figure, so surrounding Michael Dorn with a cast of young talent playing rookie officers would be ideal for the project.
1 Captain Jonathan Archer (Scott Bakula)
A President Archer movie could give Enterprise a proper finale.
Captain Jonathan Archer (Scott Bakula) became Federation President after Star Trek: Enterprise ended, which could make for a fascinating movie. President Archer and his staff could be faced with a terrible threat to the Federation. Star Trek rarely goes too deep into the political intricacies of the Federation Council, but a movie about Archer's presidency could shed light on how it works. Surrounding Scott Bakula with a fresh cast who play his senior staff and various of the Federation Council would do something brand new when it comes to Star Trek mythology.
Whether Paramount+ opts to give more Star Trek legacy characters their own movies will depend on the success of Michelle Yeoh's Star Trek: Section 31. However, there are so many characters that still have stories to tell that the prospect of a movie could be incredibly enticing to actors. After all, the commitment to a TV movie is less demanding than the commitment to an ongoing TV series. Star Trek: Section 31 could truly change the game when it comes to Star Trek movies in the 2020s.
Star Trek: Section 31 is filming now to premiere exclusively on Paramount+.
Star Trek: Section 31
- Release Date
- January 22, 2025
- Runtime
- 96 Minutes
- Director
- Olatunde Osunsanmi
Cast
Emperor Philippa Georgiou
Omari HardwickAlok Za'ha
WHERE TO WATCH
Star Trek: Section 31 follows Emperor Philippa Georgiou as she s a clandestine Starfleet division tasked with protecting the United Federation of Planets, confronting the consequences of her past actions.
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