Star Trek: Enterprise's Jonathan Archer was Captain of the Enterprise in the 22nd century, but it's possible Archer could cross over into Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. Archer's pioneering voyages commanding the NX-01 started in 2151, with a jump ahead in Star Trek: Enterprise's series finale showing Archer delivering a speech that would mark the founding of the United Federation of Planets in 2161. However, there is a chance Jonathan Archer is still alive in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' 23rd century.
Humans in Star Trek don't have the lifespans of Vulcans, but advanced medicine of the future, good genetics, and a lot of luck have allowed some humans to live over a century. In Star Trek: The Next Generation's series premiere, an elderly Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy (DeForest Kelley) visited the USS Enterprise-D in the 24th century. Bones was 137 years old in TNG. Means like being trapped in a transporter buffer or even being transported to the Nexus have let other Star Trek: The Original Series characters jump ahead by a century.
How Scott Bakula’s Jonathan Archer From Star Trek: Enterprise Could Cross Over With Strange New Worlds
Jonathan Archer May Still Be Alive In Star Trek's 23rd Century
Star Trek: Enterprise's Captain Jonathan Archer was canonically born on August 4, 2112. This would make Archer 148 years old in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, if the upcoming season 3 takes place in 2260. Archer would be very elderly, but he could conceivably still be alive. At this point in his life, Jonathan Archer would be retired. Archer became a Starfleet Admiral and served as the first President of the Federation after his mission as Captain of the Enterprise was completed.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds could easily conjure a scenario where the expertise of Jonathan Archer is required, perhaps something tying back to the Xindi or another foe Archer faced on Star Trek: Enterprise. If Jonathan Archer is still alive in Strange New Worlds, he would likely be living on Earth, possibly in his birthplace of Upstate New York or in San Francisco, where he lived most of his adult life, and where Starfleet Headquarters is located. Archer may also be living in France, since Federation Headquarters is based in Paris.
Why Strange New Worlds Meeting Scott Bakula’s Jonathan Archer Would Work
Scott Bakula Recently Returned To Star Trek
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds bringing in Scott Bakula to play Jonathan Archer would be a historic crossover event, keeping with the prequel's other milestones like the Jonathan Frakes-directed comedic crossover with Star Trek: Lower Decks and Star Trek's first-ever musical episode. Scott Bakula has not played Archer since Star Trek: Enterprise was canceled in 2005. Archer coming aboard the 23rd century USS Enterprise would mean Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount) would meet his hero and inspiration.
Scott Bakula may be willing to reprise Jonathan Archer if an opportunity to guest star in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is presented. Bakula continued his successful acting career after Star Trek: Enterprise, but he distanced himself from Star Trek. In 2024, however, Bakula joined his Star Trek compatriots to accept the Peabody Award on behalf of the franchise, and Scott was a guest on The D-Con Chamber podcast hosted by his fellow Star Trek: Enterprise actors Dominic Keating and Connor Trinneer.
There has been no indication that Strange New Worlds is priming itself for a Scott Bakula guest appearance.
Could all of this be a prelude to Scott Bakula reprising Jonathan Archer on Strange New Worlds? To be fair, there has been no indication that Strange New Worlds is priming itself for a Scott Bakula guest appearance. But if such an event were to happen, it would be shrouded in utmost secrecy. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3 premieres on Paramount+ in 2025, and if there's no Bakula as Archer in those 10 episodes, perhaps a crossover is being prepped as Strange New Worlds season 4 is being written before filming begins in early 2025.
Can Star Trek: Enterprise's T'Pol Cross Over With Strange New Worlds?
T'Pol May Still Be Alive, But Jolene Blalock No Longer Acts
From the standpoint of which Star Trek: Enterprise character is most likely still alive in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' 23rd century, the most logical answer would be Subcommander T'Pol (Jolene Blalock). Vulcans' long lives can reach 200 years. T'Pol was born in 2088 or 2089, and she was in her early 60s during Star Trek: Enterprise. This would place T'Pol's age at 172 in 2260, which is roughly when Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3 would take place. T'Pol beaming onto Captain Pike's Starship Enterprise would be as historic as Archer, and it could mean T'Pol meeting Lieutenant Spock (Ethan Peck).
However, from a real-world standpoint, it's unlikely Jolene Blalock will return to Star Trek and reprise T'Pol. Blalock retired from acting to become a mother, and she married Michael Rapino, the CEO of Live Nation. Blalock is happily settled in her life outside of Star Trek, despite her appearance on Star Trek Day 2021 leaving tongues wagging that Jolene could return to Star Trek. If a major name from Star Trek: Enterprise were to cross over with Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Scott Bakula as Jonathan Archer would be the most likely possibility and the one who would be the biggest Star Trek event.
