Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3 picks up from season 2's cliffhanger before jumping into all-new, genre-bending stories. Strange New Worlds season 3 introduces new characters, new romances, and more adventure aboard Captain Christopher Pike's (Anson Mount) USS Enterprise.
ScreenRant's Joe Deckelmeier had the pleasure of interviewing Goldsman and Myers about Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3. The duo explained why the show is ending with season 5, and lots more.
Strange New Worlds Season 3's Premiere Changed Because Of The WGA & SAG-AFTRA Strikes
"But The Idea Was Always The Idea"
The Strange New Worlds season 3 premiere is absolutely fantastic. It's this show's version of Star Trek: The Next Generation's "The Best of Both Worlds." But, since there was a break in between writing and filming, did anything change in the interim?
Akiva Goldsman Yeah, there were changes.
Henry Alonso Myers: Celia had different hair. We had to work around that. That was one.
Akiva Goldsman: The first half was written before, the second half was written much later. But the idea was always the idea.
Catching Up On Captain Batel Post-Gorn Infection, Spock's New Romance & More
"We're Trying To Approach TOS, But With The Characters Before They Get To TOS"
Henry Alonso Myers: How much do you want to tell them, Akiva?
Akiva Goldsman: I just told Jen to release the rest of the episodes today, because people are stuck only seeing half of them, which is hard. Who doesn't like an alien infestation story?
You introduce Dr. Roger Korby as Nurse Chapel's new love interest, but Spock also has a new dance partner that we see in the trailer. Can you talk about filling in the canon between Chapel and Korby, and whether Spock is going to date everyone on the ship by the time we get to season 5?
Henry Alonso Myers: Not everyone.
Akiva Goldsman: Everyone is a lot of people.
Henry Alonso Myers: It is a lot of people. Vulcans have incredible strength, but I don't think they have quite that much.
Akiva Goldsman: That's a lot of strength, but they don't need sleep. That's fair.
Henry Alonso Myers: There are several more episodes that we would need to do that.
Akiva Goldsman: Yeah, that's true. Let's come back to you on that.
In the meantime, we're making our way towards The Original Series, right? And we know that Roger Korby and Christine are engaged in The Original Series. So, we're trying to approach TOS, but with the characters before they get to TOS.
There is an episode that deals directly with Ortegas that, I think, is one of my favorite things that we've ever done.
ScreenRant: Lt. Erica Ortegas goes through quite a change in season 3. What can you share about her journey?
Henry Alonso Myers: One of the great things about Melissa is she's literally at the center of every storyline, because she's at the helm. She is incredibly great with comedy, and was really easy to fit into lots of different stories, but one of the things that we hadn't gotten a chance to do was to give her her own story and drive, and learn something about her history. That is absolutely one of the things that we get to do in season 3.
And there is an episode that deals directly with her that, I think, is one of my favorite things that we've ever done. You haven't seen it yet. I'm excited for you to see it.
Are Rhys Darby & John de Lancie Playing Trelane & Q In Strange New Worlds Season 3?
"We're Actually Trying To Close That Can Of Worms"
ScreenRant: Rhys Darby's guest spot in his episode was absolutely incredible. He seems like a character that we're kind of familiar with, but he's never named in the episode. What was the character's name in the script? Is he, by any chance, from the TOS episode "The Squire of Gothos?"
Akiva Goldsman: Yes! As long as you confirm it after the episode. And the reason we never say it is because Spock can't hear it, so that he can be surprised at the name later.
We are suggesting that these are the same creatures, basically.
ScreenRant: Oh, that's so smart. Meanwhile, John de Lancie has a voice cameo as Rhys Darby's dad, which is really awesome. But of course, it's going to open up a whole can of worms about whether Rhys Darby is a Q. Is John de Lance is playing Q, or is he a different Q than the one that we're used to?
Akiva Goldsman: John de Lancie is playing Q.
Henry Alonso Myers: We are suggesting that these are the same creatures, basically.
Akiva Goldsman: We're actually trying to close that can of worms.
Henry Alonso Myers: There's been a lot of discussion internally, especially in beta canon, about that. 'Oh wait, was Trelane a Q? Is that what it means?" Because he behaves like a Q and does all these cute things.
Akiva Goldsman: We're going with yes.
Bringing A Young Scotty Into Strange New Worlds Season 3 & Discovering More About Dr. M'Benga
"If You Don't Give Them A Little Bit Of Mystery... You've Missed A Sincere Opportunity"
Henry Alonso Myers: Well, something we try to do on our show is not introduce characters as the people they will become, but show them as the people they were beforehand. And like most people, they have no idea who they're going to become. If you don't give them a little bit of mystery, given that they don't knowing what's going to happen to them, I think you've missed a sincere opportunity.
Martin, who plays him, is a wonderful actor. We tried really, really hard to lean into both comedy and drama with him, and not just assume that everything that he becomes is something that he has [inherently]. We make a big deal about how he doesn't drink at some point. So, there's plenty of time to become that person.
ScreenRant: I also want to talk about my favorite doctor, Joseph M'Benga. He is absolutely fantastic this season. How has his character evolved since season 1?
Akiva Goldsman: M'Benga is one of those legacy characters. What do we know about him? Why was he on the ship? Where did he go from The Original Series? We were so fascinated by him, and we started to evolve with him over the course of the shows. Babs is incredible physically, so we started writing to that. Babs is actually a very light person, but in the performance, there's a brooding that he brings to it. We started to write to that, and he turned out just to be a great guy to give a dark past to.
It's a perfect example of how we like to sync up with the actors. We are interested in what they want to do, and we're very interested by their performance. And so, we chase those things and try to move the characters into places you might not have expected in season 1.
Henry Alonso Myers: It might be worth stating that one of the things that is accomplished by the show, which you will see in the journeys to come, is that we get a deeper understanding of who that character is in The Original Series. Even though he was only in a couple episodes, there is a deep, genuine inner meaning to this person's life. If you watch our show, and then watch that, you will come to understand exactly how he arrived in the place where we saw him.
Can Strange New Worlds Continue Into A Kirk & Spock TOS Spinoff?
"We Can Neither Confirm Nor Deny"
Henry Alonso Myers: We can neither confirm nor deny.
Akiva Goldsman: We are very interested in continuing to tell stories... I'm gonna keep trying to find a good quote here. We are very interested in telling stories of Kirk's Enterprise that we might not yet know about yet.
ScreenRant: In some of these episodes, we're getting to see things that we wouldn't normally see. Can you talk to me about some of the reactions from the cast when they get some of these scripts?
Henry Alonso Myers: Honestly, it's been one of the most delightful parts of the show. I mean, the real thing that we try to do with every episode is come up with something new for them to try. The job is for us is to come in and be surprised, and to try things that we didn't think we'd have to do. We want to give the cast something that allows them to do the same thing.
And the result is that you tend to get actors who work well with that. They're creative and thoughtful, and they come in really ready for the next day because they don't know what it's going to be. And that, to me, is the joy that we try to bring into the show. And I think it applies to all of our departments, but the actors are critical to that.
Akiva Goldsman: In The Animated Series, there's a holodeck, or essentially a holodeck. We then interpolated the idea that there must be, before that, some beta testing. Why not beta test on the Enterprise? We figured we were on safe enough ground.
What Are Henry Alonso Myers & Akiva Goldsman's Favorite Star Trek Episodes And Captains?
"We're Fond Of All The Captains"
ScreenRant: What are some touchstone Star Trek episodes that you guys hold in the highest regard?
Akiva Goldsman: "City on the Edge of Forever" is endlessly mine.
Henry Alonso Myers: Gosh, "The Inner Light" is a big one that we talk about a lot.
Akiva Goldsman: Love "The Best of Both Worlds," part one and two.
Henry Alonso Myers: "Amok Time" is a huge one. "Trouble with Tribbles," largely because it's such a great example of comedy and how it can work well on the show.
ScreenRant: Who's your favorite captain? Out of curiosity.
Akiva Goldsman: Oh, no, that's a tough one.
Henry Alonso Myers: We're fond of all of the Captains.
Akiva Goldsman: All our captains.
Henry Alonso Myers: Really, there is not a captain we don't love. And we love them because they're all different. I mean, there's none that we don't love.
Why Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Is Ending With Season 5
The Showrunners Also Give Advice For Newcomers Watching Star Trek
ScreenRant: Strange New Worlds ends with season 5. I'm happy that the show continues to play out that five-year mission, but why end in season 5 instead of continuing on? Will there be extended episodes that we get at all?
Akiva Goldsman: I think that the studio sort of thought that we had essentially run our course after four seasons. We said, 'Hey, look, we made a set of promises to the audience around the idea of getting us right up to kissing distance with The Original Series.' And the studio said, 'Yes, we agree, and we were part of that promise. Let's re-explore how to do that in a way that makes sense for all parties'.
They came back and said, 'Here are six episodes.' Well, in fairness, they said, 'What do you need to finish it?' And we said, 'We can do it in six'. You'll just have to wait to find out what those six are. If they're bigger or stronger or faster, all that.
Henry Alonso Myers: And it's a good reminder that you still have season 3 to look at, you have season 4 to look at, and then eventually you'll have season 5 to look at. That's 26 episodes of Star Trek.
ScreenRant: It's interesting because I'm almost done with TNG, but I haven't seen any of Deep Space Nine or Voyager, so I still have a lot to go. What is your advice for a new Trekkie like me about what to anticipate going forward in this universe?
Henry Alonso Myers: I have a soft spot for Deep Space Nine. It was an important part of my life when I was younger. I love it. It's really thoughtful and clever and interesting and different from a lot of other shows. But there's something to love about all of them. Just keep going, is what I would say.
Will Warner Bros. Release Joel Schumacher's Batman Forever Director's Cut?
ScreenRant: Akiva, I know you've been asked this a ton, but there is a movement that's growing strong. Is there any news on the release of the Joel Schumacher cut of Batman Forever? Have there been any conversations with Warner Bros. about finishing or releasing said cut?
Akiva Goldsman: There were conversations, but those conversations happened an administration ago. I know that there's a movement to move it forward, and I would love to see it. So, those conversations will certainly happen again.
