Star Trek took over Hall H for a super-sized panel to discuss everything from Picard to Discovery and beyond.
The panel, dubbed “Enter the Star Trek Universe,” flooded Hall H at this years SDCC with the casts and creatives from CBS All Access’ expansive portfolio of Trek-related properties. Included in the 90-minute panel were exclusive looks at the highly anticipated Picard series, the animated series Lower Decks and updates on season 3 of Star Trek: Discovery.
SDCC: ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ season 3 and beyond
The panel kicked off with Discovery as Sonequa Martin-Green (Michael Burnham) joined executive producers Alex Kurtzman, Michelle Paradise and Heather Kadin on stage to discuss the season 2 finale and what’s in store for season 3. Plus, an update on Short Treks!
Here’s what we learned:
- The series will jump 1000 years into the future!
- Newcomer alert! David Ajala will join the cast as Cleveland Booker, also known as “Book.” He is described as being smart and capable. Book has the kind of natural charm and reckless attitude that gets him into trouble almost as often as it get him out of it.
- Check out a photo!
- Six new Short Treks are headed our way and will bring back fan favorites we left behind at the end of season 2 including Spock (Ethan Peck), Number One (Rebecca Romijn), and Captain Pike (Anson Mount). The titles are as follows: “Ask Not,” “Q&A,” “The Trouble With Edward,” “The Girl Who Made The Stars,” “Ephaim And Dot,” and “Children Of Mars.”
- Additionally, two of the episodes will be animated, and another will be the backdoor pilot for the Picard series.
Watch the latest trailer for the Short Trek series here:
SDCC: ‘Star Trek: Lower Decks’
The introduction of Trek’s latest animated series, Lower Decks, was made by executive producer Mike McMahan (Rick & Morty). Following a sneak peek, the panel rounded out with appearances by recently announced cast members Tawny Newsome and Jack Quaid.
Here’s what we learned:
- The series is described as, “The half-hour animated series will follow the support crew on one of the Starfleet’s least important ships in the year 2380.” It will take place after Nemesis.
- The Star Trek: Lower Decks voice cast includes: Tawny Newsome as Ensign Beckett Mariner, Jack Quaid as Ensign Brad Boimler, Noël Wells as Ensign Tendi, Eugene Cordero as Ensign Rutherford.
- And the bridge crew includes Dawnn Lewis as Captain Carol Freeman, Jerry O’Connell as Commander Jack Ransom, Fred Tatasciore as Lieutenant Shaxs, and Gillian Vigman as Doctor T’ Ana.
- The ship is named the U.S.S. Cerritos and is a new class of ship (California) that operates a support ship.
- And a podcast is coming hosted by Lower Decks‘ Tawny Newsome!
SDCC: ‘Star Trek: Picard’ what can we expect
Of course, CBS saved the most-anticipated news and appearances for last. To close out the jam-packed panel, Patrick Stewart stepped onto the SDCC stage along with showrunner Michael Chabon and the new faces of Picard, including Alison Pill, Isa Briones, Santiago Cabrera, Michelle Hurd, Evan Evagora, and Harry Treadaway.
Here’s what we learned:
- First, the answer to the question on everyone’s mind — Why now? Patrick Stewart said that when he read where the series would go, he knew he had to be a part of it. If you’re worried about losing Picard, never fear! Stewart is an active contributor on the series.
- Kurtzman described Picard saying, “Picard represents the ideal captain not just as a philosopher but as a human being.”
- Perhaps the most exciting part of the panel was the reveal in the trailer that Data (Brent Spiner) and Seven of Nine (Jeri Ryan) will return in season 1!! Though not in the trailer, Will Riker (Jonathan Frakes) and Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis) are also confirmed to return.
- The Next Generation family is hard to break up. Stewart commented that when working with his former cast mates, “You’ve got to get your laughing gear in place because we have more fun that really should be allowed in a very expensive series.”
- Newcomers Isa Briones and Santiago Caberera will play someone who had a tragedy and set out to find Picard and an ex-Starfleet member respectively. Alison Pill will play a researcher, but could not say much more. Each character shares the fact that they are a bit broken.
- The old Picard is not gone, he is still searching for a way to do the right thing no matter the cost, but under new circumstances.
- When wrapping the original series, Stewart said he could not say “The honor is all mine” back to Jonathan Frakes.
- Picard will premiere early 2020.
Watch the Picard trailer now!
Star Trek: Picard, Star Trek: Lower Decks, and Star Trek: Discovery season 3 will premiere on CBS All Access in 2020.
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