For 2020 Comic-Con has moved from San Diego to the Internet. The virtual Comic-Con@Home event will run from Wednesday, July 22nd through to Sunday, July 26th. The big event for Star Trek fans will be a series of official pre-recorded CBS panels on Thursday. We have a brand new preview from that, plus a comprehensive guide to all things Star Trek, both official and unofficial, for SDCC@Home.
Comic-Con@Home is available for free, streaming worldwide via YouTube. All times listed are in Pacific Time. We have included the YouTube links for each even where available. NOTE: The links are not yet live.
Official CBS panels
Thursday 10:00 – 11:30am (Pacific): CBS Star Trek Universe
Introduction
Dominic Patten, Deadline’s senior editor, moderates the overall “Star Trek Universe” panels with an introduction and discussion with Secret Hideout executive producers Alex Kurtzman and Heather Kadin, who give a glimpse of what’s ahead in the ever-expanding franchise.
Star Trek: Discovery
The cast of Star Trek: Discovery reprises their roles in a virtual table read of the season two finale “Such Sweet Sorrow, Part 2.” Cast scheduled to appear, include Sonequa Martin-Green (Commander Michael Burnham), Michelle Yeoh (Philippa Georgiou), Doug Jones (Commander Saru), Anthony Rapp (Lt. Commander Paul Stamets), Mary Wiseman (Ensign Sylvia Tilly), Wilson Cruz (Dr. Hugh Culber), Mary Chieffo (L’Rell), Tig Notaro (Commander Jett Reno), Alan Van Sprang (Captain Leland), Jayne Brook (Admiral Katrina Cornwall), and the Discovery Bridge crew Emily Coutts (Lt. Detmer), Oyin Oladejo (Lt. J.G. Owosekun), Patrick Kwok-Choon (Lt. Rhys), Ronnie Rowe Jr. (Lt. J.G. Bryce), Sara Mitich (Lt. Nilsson), and upcoming Start Trek: Strange New World stars Anson Mount (Captain Christopher Pike), Rebecca Romijn (Number One), and Ethan Peck (Spock), alongside Star Trek: Discovery executive producer and co-showrunner Michelle Paradise and executive producer Olatunde Osunsanmi, who also directed the season two finale.Act one of the table read will make its world premiere at Comic-Con@Home followed by a brief cast Q&A.
Star Trek: Lower Decks
Mike McMahan (Rick and Morty, Solar Opposites), creator, showrunner, and executive producer of the upcoming animated comedy series Star Trek: Lower Decks, which premieres Thursday, August 6 on CBS All Access, will debut an exclusive extended first look from the premiere episode. McMahan also moderates a fun discussion with the Starfleet crew residing in the “lower decks” of the U.S.S. Cerritos, including “Ensign Beckett Mariner” voiced by Tawny Newsome, “Ensign Brad Boimler” voiced by Jack Quaid, “Ensign Tendi” voiced by Noël Wells, and “Ensign Rutherford” voiced by Eugene Cordero and the ship’s bridge crew including “Captain Carol Freeman” voiced by Dawnn Lewis, “Commander Jack Ransom” voiced by Jerry O’Connell, “Lieutenant Shaxs” voiced by Fred Tatasciore, and “Doctor T’Ana: voiced by Gillian Vigman.
Star Trek: Picard
Patrick Stewart and the lively cast of the hit original series Star Trek: Picard, come together (virtually) for the first time post-finale to discuss the critically acclaimed first season. Cast members scheduled to appear includes Patrick Stewart (Jean-Luc Picard), Alison Pill (Dr. Agnes Jurati), Isa Briones (Dahj/Soji), Evan Evagora (Elnor), Michelle Hurd (Raffi Musiker), and Santiago Cabrera (Cristobal Rios) along with special guest stars Brent Spiner (Data/Dr. Soong), Jonathan Del Arco (Hugh), Jonathan Frakes (William Riker), Jeri Ryan (Seven of Nine), and Marina Sirtis (Deanna Troi).
Panel preview
More Star Trek at Comic-Con@Home
Thursday 12:00 – 1:00pm: All the Starfleet Ladies: Then and Now
From Uhura to Janeway to Burnham, Star Trek has a rich history of portraying complex, powerful female-identifying characters. How do Star Trek authors perceive their role in continuing this legacy in their Star Trek novels? Join Una McCormack (author of Picard: The Last Best Hope), Swapna Krishna (space, tech, and pop culture journalist), author Cassandra Rose Clarke, LJ Jackson (publicity manager at Saga Press), and moderator Kendra James (editor at StarTrek.com), as they examine the ladies of Star Trek from its inception to the present.
Thursday 5:00 – 6:00pm: LGBTQ Characters on Television – What’s Next?
Jamie Chung (Once Upon A Time), Jamie Clayton (Roswell: New Mexico), Wilson Cruz (Star Trek: Discovery), Tatiana Maslany (Perry Mason), Anthony Rapp (Star Trek: Discovery), J. August Richards (Council of Dads), Harry Shum, Jr. (Shadowhunters), Brian Michael Smith (9-1-1: Lone Star) discuss the past, present, and future of representation of LGBTQ characters on television in a Q&A session moderated by Jim Halterman (TV Guide magazine).
Thursday 5:00 – 6:00pm: The Science of Star Trek: Three Generations of Advice
From transporters to “tech the tech” to spore drives, Star Trek led in filmed TV sci-fi from its very birth DNA through its sequels with real and projected science, inspiring generations of astronauts and futurists like no other space franchise. And now, every titled science advisor for the Trek TV series since 1991 (season five of Star Trek: The Next Generation) joins “Dr. Trek” Larry Nemecek (Portal 47) to examine that legacy today: Has the old science-vs.-story tension evolved with savvier audiences? Zoom-ing in with answers and anecdotes are scientists-turned-writers Naren Shankar, advising seasons five and six of Star Trek: The Next Generation (now showrunner/executive producer on The Expanse), André Bormanis and his 19 total Trek seasons after that (now co-executive producer, The Orville), and Dr. Erin Macdonald (all six current Star Trek series shooting/in development).
Friday 2:00 – 3:00pm: The Psychology of Star Trek vs. Star Wars
Back by popular demand, the Trek vs Wars discussion returns to Comic-Con in Episode VI, with examinations of Discovery, Picard, and, of course, Rise of Skywalker! Designed to engage the audience in a healthy–but fun–debate, this panel explores meaningful topics of psychology prominent in Star Trek & Star Wars. Who’s more emotionally intelligent, Picard or Luke? How do hero characters Rey and Burnham show us healthy coping and self-care? And what’s the importance of legacy when it comes to saving the universe? Join pop culture psychologists Dr. Drea Letamendi (Lattes with Leia) and Dr. Ali Mattu (The Psych Show) as they enlist the persuasive viewpoints of special guests Todd Stashwick (Star Trek: Enterprise), and Jennifer Muro (Star Wars: Forces of Destiny). Moderated by Brian Ward (The Arkham Sessions).
Friday 2:00 – 3:00pm: UnMasked: Rhapsody PR’s Behind-the-Music panel
Music creatives Sean Callery (Homeland), Jeff Russo (Star Trek: Picard), Maggie Phillips (Fargo), Torin Borrowdale (Locke & Key), Amanda Jones (Twenties), and Nathaniel Blume (Prodigal Son) reveal the secrets behind creating music for TV’s most groundbreaking and thrilling programs. Moderated by actress Mary Chieffo (Star Trek: Discovery).
Friday 6:00 – 7:00pm: TV Guide Magazine Fan Favorites
The magazine entirely devoted to TV, hosts its 11th annual gathering of stars we adore from across the television galaxy to trade stories of fan encounters, backstage tales and the importance of representation for fans of every walk of life. This year’s don’t-miss lineup, moderated by TVGM senior writer Damian Holbrook, includes Hale Appleman (The Magicians), Lindsey Morgan and Richard Harmon (The 100), Robbie Amell (Upload), Kennedy McMann (Nancy Drew), Alex Newell (Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist), Jeri Ryan (Star Trek: Picard), Harvey Guillen (What We Do in the Shadows), Chris Chalk (Perry Mason), and Ashleigh Murray (Riverdale, Katy Keene).
Saturday 10:00 – 11:00am: Inglorious Treksperts: 30 Years of Best of Both Worlds
The hosts of the hit Star Trek podcast, Inglorious Treksperts, are joined by actress Elizabeth Dennehy (“Commander Shelby”) to discuss the making of one of Star Trek: The Next Generation’s most beloved episodes, “The Best of Both Worlds” which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. Join the celebration of the cybernetic super baddies and the episode that changed Star Trek forever with co-hosts Mark A. Altman (author, The Fifty-Year Mission, Free Enterprise), Daren Dochterman (VFX Supervisor, Star Trek: The Motion Picture – Director’s Edition) and Ashley E. Miller (writer, Thor, X-Men: First Class).
Saturday 1:00 – 2:00pm: Picard 2020: A Literary Retrospective
With the excitement surrounding the new Star Trek series, let’s take a look back at the most bookish captain in Starfleet. How did he evolve on the page and the screen? What do his favorite books and plays say about him as a character and as a leader? Take a deep dive into Picard’s bookshelf with Una McCormack (author of Picard: The Last Best Hope), David Mack (author of Star Trek: More Beautiful Than Death), Stephen Graham Jones (author of The Only Good Indians), Alex White (author of The Big Ship at the End of the Universe), and moderator Lauren Jackson (marketing/publicity manager at Saga Press).
Saturday 2:00 – 3:00pm: IDW in 2020 and Beyond [Star Trek licensee]
Look ahead to everything new from IDW Publishing! Learn what’s next for your favorite series and much, much more! There’s nowhere better to get a behind-the-scenes look at IDW than this conversation with Chris Ryall (IDW president, publisher, and chief creative officer), John Barber (IDW editor-in-chief), and moderator George Gene Gustines (senior editor at the New York Times).
Saturday 6:00 – 7:00pm: Afrofuturism – “Black To The Future 3(D): Real A.F.”
For decades, Daffy Duck was the only black actor getting any consistent work in Hollywood. Hiring practices that even Daffy would describe as, “Deth-picable!” Oh sure, we all MARVEL’d at “Black Panther” (the movie), but what has Hollywood done to promote diversity lately? Check out what Black developers of content have to say on this issue. Will Hollywood ever truly recognize that Black Productions Matter! We can’t go black to the future–until we RISE UP out of the past? It’s time to get real A.F.! Roll call! Panelists include Erika Alexander (Living Single), Tim Russ (Star Trek: Voyager), Denys Cowan (The Boondocks), Kevin Grevioux (Underworld), professor Ajani Brown (San Diego State University), and Rico Anderson (The Orville). Moderated by Jimmy Diggs (Star Trek: Voyager).
For more details on Comic-Con@Home visit the official site.
TrekMovie will be watching, and reporting
The TrekMovie team will be covering these virtual events just like we do for SDCC. We will be posting news and updates as they happen along with any new releases of images or videos. So keep an eye on the site and our social media on Thursday.
Keep up on all the Star Trek event news at TrekMovie.com.
There are other Comic-Con panels I’m interested in besides Star Trek.
Star Trek: Discovery panel should be about season 3. Hopefully we get a new trailer and a release date.
Star Trek: Lower Decks and Picard panels sound a lot of fun.
There is an X-Men panel about a new X-Men movie called The New Mutants at Comic-Con. Star Wars and Marvel won’t show up this year.
I have to admit, I’m not exactly full-impulse on listening to a table read of a television episode as a big component of the Discovery panel. These are immensely talented actors and under normal circumstances I’d be all ears, but for something like Comic-Con, I’m just kind of apathetic?
That said, these are of course by no means normal circumstances. So I get it; they want to do something, and this is what they’ll take up time with, and I appreciate whatever we get. It’s just that deep down inside, it’s just another kind of disappointing 2020 thing. lol