We are just about a week away from the release of Star Trek: Section 31. And Paramount+ has released a handful of new images for the streaming movie. The new batch of eight preview images includes a mix from the streaming movie and some behind the scenes, some of which were previewed in the new SFX Magazine cover feature.
Preview Section 31
Here is the official synopsis: “In Section 31, Michelle Yeoh reprises her fan-favorite role as Emperor Philippa Georgiou – a character she played in Star Trek: Discovery – who joins a secret division of Starfleet. Tasked with protecting the United Federation of Planets, she also must face the sins of her past.”
The streaming film also stars Omari Hardwick as Alok Sahar, the “mastermind” of the Section 31 team, Kacey Rohl as the younger Rachel Garrett, Sam Richardson as the Chameloid scientist Quasi, Robert Kazinsky as the mech suit-wearing Zeph, Sven Ruygrok as the (possibly) Vulcan or Romulan “Maniac” Fuzz, Humberly Gonzalez as the Deltan Melle, and Miku Martineau as young Philippa Georgiou.

Rob Kazinsky as Zeph and Omari Hardwick as Alok in Star Trek: Section 31, streaming on Paramount+, 2025. Photo Credit: Michael Gibson/Paramount+

Sam Richardson as Quasi in Star Trek: Section 31, streaming on Paramount+, 2025. Photo Credit: Jan Thijs/Paramount+

Sam Richardson as Quasi and Humberly Gonzalez as Melle in Star Trek: Section 31, streaming on Paramount+, 2025. Photo Credit: Jan Thijs/Paramount+

Rob Kazinsky as Zeph in Star Trek: Section 31, streaming on Paramount+, 2025. Photo Credit: Jan Thijs/Paramount+

Sam Richardson as Quasi and Michelle Yeoh as Georgiou in Star Trek: Section 31, streaming on Paramount+, 2025. Photo Credit: Jan Thijs/Paramount+
Behind the scenes
Star Trek: Section 31 is directed by Olatunde Osunsanmi, with a screenplay by Craig Sweeny and story by Bo Yeon Kim and Erika Lippoldt. The streaming movie is executive produced by Alex Kurtzman, Craig Sweeny, Aaron Baiers, Olatunde Osunsanmi, Frank Siracusa, John Weber, Rod Roddenberry, Trevor Roth and Michelle Yeoh and is produced by CBS Studios in association with Secret Hideout and Roddenberry Entertainment.

Director Olatunde Osunsanmi on the set of Star Trek: Section 31, streaming on Paramount+, 2025. Photo Credit: Jan Thijs/Paramount+

Director Olatunde Osunsanmi and Sam Richardson as Quasi in Star Trek: Section 31, streaming on Paramount+, 2025. Photo Credit: Jan Thijs/Paramount+

Rob Kazinsky as Zeph and Director Olatunde Osunsanmi, in Star Trek: Section 31, streaming on Paramount+, 2025. Photo Credit: Jan Thijs/Paramount+
Previously released images:

Michelle Yeoh as Georgiou and Joe Pingue as Dada Noe in Star Trek: Section 31, streaming on Paramount+, 2024. Photo Credit: Jan Thijs/Paramount+

Michelle Yeoh as Georgiou in Star Trek: Section 31, streaming on Paramount+, 2025. Photo Credit: Jan Thijs/Paramount+
Previously released character posters:
- Michelle Yeoh as Georgiou in Star Trek: Section 31, streaming on Paramount+, 2025. Photo Credit: Sophy Holland/Paramount+
- Omari Hardwick as Alok in Star Trek: Section 31, streaming on Paramount+, 2025. Photo Credit: Sophy Holland/Paramount+
- Sam Richardson as Quasi in Star Trek: Section 31, streaming on Paramount+, 2025. Photo Credit: Sophy Holland/Paramount+
- Kacey Rohl as Rachel in Star Trek: Section 31, streaming on Paramount+, 2025. Photo Credit: Sophy Holland/Paramount+
- Humberly González as Melle in Star Trek: Section 31, streaming on Paramount+, 2025. Photo Credit: Sophy Holland/Paramount+
- Sven Ruygrok as Fuzz in Star Trek: Section 31, streaming on Paramount+, 2025. Photo Credit: Sophy Holland/Paramount+
- Robert Kazinsky as Zeph in Star Trek: Section 31, streaming on Paramount+, 2025. Photo Credit: Sophy Holland/Paramount+
- Section 31 NYCC teaser poster
Next Friday on Paramount+, February on SkyShowtime
Star Trek: Section 31 will premiere on Friday, January 24, 2025, on Paramount+ in the U.S. and international markets where the service is available. It will debut in SkyShowtime markets in Europe on February 7. TrekMovie is still trying to confirm releases in other international markets.
ICYMI, here is the official trailer released in December.
Keep up with news about the Star Trek Universe at TrekMovie.com.
I’m still lukewarm about this film. And, yeah, I’m lukewarm about the Starfleet Academy show too.
Neither of these premises really interest me that much.
I guess the one thing going for them, for me, are some of the actors and characters involved. I loved Michelle Yeoh’s Empress Georgiou in Discovery. She was probably my favorite character and I was bummed to see her leave. I’m a big fan of Robert Picardo’s Doctor and Tig Notaro’s Jett Reno characters, so that’s an incentive for Academy, plus I’ve always liked Holly Hunter.
And, that’s about it. Oh, well.
I’m really excited for Starfleet Academy. I want to know more about the 32nd century.
Also, I’m expecting to just think this movie is okay, but I’m fine with that. Maybe it’ll surprise me, but if it doesn’t I’m not going to lose sleep over it.
It’s Somalia writ large. How very Star Trek.
Next?
At least Starfleet Academy sounds like it will be an ideologically Trekkian series.
This film really sounds like it will endorse very problematic ones.
So a couple of people that have claimed to have seen it said it’s not good. My guess is that If you like the conceit of Emperor Georgiou as a character, you will probably like this. If you don’t, then you won’t. I’m giving it a fair shot, but the marketing isn’t showing me anything I feel outright appealing, or leads me to believe this will elevate the material in any way. It’s going to be an interesting watch.
Wasn’t aware that anyone was claiming to have seen it just yet. As a reviewer for a different medium, I can imagine that being the case, though. It’s pretty close to release.
I can even more easily imagine them lying, haha.
Well, early screeners do go out. It was Rob Burnett who said he spoke to someone who got one, so take that for what it’s worth.. I think he’d be fair. They takeaway for me, was that it looks like what they’ve made it out to be. I don’t like the Emperor Georgiou character… too over the top, so it probably won’t work for me, but like anything.. I’ll watch with an open mind.
I’m with you there. “Cautious” is the word I’d use right now, but an open mind is the way to go.
I’ll say it this way.. if this character and concept is in demand enough to warrant viewership, then I think a one off streaming movie is WAY better than a dedicated series that will soak up immense resources for years. So if I don’t like this movie, it’ll be easy to just let it go, and know they’ll be on to something else that is hopefully great and repetitive
Seems like a huge waste of money either way if not enough people like it, and in the long run, may diminish interest in the franchise altogether.
That’s true as well.
If Rob Burnett said that I definitely believe him then. He’s a stand up guy and who I followed a lot the last few years who saw early screenings of Picard season 3, SNW season 2 and final season of Discovery. I learned a lot about all those seasons watching his channel and he was right on the money with everything, especially Picard.
I will be curious about his thoughts on this movie although I can’t imagine it will be too good. Maybe he will be able to see this in advance too.
Rob Burnett has purposefully outed inside sources, worked on and defended one of the biggest scams in fandom, and once said protesters should be executed. He’s not a “stand up guy”. Quite the opposite.
I’m only talking about his view of Star Trek and tells it like it is even when I don’t fully agree with him. He’s not a LDS fan at all like I am but I understand why he hates it. I can still respect his opinion on it as I do everyone when it comes from the heart and he thonks it’sjust the wrongplace to go even if it is popular.
But now I’m curious, what scam did he defend? I’m in the dark to any of that.
Axanar. And he doesn’t tell it like it is. He’s just hates on any and all of the newer stuff.
I like this Rob Burnett guy better already.
Oh yeah. To be honest I don’t watch or pay attention to fan films but I heard of it. And I know the lead producer guy used fan money to build a studio or something?
And Rob loved Picard season 3. I think he loved it more than I did. But he does seem to hate everything else haha.
But some fans are just stuck in their ways I guess. There are still some old Trekkies that only like TOS and hate on everything else. I used talked to them a lot too. People will just like what they like. Therr are even a few people here like this and only care about Trek from TOS-ENT. Everyone is different and I have no issues with it.
he can defend his points of view on why he doesn’t like the stuff he doesn’t like, and it’s fair.
Exactly. They are just his opinions and he goes into a very detailed reasons why he hates NuTrek. I don’t agree with all of his views (but definitely agree with his issues with Discovery) but that’s not the point either.
And he knows tons of people hates his view over Star Trek and gives him grief over it. He talks about that all the time too and says people are welcome to disagree with him. So what’s the problem? And no one is being forced to click on his channel.
I just love hearing his thoughts on science fiction in general and the state of it today.
Of course he loves season 3 of Picard. Because it’s total fan wank. He loves to be placated by regurgitation.
People claim LDS and SNW are total fanwanks too but he still hates those too.
I disagree with that.
“ tells it like it is”
Lol this isn’t a thing.
It is.
Nah, this is a thing people say when someone says things they agree with. Ol boy gives opinions, which are more or less definitionally not “how it is.”
Rob used to have a strong relationship with Paramount studios itself because he did the TNG Blu rays documentaries and other projects for them in the past. He was always invited to Trek events, movie premieres etc…until he became more cynical over the franchise.
He talked about this in the past and that all that went away once he became more outspoken with NuTrek on his channel and social media. He doesn’t get access to any of it anymore because how openly he has hated everything since 2009 and knows if he just shut up and played ball he probably would again.
But he’s not going to curtail his opinions so he can get early screeners of the shows or a possible invite to the next Trek movie in 2035. And we know with influencer culture who gets invited to movie premieres, interview actors etc many do in fact stay silent if they don’t like something to keep access and a close relationship to the studios. But I guess when you’re not happy with the direction, you’re not exactly feeling you’re missing out on that stuff anyway.
That’s why I think he’s a stand up guy because he’s willing to say how he really feels even knowing he’s been completely cut off from a studio he had a decades-long relationship with.
The biggest irony is when he started praising Picard season 3, a lot of people on his channel accused him of saying positive things as a way to suck up to Paramount to get more access again but he went right back to crapping on everything else lol.
That’s why I really didn’t want to bring his name up. His view on Trek is in line with mine, but he’s divisive for a lot of people. I don’t always agree with him, but do when it comes to Trek.
Consider that he is a right wing ideologue, and that informs he Star Trek critiques. Like, you can’t separate what you do and don’t agree with. The wrong dictates everything.
Ya know me, anything Star Trek related I will at least give a try but I can’t imagine this being my taste either. Having said that, if there is one thing I was from this movie more than anythiing else it is S31 being back in the shadows of the Federation and even better would be some explanation how beyond Discovery’s “classified” which makes no sense.
Yeah exactly. And I remember we talked about Section 31 not being back in the shadows in this movie and another reason why I’m not looking forward to it. But maybe we’ll ve proven wrong and it’s will show S31 is classified by the end then OK whatever.
And I want to like this movie, I really do. I know people here and the other place we talk probably thinks I love hating things when that can’t be farther from the truth. To me its more fun and exciting when when everyone loves something instead of hating something. I had a lot of fun talking about Discovery season 5 because it was finally a season I can say I enjoyed by the end. Same with Picard.
So I want to be proven wrong and I will happily say so if it happens. But I’m just being honest, and this just looks bad. It feels so generic and nothing special. What scene in the trailers do you think is the money shot? The scene that grabs people because it’s cool, funny or mysterious? There isn’t one. It’s just bland sci fi stuff.
And it’s sad most people don’t even think it looks Star Trek enough. Just don’t understand how anyone thought this was the way to go?
Ya know my friend, these days I am on FB, not cause I need 1000000000000 friends (I have like 8 lol) but cause I like to follow a lot of ST forums. I’ve seen we are not alone in the universe in our thoughts. BUt lets put that aside. I really hope we are both wrong on this movie and it changes things around. I REALLY do. But I’ve spent like a decade now hoping that but I am an old man now (but I have a baby face so it’s ok) and I only have only so much energy. Here is hoping when they say in the publicity ads that they say they operate in the shadows they live up to it. The one thing that gives me hope is that despite the shady bars they hang out in, so did McCoy in Star Trek III when he was trying to book an off the books flights to Genesis,
Exactly my friend. It’s not just a small loud group of vocal haters as the people in denial used to always say here as an excuse anytime people bad mouth stuff like Discovery. But when it’s in every social media and Star Trek site you go on with fans complaining about something, it’s usually a sign it’s not winning them over. And this movie, so far anyway, definitely isn’t.
Here is a great sign of that, Rotten Tomatoes released the Section 31 trailer on their own YT channel.. It’s the same one as before. It got over 17,000 views but only 250 likes lol. That says a lot. I would love to know what the dislikes are but we seen it tabulated for the original trailer release and it was five times the dislikes for likes.
People always want to make excuses it’s just bitter fans etc, but then can’t explain how things like the Unification video, SNW, Lower Decks and Picard season 3 trailers all got large likes. Maybe because people just like those and think this thing looks extremely bad?
Naah, it can’t be that. After all, most fans really do get excited watching a trailer of a mass murdering dictator hanging out in a night club wearing a party dress before the rest of her suicide squad head out an off the books mission in a very generic looking movie. All that really does scream Star Trek to most.
..
BTW, I know I have not been elsewhere lately but it has been kinda been boring for the bast forever.
Yeah smae for me too. I still love that other place, even more than here because you can block out the crazies, but it’s been very few articles to even talk about until just the last few days.
But it should definitely pick up after this week lol.
I am fairly sure I will hate this movie, if I even watch it. But Rob Burnett is a reactionary troll and nothing he says should be taken seriously.
Rob Burnett provides long form critiques of various science fiction on his podcast. He also directed Free Enterprise with Bill Shatner and he provided multimedia content for the Star Trek experience in Las Vegas. You can disagree with him and his viewpoints, but to say that he is a reactionary troll and that nothing he says should be taken seriously, that sounds a bit trollish and reactionary, don’t you think?
Not at all. He doesn’t have opinions. He just rants about any star trek made after a certain point. The guy is a grifter who did one decent thing I’ve never seen and then helped bilk nearly 2 millions bucks out of fans for a fake film project.
For a “fake film project,” I very much enjoyed PRELUDE TO AXANAR, and I’m sorry we won’t get to see the actual Battle of Axanar.
You want a different take on Trek?
You want legacy characters (like Soval) used well, unlike the “Tom Paris commemorative plate”?
You want a good sequel that credibly fills in some blanks in pre-TOS history?
The historical docudrama format was brilliant, and it was all-around well-acted.
I suspect that had this all taken place two years earlier, before Paramount committed to DISCO and its Klingon war storyline, BATTLE OF AXANAR would have gotten made. As to all the controversy about the funding, I really don’t care; it’s all inside baseball. What I care about is that they made a superb fan film.
There are multiple sides to the behind the scenes stuff that none of us will ever fully know the full story on, for sure.
Axanar bilked fans Time and again, with almost nothing to show for all that money. Peters should be in jail, for this and for scamming hutzel’s widow over his miniatures in auction.
Pretty sure he had nothing to do with the ‘bilking’ as he himself was screwed over by the guy in charge of the Axanar films.
He is extremely passionate on either side. He does get viscerally antagonistic towards modern Trek, but he backs it up with why. If one doesn’t agree with him, then.. ok, but he backs up his disdain, and it’s fair.
Your definition of fair differs a lot from mine.
It’s always fair to have a dissenting opinion, whether it’s Rob’s or yours. Particularly when one backs it up with cogent, well thought out reasons.
But, come on, he doesn’t. You can say he does. But he doesn’t.
He tells you why.. and it’s a fair point of view. You don’t have to agree with it, and that’s the point. My point is he doesn’t just hate on it.. he tells you why he doesn’t like it.. again.. that’s fair. Just the same as your point of view is fair. If you an articulate a valid reason why, then it’s just as legitimate.
I also have recently discovered him and have Mixed opinions on him. He docs seem to have an encyclopedic Knowledge of Classic Trek and also classic Genre Films. I also appreciete his work on the fantastic Special Features of LOTR and Star Trek TNG Blu Rays. And I agree with many of his points, yet, to me Star Trek can do more and its Not Like before 2009 Star Trek was all Perfect. The TNG Movies were largely trying to be Action blockbusters – mostly Not that successfully – and the shows had become a Bit set in their ways until Enterprise later seasons. Personally, I have mostly enhoyed „NuTrek“ despite some issues I have: Picard was pretty bleak at times, Discovery overly melodramatic and the Crew felt more Like Group Therapy at times, rather than professionals, Strange New Worlds turns the Gorn into Xenomorphs and Spock into the butt of many Jokes… and for me the more thought provoking stories Are simply missing. But I still enjoyed the new shows for their Freedom of storytelling and also giving the Star Trek Universe a Grander scope.
As for Section 31: it feels more removed from what I consider the Star Trek experience than anything yet, however, this seems quite intentional, and as a side project in between seasons of SNW and SFA as a fun romp on the side, I can accept it.
Robert Buttneck shared a screenshot of Dan Leckie claiming having seen it.
Buttneck has been bitter about new Trek going for a decade now because he wasn’t hired to be involved and has taken every opportunity to smear the new shows regardless of their quality.
It got so bad Terry Matalas had to call him out on Twatter back in 2023 when PIC3 came out.
An Dan Leckie a rather unsavory character himself.
Considering it hasn’t even had its premiere, I seriously doubt anyone has seen this.
Several people have. I know two people who fall into that category. Screeners sometimes go out before premieres, with NDAs to prevent info from being leaked early, so that reviews can be posted immediately after the premieres, and to create buzz in the industry. The advance word I’ve heard is that it is an entertaining Suicide Squad-type adventure but doesn’t feel like Star Trek. And that’s very much what I had expected, so it’s not surprising.
Thank you for this info. I too have been expecting exactly what the trailers have been showing. Hoping there would be more but not likely and now with this information, it’s quite improbable that this is going to be worth my time. However, out of principle I will watch it. I’m sure it will be appreciated by some, but probably not by most.
Same bro. It sounds like its exactly what we got in the trailers and probably a sign I’m not going to like it very much. And I hated the actual Suicide Squad movie. The first one at least.I never saw the sequel.
But of course I’m going to watch it and give it a chance, but this feels like a turkey based everything I seen so far.
Yeah I’m going to watch it but I feel like I’m walking onto a busy highway. I know it’s going to hurt but I’m still walking…
LoL! Great analogy.
Just jumping in here to say that James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad is fantastic! The first movie is incredibly bland and misses so many opportunities. I love superheroes, and I am primarily a Marvel fan, but I legitimately believe that The Suicide Squad is the best movie adaptation we have ever had, with Deadpool and Wolverine a close second!
That’s pretty much exactly what I was expecting and $20 says exactly what TPTB were going for.
Yes, and it gives them time to get their reviews ready to hit the day the embargo lifts. If you don’t see advance screeners go out, it means they think it’s a dud. lol. That’s not the case here.. the studio is behind it.
I’m willing to give this a watch and reserve any review until AFTER I see the finished project — Michelle Yeoh is awesome but Section 31 is one of those things I wished they’d never introduced into Star Trek. I believe others have said if you take ‘Star Trek’ out of this — references to Starfleet and the UFP, you have another CIA action thriller we’ve seen a zillion times.
I just can’t get excited about this one — again, will wait until I see it, but my impressions is, “While section 31 is, sadly, part of Trek canon, I just don’t see the point of this film.”
It might surprise me, I might love it. But gut impression? Watch once and move on.
Well said.. same for me.
Ditto.
It’s perfectly ok to give opinions on the advertising, good or bad. I personally think the advertising has been awful and hasn’t made me excited about the pilot episode that has been converted into a movie.
Next Friday will reveal if the advertising was a true reflection of the movie or not.
also… same!
Somehow I doubt it’s next SMILEY’S PEOPLE, or the next Jack Ryan, or even MI:6/SPOOKS.
Agreed!
As with all Star Trek projects, I will watch this and hope that I enjoy it. I’ve gone into every single Star Trek production with that same attitude, and though I’ve sometimes been disappointed by the final product, I’ve usually found something to enjoy–even Disco, which I’ve been highly critical of. I don’t have high hopes for the Georgiou-centric Section 31 because I’m not a fan of either Georgiou or Section 31, and I have heard from colleagues that it’s not great. But I do want this to succeed so that we can get more TV movies.
As someone in the industry, I cringe every time I see people hoping Star Trek projects will fail. Nothing kills a franchise faster than failed projects. Those thinking “Well, if this fails, then the studio will get the message and give us something different and better next time” simply have no idea how Hollywood execs operate. And those thinking “I want this to fail so that CBS will greenlight Legacy” are just as clueless–even more so, in fact, since Legacy would be expensive. Those running the studios don’t care one bit what you and I want. These are ruthless and often dimwitted people. They care about money, nothing else, and they don’t offer a lot of second chances. If the Section 31 film faceplants, then that will likely be the last Star Trek TV movie greenlighted, and it’ll help to bring about a quicker demise for the entire franchise.
At a time when future Trek shows are uncertain, when future films are uncertain, when existing shows are being canceled one by one, and when a profoundly incompetent and corrupt bunch if fools are about to be in charge of the U.S. economy, the last thing I would want is for Section 31 to be the straw that broke the proverbial camel’s back. So I do want this to succeed, even if I have major doubts that it will. I would love to be proven wrong about this, because the bottom line is that if S31 fails, it’ll be that much sooner before we have another lengthy period without new Star Trek.
“Those thinking “Well, if this fails, then the studio will get the message and give us something different and better next time” simply have no idea how Hollywood execs operate”. This is mind boggling. If your audience aka clients tell you that they don’t like what you’re producing, doesn’t it make sense that the studio would try to adapt and do something different? Does this make too much sense? They do appear to be intent on producing what people DON’T want these past few years…
I’m not disagreeing with you. You work in the industry and I don’t and I concede that I have no idea how Hollywood execs operate. But from what you say they do appear to be extremely dimwitted (this I knew already).
The studio guys greelit the failed project. It is either our fault or their fault. Who do you think they will blame? The scenario you mention is possible when power change hands… what probably will happen inside Paramount after the acquisition from Skydance.
Well, to Lorna’s point.. I think they will hear any complaints, but as with anything, number of streams will drive them more than critics / fan reaction. If they get the numbers they’re hoping for, that will justify doing more. My point is, decisions are more about stats than opinions.
As someone who really really wants Legacy, if we don’t ever get it, I will be OK, as long as we get more good Star Trek.
But if we are getting potential slop like this instead, then that’s a bad move when so many people already doubted this project from the beginning.
And what makes it worse is what you said, the franchise is very much up in the air these days so ANY wrong move will probably put more things in doubt in the future if something fails.
It’s very obvious Paramount doesn’t have the money to make a lot of Star Trek these days and probably why Legacy isn’t happening, shows are getting canceled left and right and why they still can’t get one theatrical movie made 9 years later.
But the stuff that does get made should be the best quality and inherently Star Trek and sorry this movie looks like neither and why I worry it will fail.
I don’t want anything to fail. Even if I hate something but other people do like it then that’s fine too. Was never a big fan of JJ verse, but I accpted it was popular and thought it would stick around a long time until Beyond bombed. We saw how that movie’s failure basically killed off the movie side for basically an entire decade now. These streaming movies could die before they started id not enough people watch this one.
But If they are throwing out bad content and making things they know most fans aren’t very excited about like this movie, then they can’t be surprised if it does fail either.
unfortunately, the studios keep taking the wrong lessons from the outcomes of their product. They think Trek has to be a mega-franchise.. it doesn’t. Chris Pine even said it… smaller budgets like the original movies could give Trek a great cinematic life.
Right. That’s why they haven’t made another movie. They want MCU box office but in reality these movies only make a little more than Sonic the Hedgehog movies make, but costs way more too.
That’s why the movies should cost around those movies cost and not around what Iron Man or Captain America costs to make.
That’s another reason why streaming movies sre a better idea too and hopefully keep making then even if this is truly bad.
Then maybe stop producing projects that are destined to fail, rather than blaming the audience?
I agree with this in the sense that this might give the wrong message to Paramount execs about the viability of Trek in the streaming movie format. I think Trek would definitely work in this format but if this crashes and burns so bad like you say we may end up not seeing Star Trek in this format, like what they did with Short Treks which I think was another format that worked for Trek but is considered a failure by the execs.
My prediction is I think it will do good initial numbers, but not be as high on repeat viewings.
If the profoundly corrupt incompetents you mentioned get their way, a lack of new Star Trek series will be the least of our problems.
I’m starting to look forward to this as we get closer to the debut, and the drought in Star Trek content starts to lengthen. But I have low expectations and won’t be bothered either way if I don’t enjoy it. Really my only concern for Star Trek is failure, which will either prompt needed change or just cause Star Trek to retreat further. Considering how low my interest is for the upcoming Star Trek projects, I’m okay with either outcome and will be content with what we have in the history books no matter what happens next.
I’m hoping that I will like this but every fiber of my being just thinks this looks awful. Every time they show more photos I just get less enthusiastic about it. And not being an Adolf fan already makes it hard enough to be excited even though I do like Yeoh.
But I truly thought I was going to hate Discovery season 5 but by some miracle actually enjoyed it, so maybe I will be surprised again.
It’s just depressing after having great Star Trek in the last year with Prodigy and Lower Decks this is what’s next.
I would give 1,000 Quatloos for Trek to boast even a fraction of Star Wars’ visual continuity. Just a fraction.
This looks…goofy to me. I’ll be watching though to give it a fair shot.
Yep! 👍
Oh and I guess the thought they may put this in some theaters for a limited run isn’t happening either. Probably for the best if this thing really ends up being a turkey. I highly doubt I would’ve watched it there anyway.
Fun fact, this is the first year since First Contact there’s a Star Trek and Mission Impossible movie, and the third time Star Trek and Superman movie have been same year
This looks really bad, suicide squad CIA in space, glorifying genocide doesn’t belong in Star Trek.
Doe anyone know what the budget was for this? I’m just wondering if it was the same as a full season of Trek or perhaps a good bit less? I wonder because from what we’ve seen from the trailers and images released so far there seems to only be around 4 filming locations; the club, a ship, the desert and some woods. It’s not really giving the cinematic vibes or visual excitement of a generously-budgeted project.
It was shot in 6 weeks flat according to imdb, which is about like what it takes to do about 3 or 4 eps these days, I think. That’s also at least 20 days less than any Trek feature ever took to shoot, so don’t expect anything too grand.
Yeah, It’s still produced under the same umbrella with the same people. it’s going to feel more like TV than a film.
This looks like it has the budget of a typical Syfy movie, ie, low. Nothing in the trailer stands out for a reason.
Looking at that character roster, they all look so… mundane and boring. Let’s see, an asian woman, two black men, a white woman, a white man, a Vulcan and a Deltan? That’s really the most diverse roster the Federation would have? At least throw in an Andorian, or a Tellarite, or even other lesser known species like Benzites or Bolians. Even their uniforms look the same. It is just boring. I had the same issue with all the various Jedi in the Acolyte. Because they have to represent every ethnic minority of the human race, all the aliens are left by the wayside…
That, is an excellent point.
Remember MU Georgiou is leading the team and there are probably only so many non-humans she can tolerate to be around. Or maybe Starfleet is afraid she might try to eat one of them duringthe mission.
Nothing wrong to be cautious. Am I right?
Perhaps of more interest is the screen rant interview with a snw composer who says some s3 eps feature a different ensemble. Cast switchover, or a different kind of orchestra?
That read like “orchestra.”
Maybe for Frakes’ “Hollywood Noir” episode?
I like the character with the grey jumper, iPad and headphones. He looks believable.
I wonder if any casual fans will think this is like an off shoot/spin off of Star Trek Into Darkness, which they may have vague memories of S31 from that .. and watch it expecting Pine or Quinto or even Cumberbatch to show up..
Uh no. There are zero elements in this movie that tells you its even Star Trek or JJ verse. There is not even a Starfleet ship in it.
Trek is Trek….
But it doesn’t mean we all have to like it.
It really isn’t.
God this looks so bad lol. I can’t wait til this movie premiers then disappears from this site’s news feed.
I haven’t seen it but I know screeners went out and I’m hearing there’s an ending scene that will pop some eyes out in a good way.
So, even if I hate the thing… if it gives us Rachel Garrett in a Monster Maroon (or anyone, really), then I’ll ultimately be happy. I want to see some visual connection to Starfleet / the Federation at some point in the film.
Pretty much described my opinion exactly. I want to see some Monster Maroons. I have a super low bar for this thing. Just show me a Monster Maroon.
It had its premiere in London yesterday. There’s a review embargo from what I have been told. Though I wasn’t there!
I’m hosting a watch party next Saturday with a dozen of my closest Star Trek loving friends. Fingers crossed…
You have that many friends who are Trek-lovers? Good for you! My only Trek friend passed a couple of years ago, so mine will sadly be a watch party of one. Cheers, fingers crossed as well.
Sorry to hear that. Yeah, I’ve been a member of Star Trek group that meets almost monthly, to do Trek stuff, for over 20 years. There’s about 15 of us “regulars” at the moment. I’m seriously tempted to sneak in a viewing on the 24th to know what I’m getting into, but I won’t!
Author – I think the line in Preview Section 31 “a character she played in Star Trek: Section 31″ should read “ a character she played in Star Trek: Discovery”
if you are really a ST fan then keep an open mind…
Stop the gatekeeping.
How is that ‘gatekeeping’?
eh, isn’t ‘Voyager’ 30 years old this week?
Star Trek needs a new creative team. There’s fan service, then there’s this lineup of shows coming out.
The lid on the jar is either stuck or lost with the contents of the jar decomposing.
We’ve had Discovery which became a sudo alternate Trek, Picard with a tired old crew and the same easy to defeat ol’ villains, Strange New Worlds rewriting the beginning and a bunch of cartoon CGI whatever they are supposed to be. An upcoming “origin” movie that really is unnecessary and Star Trek 4 in the limbo suspension zone.
Its doing ok but probably should’ve done the Star Trek Legacy series (with various TNG,DS9,Voy characters popping up) over Academy. SNW as is. ST4 kelvin film for the anniversary (possibly a multiverse thing as thats whats popular right now). And the upcoming Trek Origins film is kind of intriguing when I think about it
Don’t care about the movies at all but not doing the Legacy show is beyond crazy knowing how much fans actually want that.
I’m going into this with a very open mind. This is literally the first non-Federation or non-Starfleet (standard) project we’ve gotten in all of Star Trek. No uniforms, no recognizable Starfleet ship and crew. Even DS9 was Starfleet led and focused. Our beloved universe can’t be a large one if we never begin to tell these stories and it’s taken way too long for us to get here. This is how we grow and go on for a long time. Even if it’s not the best thing I’ve seen, I hope it leads to more and i hope the Star Trek sandbox can be shown from all corners. Seeing The Artifact in Picard had me excited for what they could do outside of Starfleet. There are Klingon stories to tell, Romulan refugee stories, a Seven/Fenris Ranger tv movie that could’ve been made instead of the audio drama. The potential has always been there, let’s grab it while also telling the stories from the perspective we’ve all grown up loving as well
The good news is that this is tied to Discovery so it takes place in an alternate timeline. So, I think they should be able to do what they want as long as it stays outside the prime universe.
What makes Discovery an alternate timeline?
Well, Trek Culture did a podcast interview with Mike McMahan, and this subject was brought up. Now, the Lower Decks finale opened up the possibility that Discovery era Klingons and hence Discovery itself could be from a different universe.
In the interview, McMahan states that he did that deliberately to poke people. He describes himself as being a bit of a little stinker and doing it on purpose. But, it’s intentionally left open ended, leaving the viewer to choose what to believe. Obviously some will claim it as proof and evidence, but then you have to believe that Lower Decks is canonical, which is nuts. I mean, in one episode the Klingons are woken up by a party on the Cerritos. Because of course, sound travels in Space!
To be honest, it kinda has to be an alternate timeline, there’s only so much handwaving that one can do to explain all the discrepancies with previous Trek. Also, there’s an episode of SNW where the Prime timeline is altered or fractured or some such nonsense.
I wish the shows would honour the past more rather than pay it lip service. I wish the series’ had a more consistent visual style. You know, like Star Wars. You watch the Mandalorian and it could have been made in the 1980’s.
I get the desire for visual consistency, but STAR WARS is really not a fair comparison. It takes place in a galaxy long ago and far, far away, with no connection to our reality or requirement to look any more futuristic in 2025 than it did in 1977. Trek at least ostensibly takes place in a recognizable human future with advanced technologies, and what passed for that in 1966 or 1987 won’t cut it after fifty years of production. It’s an impossible conundrum that the various series and movies have addressed with varying levels of success.
Every time someone says Discovery takes place in an alternate timeline, take a shot.
Star Trek: Section 31 • Yeoh’s Reported Salary It’s being circulated today that Oscar-winning actress, Michelle Yeoh, was paid $12M for the upcoming film, Star Trek: Section 31. The rumored total budget for the film is $80M.
That’s what Google states if you type in Section 31 budget.
If true, that’s just a ridiculous sum of money for something that looks so cheap and has attracted such ridicule online.
I am not sure it’s correct and yet I am not surprised given that most Star Wars shows are spending 200-300 million per season! I can’t believe these shows need to have these astronomical budgets! Paramount needs to rethink the amount of money they are spending on shows and movies right now.
I think a successful Star Trek show/movie can and has been made for far less than that. I know there has been inflation etc since the 90s but man hasn’t anyone heard of a bottle show. Not every minute or episode needs to have non-stop special effects. Or whatever is driving up these insane costs. Yes I know some of it is talent, staff etc….but there has to be cost saving measure you can take somewhere.
I do hope this movie at least turns out decent. If only so we can get more Star Trek content. I don’t have high hopes but that’s probably for best. More ways for them to impress me!
I think dredd-sized or smaller is the best way to go. Bookend the thing with some spectacle if need be, but make the bulk about a small group on a shuttle dealing with conflict within and without. Do a good job peeling one onion instead of a crummy job planting a whole field.
This looks like a bad 1980s Charles Band 3D b-movie (see junk like METALSTORM, which was at least “funny” and had the late, great Richard Moll in the cast!)…I’ll take a pass on Section 33 and a T(h)urd, and watch some other impoverished ’80s film, accompanied by a frozen pizza and store brand diet root beer instead, lie back, and remember the good old bad days of crappy genre films…from whence this obviously sad looking show was spawned. So this is Star Trek? Suddenly, even NEMESIS looks kinda-sorta OoooKay! :P
I just wish my wife could tolerate a full viewing of the first TRANCERS. With that in mind, did you know that next month, they are doing 4k discs for FORBIDDEN WORLD and GALAXY OF TERROR? If somebody had told me there’d be a hig-def release of a movie with giant raping maggot (‘motivated’ by young Jimmy Cameron), I’d probably say ‘hold onto your shorts, we’re gonna dump’ (best line in GoT and I’m not referring to GAME OF THRONES!)
NEMESIS could never have been good, but it certainly should have been better. It was one of those movies where, as it unfolded, I was in real-time going, no, you’re doing that wrong, do it, but do it this way! (I say that about all trek movies, but never as frequently and as vociferously as with NEM … at least till 09 came along and lowered the bar by about 20,000 leagues.)
Seriously, guys, ‘voyager’ is 30 years old…
Well, that must mean I’m (does the math) — no, that can’t be right. . .
it not the age…
I was going to make a smartass remark, but then went through that same ‘catch myself’ realization.
I’ve noticed weird time locks at various ages … in 1972 I was reading about some baseball event from 65 and thought that was 7 years ago when I was 5 and I heard the song downtown for the first time, which mattered because it was a non Disney song I liked.
For about 10 years, I kept defaulting with my thinking that 1965 was still just 7 years ago.
My current lock seems to be that the early 90s were a recent experience. Doesn’t say much about my last 3 decades, does it? It’s almost like when I last put down a film camera something in my reality ceased to register meaningfully. I sometimes attribute that break to what was then as yet undiagnosed diabetes but who really knows?
Hey, I *still* think “Downtown” is a great song, one I associate with a family trip to San Francisco taken when it was getting a lot of airplay. (And just for the record, I stole the age joke from a “Cheers” episode.)
Section 31 looks fun – I’m biased as I am a big Michelle Yeoh fan. Hopefully there are some nuggets in here for long time fans given that the Rachel Garrett era in fertile unexplored territory.
I see the Discovery Klingons constantly referenced in online comments. I actually liked the changes visual made – more alien, more foreboding. The TNG era “metal head” Klingon look – long hair, same gray outfits- was fine for the time. It’s ok to evolve and still keep the core essence.
I don’t think Lower Decks or other shows needs to “explain” everything from Star Trek’s past. It is ok to leave some mysteries. And trying to “explain” in-universe why producers changed the look of an alien isn’t productive. No one complained when Roddenberry changed the look of the Klingons in TMP.
New Trek is destined to be hated in its time and loved later. I remember the online hate towards TNG on the online bulletin boards of the 90s (Prodigy and AOL, anyone?). TNG is beloved today.
I’m no fan of TNG (then or now) but compared to this stuff (can’t even call it fare)? NewTrek as you call it will probably have fallen into utter oblivion, that is, unless future viewers are so starved for so-bad-it-is-good-product that they settle for bad-then/even-worse-now for their fix.
As with any Trek release, the only thing I’m truly dreading is overreaction within the fandom. Is S31 what I was hoping for as a fan? Not necessarily, but I’m still going in with curiosity. Worst case scenario, it isn’t for me and I don’t watch it again. Best case, I have another thing I like. But for some of you, you won’t be able to stop at moving on if it isn’t for you. You’ll make this movie your identity and NEVER move on. That’s what I’m dreading.
Anyway, I hope it does well either way so that Paramount knows there’s demand for the streaming movie model, which I feel like could end up being a third pillar of this franchise alongside episodic tv and theatrical films.
One thing of interest about this movie to me is that the Guardian sent Georgiou to a time AFTER Kirk traveled to the Mirror Universe and turned Mirror Spock into a good guy that went on to dismantle the Terran Empire.
It was like he was okay with sending her back to a time period where the two universes were close enough for her to survive but not to a point in time in which she’d be able to return to the Mirror Universe to reassert her rule or something.
I’m assuming she was sent to a time that was deemed convenient by producers rather than due to any in-universe agenda.
Time will tell. The movie might reveal it.
Were it a series, it would likely have been a plot point explored across the first season.
It’s unfortunate he didn’t send Adolf to the ice age instead. Would’ve saved us the grief of having this movie.
There is nothing wrong with this movie, just like there was nothing wrong with Deep Space 9 being set on a space station instead of a starship, or Voyager having Maquis in the crew, or Enterprise being a prequel, or Michael Burnham being Spock’s adopted sister.
They’re all Star Trek and they’re all valid — except the Kelvin Universe. That’s crap, heh.
I never said it wasn’t valid I’m saying it just looks really bad.
And you just said JJ verse wasn’t canon lol. I think they suck too but they are still canon…unfortunately.
Section 31 looks like retro sci fi. that’s for sure.
It looks like it’s trying to capture the production values of the ’50s and ’60s, which, ironically, is one of the things that people who hated Discovery wanted that show to do.
Now that THIS movie is doing it it comes off as what it is, bad and outdated, which only works in favor of Discovery and supporting their choice not to copy the aesthetics of The Original Series.
As for the Kelvin Universe, it is canon but not in a way that actually matters, other than it is how Spock was written out of the main universe.
I’m guessing a mirror universe show would be tedious and for me the MU has been SO done.
Well, this one will have flashbacks to the Mirror Universe.
I for one am okay with that. I like it and hope we see more of it.
I just wish they could find a way to insert Hoshi into Georgiou’s back story.
It’d be awesome to see young Georgiou learning about the first Empress of the Terran Empire.
I’m doing my best to withhold judgement until I see it.
The UIs in some of those shots do fit with what we seen previously for this era, like the Enterprise-C. I might be reaching, but at least someone on the production seems to be paying attention to continuity.
Looks more Star Wars mixed with Marvel than Trek but I’ll check it out. Plus getting to see Michelle Yeoh as Georgiou having a great time hamming it up the evil empress but trying to be slightly less evil is always good for a laugh.
I cannot be the only one who thinks they’ve missed a trick by not releasing it on the 31st.
I rewatched Yesterday’s Enterprise this afternoon. Imagine if the current writing staff did the dialog for this.
“We going back into the fight Picard, cos Imma bad bitch and I’m gonna tear the Romulans a new one”
Coffee flooding out the nostrils time!
Geordi: “f___ yeah! Whooo!”
Really? Struck me as fairly inane, with a whiff of “ghetto-speak” racism.
Oh, sorry Michael, I was just copying what they say in the trailer. Perhaps I should have written “I am a” instead. At least someone found it amusing.
Yes, perhaps you should have written it that way — we’re agreed on that much, at least.