Star Trek: Strange New Worlds
A 23rd-century prequel to Star Trek: The Original Series.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is a science fiction series from the United States, developed by Akiva Goldsman, Alex Kurtzman, and Jenny Lumet for Paramount+. It launched in 2022 as the eleventh show in the Star Trek franchise, falling under Kurtzman’s broader Star Trek Universe. A spin-off from Star Trek: Discovery, the series is set in the 23rd century and follows Captain Christopher Pike and his crew aboard the USS Enterprise, roughly a decade before the events of the original 1960s series. The show marks a deliberate shift back to the standalone, episode-by-episode storytelling style of The Original Series, moving away from the more continuous narrative arcs seen in Discovery. It also revives the classic opening monologue—“Space, the final frontier”—in its main credits, a tradition that had been absent since Star Trek: The Next Generation.
The lead roles are played by Anson Mount as Pike, Ethan Peck as Spock, and Rebecca Romijn as Number One, all characters originally introduced in The Original Series. These three actors first appeared in the second season of Discovery, and after a strong fan response, Kurtzman expressed interest in giving them their own show. Development began around March 2020, and Paramount+ officially ordered the series in May of that year. Goldsman and Henry Alonso Myers serve as co-showrunners. The cast also includes Jess Bush, Christina Chong, Celia Rose Gooding, Melissa Navia, Babs Olusanmokun, Bruce Horak, and Martin Quinn, with several of them portraying younger versions of characters from The Original Series. Production was handled by CBS Studios, working with Secret Hideout, Weed Road Pictures, H M R X Productions, and Roddenberry Entertainment. Filming took place at CBS Stages Canada in Mississauga, Ontario.
The first season, consisting of ten episodes, premiered on Paramount+ on May 5, 2022, and was released weekly through July. A second season followed from June to August 2023, a third from July to September 2025, and a fourth is currently being released from July to September 2026. A fifth and final season, with a shorter order of six episodes, is in production. The series is believed to have high viewership and strong audience demand.
Quick Facts
- Genre
- Adventure / Drama / Science fiction
- Creator
- Akiva Goldsman / Alex Kurtzman / Jenny Lumet
- Based On
- Star Trek · Gene Roddenberry
- Showrunner
- Akiva Goldsman / Henry Alonso Myers
- Starring
- Anson Mount / Ethan Peck / Jess Bush / Christina Chong / Celia Rose Gooding / Melissa Navia / Babs Olusanmokun / Bruce Horak / Rebecca Romijn / Martin Quinn
- Theme Music Composer
- Jeff Russo
- Composer
- Nami Melumad
- Country
- United States
- Language
- English
- Num Seasons
- 4
- Num Episodes
- 36
- Executive Producer
- Eugene Roddenberry / Trevor Roth / Jenny Lumet / Frank Siracusa / John Weber / Aaron Baiers / Heather Kadin / Henry Alonso Myers / Akiva Goldsman / Alex Kurtzman
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The series follows Captain Christopher Pike and the crew of the USS Enterprise (NCC-1701) in the 23rd century as they explore new worlds and carry out missions throughout the galaxy. It has a contemporary take on The Original Series's episodic storytelling and 1960s designs. Anson Mount, Ethan Peck, and Rebecca Romijn respectively star as Pike, Spock, and Number One, all characters from The Original Series. They were initially cast for the second season of Discovery (2019) and, after positive fan responses, Kurtzman expressed interest in bringing them back for a spin-off. Development began by March 2020 and Strange New Worlds was officially ordered in May. The lead cast and creative team were confirmed, with Goldsman and Henry Alonso Myers as showrunners. Jess Bush, Christina Chong, Celia Rose Gooding, Melissa Navia, Babs Olusanmokun, Bruce Horak, and Martin Quinn also star. Some of those actors play younger versions of Original Series characters.
Reader's Guide
The series premiered on Paramount+ on May 5, 2022, and its ten-episode first season was released weekly until July. A second season was released from June to August 2023, a third season was released from July to September 2025, and a fourth season is being released from July to September 2026. A fifth and final season, with a shorter six-episode order, is in production. The series is estimated to have high viewership and audience demand. It received positive reviews for its episodic storytelling and cast, and several accolades including two Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Award nominations and two Saturn Award wins. The showrunners chose to return to the episodic storytelling of The Original Series rather than Discovery's more serialized approach. The series is produced by CBS Studios in association with Secret Hideout, Weed Road Pictures, H M R X Productions, and Roddenberry Entertainment. Filming took place at CBS Stages Canada in Mississauga, Ontario.
Did You Know?
- The series is a spin-off from Star Trek: Discovery (2017–2024).
- Anson Mount's Pike hairstyle drew comparisons to Elvis Presley and Johnny Bravo, spawning Internet memes and a fan-run Twitter account.
- Bruce Horak, who plays Hemmer, is the first legally blind regular actor in a Star Trek series.
- The series is the first Star Trek series since Star Trek: The Next Generation to feature the franchise's opening narration during its main credits.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Star Trek: Strange New Worlds?
It is a 23rd-century science fiction series that follows Captain Christopher Pike and the crew of the USS Enterprise during a period roughly ten years before the events of the original 1960s Star Trek show. The show debuted on Paramount+ in May 2022 and is produced as part of the broader Star Trek franchise under Alex Kurtzman's umbrella.
How does Strange New Worlds connect to Star Trek: The Original Series?
The series is set approximately a decade before the original 1960s series, placing it in the 23rd century during Pike's earlier command of the Enterprise. It draws on characters and events from the classic show while telling its own standalone, episode-driven stories rather than following a single serialized arc.
Who created Star Trek: Strange New Worlds?
The show was developed by Akiva Goldsman, Alex Kurtzman, and Jenny Lumet for Paramount+. It is produced by CBS Studios, Secret Hideout, Weed Road Pictures, HMR X Productions, and Roddenberry Entertainment, with principal photography taking place at CBS Stages Canada in Mississauga, Ontario.
How many seasons of Strange New Worlds have aired?
As of 2025, three seasons have been released on Paramount+. The series premiered on May 5, 2022, and has continued with new seasons since its initial launch.
Is Strange New Worlds a spin-off of Star Trek: Discovery?
Yes, it originated as a spin-off branching off from the events of Discovery, though it quickly established its own identity as a prequel to the original 1960s series. The show deliberately returns to the self-contained, episode-by-episode storytelling format that defined the classic Star Trek shows.
More in Television Series Set in the 23rd Century 1-19
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