Dee Bradley Baker talks about Murf’s changes on Star Trek: Prodigy

Dee Bradley Baker voices Murf on Star Trek: Prodigy

Murf, who we recently discovered is a Mellanoid slime worm, is evolving. The upgrades of arms and legs are going to make a big difference for Rok-Tahk’s best friend who, before now, has been gelatinous, much like Yaphit on The Orville. With the changes taking place in Murf physically, there will also be changes vocally as Dee Bradley Baker, who voices Murf, told Startrek.com [via Trekmovie] in a recent interview.

The voice actor said that, with the ability to move around, Murf’s vocals will change, too, much like what happens with a baby. He’ll get an upgrade with language and communication.

"Murf wasn’t really human in any aspect of its appearance other than eyes and a mouth, apparently. But now that it can move around, it’s a bit of a linguistic upgrade as well. There’s an evolving that’s happening. There’s a revealing of a metamorphosis, or metamurfosis… It’s interesting to see that, as with a child, with the growth and the expansion and the development of limbs, the body, the head, the feet, and the ambulatory abilities, comes an upgrade with language and an upgrade and a change in the capacity to problem-solve and to engage and communicate."

Murf is continuing to evolve as will his voice by Dee Bradley Baker

Baker discussed the changes he makes to Murf at the direction of the writers and directors.

"I bend the vocals and evolve the vocals as the writers and the directors develop the unfolding of what Murf is to be. That’s clearly something that’s going to be playing out."

As for how he voices Murf now, who is basically non-vocal, but emits a series of sounds, Baker described the alien as being almost like a puppy or a happy little child that is always optimistic. Though Murf may seem not to know what’s going on and is in a joyful bubble, Baker clarified that wasn’t the case.

"He’s almost like a puppy or this happy little child that is always optimistic and open in an improvisational way. Clearly, Murf’s aware and engaged with what they’re dealing with because he’s often helping to solve the matter at hand, although it seems like he’s just kind of oblivious and just kind of babbling in a happy way. There’s actually more involved here, and he seems to be more connected."

Star Trek: Prodigy airs Thursdays on Paramount+.