Star Trek: Section 31 is bringing back a deep-cut alien race

Star Trek: Section 31 has a lot of people on edge. Its trailer was pretty decisive and the reaction to it was overwhelmingly negative. Yet, one of the aspects of the film that many, myself included, seem to support is the inclusion of Sam Richardson. The usually comedic actor will join up with the Section 31 crew as Star Trek tries to make their own Guardians of the Galaxy.

Richardson has unabashed charisma and stands out in any scene he's in. There's no doubt he can make any character work, as long as the writers give him something to work with. It seems like the writers of Section 31 are setting him up for success, as they've given him the unique distinction of being a very unique alien.

An alien that's only been seen once before; a Chameloid. For those unfamiliar with a Chameloid, it was an alien race that popped up in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, and attempted to turn James Kirk and Leonard "Bones" McCoy against one another.

The alien was played famously by Iman, the iconic model, this time around it's Richardson. Going from a model to a comedic actor wasn't lost on Richardson either, as he told Dax Sheppard on the Armchair Expert podcast (via TrekMovie.com);

"“So I play a physicist shapeshifter, what’s called a Chameloid. This is the second time there’s ever been a Chameloid in Star Trek. The first time was Iman in Star Trek VI… It’s kind of funny, with Iman, it’s like this is a shapeshifter, you want to look, ‘Yeah, I’ll make myself Iman.’ And then in [Section 31] it’s like, ‘Oh good, I’m going to make myself Sam Richardson.’ [laughs]. I’m going to accept it.”"

Bringing back the Chameloid is a solid idea, assuming they couldn't figure out a different alien (or create a new one) that would work for the role they're going for. What would've been a problem is if Richardson's character was a member of the Changeling race.

As they didn't appear for about a hundred years from the point in time Section 31 happens, bringing them in would have ruffled many fans' feathers. Especially when you realize that they just went to that well in Star Trek: Picard.

It's good to venture out and do something different.