"No, it's not enough."
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds will end its five-year run with a truncated season 5 in 2027, which only includes six episodes rather than the usual 10. However, it turns out those six hours of additional SNW is a blessing, since CBS Studios was more interested in the show concluding within the framework of a “two-hour movie.” Co-showrunner and executive producer Akiva Goldsman explained in an interview with Inverse by saying:
“Henry [Alonso Myers] and I fought very hard and negotiated very hard, and CBS was amazingly cooperative and collaborative. We went back and forth. And they said, ‘A two-hour movie.’ And we were like, ‘No it’s not enough,' because either you’re just saying goodbye or you’re just lowing s**t up. And one way or another, it’s not going to be satisfying.”
I’m delighted Star Trek fans are going to have the opportunity to watch six more episodes of Strange New Worlds on Paramount+, and I agree wholeheartedly with Goldsman, because a two-hour swan song simply wouldn’t have satisfied the die-hard SNW followers.
However, since CBS Studios is set up within the framework of the Paramount Skydance Corporation, I think the powers that be missed a golden, Galaxy class-sized opportunity to let Strange New Worlds make the move to the big screen — especially with the Warner Bros. Discovery deal close to being officially finalized.
Imagine a Strange New Worlds feature-length movie in cinemas that begins with Captain Christopher Pike’s (Anson Mount) tragic Delta ray accident and culminates with James T. Kirk (Paul Wesley) having to assume command of the USS Enterprise to save the day from an intriguing Trek foe or threat.
After all, both The Original Series and The Next Generation successfully made the jump from the small to the big screen, culminating in 10 incredible TOS and TNG films, while also paving the way for J.J. Abrams’ three Kelvin Timeline flicks.
And since there aren’t any Star Trek series currently in production, at least that the fandom is aware of, a Strange New Worlds movie would have been advantageous for not only fans but Paramount and CBS, too.
The dynamic merging of Paramount and Warner Bros. as a massive studio could have drawn insanely large audiences into cineplexes, provided a Strange New Worlds film was properly budgeted, while also allowing CBS the time to create and produce more small-screen Treks for streaming and/or TV.
In reality, though, all that remains are six more episodes of Strange New Worlds in season 5 next year. However, I think most people will agree that is far better than merely watching Pike’s Enterprise fly off into the sunset during a rushed and unsatisfying two-hour streaming film. What do you think? Share your thoughts and comments with us on the Redshirts Always Die Facebook and X pages.
Live long and prosper, Trekkies!
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