Alex Kurtzman on balancing equality and expansion in Star Trek’s future.
The beloved Star Trek franchise is boldly returning to cinemas after nearly a decade, with Star Trek: Section 31 streaming exclusively on Paramount+ this Friday, January 24. The new feature film sees Michelle Yeoh reprising her iconic role as Emperor Philippa Georgiou, embarking on a mission with a secret division of Starfleet to protect the United Federation of Planets while confronting her own dark past.
In an exclusive conversation with director Olatunde Osunsanmi and executive producer Alex Kurtzman, the creative duo opened up about the moments that sparked their love for the Star Trek universe and teased what’s next for the iconic saga.
For Kurtzman, his passion for Star Trek ignited during childhood. “One of my best friend’s dads worked at JPL, and we would watch reruns of Star Trek. I didn’t realize it at the time, but the people making things that went to the stars were influenced by Star Trek,” he shared. He added that seeing The Wrath of Khan as a child was a formative experience.
Osunsanmi fondly recalled watching Star Trek: The Next Generation as a 10-year-old. “Looking at that world and thinking, ‘What if in 100 years, this is what we’re doing?’ It was a future I wanted to be a part of. Lo and behold, here I am,” he reflected.
Kurtzman also teased the franchise’s future.
He highlighted the ongoing production of Starfleet Academy and Strange New Worlds. “What’s most important is ensuring we have the time and inspiration to tell Star Trek stories the right way,” he said. “There’s an infinite number of stories to tell, but each needs to feel unique and compelling. We don’t want to become a factory pumping out content. Quality and inspiration must remain paramount.”
The film promises a stellar cast, including Omari Hardwick (Power), Sam Richardson (Ted Lasso), Robert Kazinsky (Pacific Rim), and Kacey Rohl (Hannibal), among others. Fans can also look forward to seeing Miku Martineau (Kate) as a young Philippa Georgiou.
With the creative passion and dedication of Osunsanmi and Kurtzman at the helm, the future of Star Trek looks brighter than ever. As Osunsanmi expressed, “It’s amazing to be part of a universe that has inspired generations and continues to explore infinite possibilities.”
Prepare for an intergalactic adventure when Section 31 streams this Friday on Paramount+.
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Sean Tajipour
Sean Tajipour is the Founder and Editor of Nerdtropolis and the host of the Moviegoers Society and Reel Insights Podcast. He is also a member of the Critics Choice Association. You can follow on Twitter and Instagram @Seantaj.
