STAR TREK: STRANGE NEW WORLDS Season 4 Teases Wild Puppet Episode
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds has never been afraid to take risks, but Season 4 is boldly going in a direction no Star Trek series has dared before… into the world of puppets.
During the Star Trek Universe panel at San Diego Comic-Con, we got a first look at what’s coming next for the hit Paramount+ series. The teaser revealed a hilarious)moment that see Captain Christopher Pike sitting in the Enterprise captain’s chair… as a puppet. That footage has been released for all of you to watch.
Executive producer Akiva Goldsman had some fun teasing what fans can expect, saying: “There might have been an unexpected and terrible transporter accident. Which might have had some unexpected felt-like effects.”
The puppets for this episode were crafted by the legendary Jim Henson’s Creature Shop, adding an extra layer of geeky perfection. The episode is directed by Jordan Canning (Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock) and continues the show’s tradition of experimenting with different genres.
Over its first three seasons, Strange New Worlds has treated fans to everything from horror and screwball comedy to a full-on musical and a crossover with Star Trek: Lower Decks.
This wild creative approach isn’t slowing down anytime soon. In fact, Goldsman hinted at the puppet idea last year when asked if there was any genre the series couldn’t pull off. He replied:
“As long as we’re in storytelling that is cogent and sure handed, I’m not sure there is. Could it do Muppets? Sure. Could it do black and white, silent, slapstick? Maybe!”
The Hall H panel also included stars Ethan Peck, Rebecca Romijn, Jess Bush, Paul Wesley, and Christina Chong, along with executive producers Alex Kurtzman, Henry Alonso Myers, and Goldsman. Series lead Anson Mount couldn’t attend because he and his wife just welcomed a baby.
Goldsman also confirmed that Season 5 will mark the end of Strange New Worlds. But, he hinted at what could come next for the franchise, telling fans to write to Paramount and new parent company Skydance to make Star Trek: Year One, which would dive into the original series era right after Captain James Kirk assumes command of the Enterprise.
To cap off the panel, we were treated to a full screening of an upcoming episode titled A Space Adventure Hour, a period murder mystery that further emphasizes just how far this series is willing to push boundaries.
With puppets entering the Star Trek universe, Strange New Worlds is proving once again why it’s one of the boldest and most creative entries in the franchise’s history. Season 4 can’t get here fast enough!