Plenty of announcements at this year's San Diego ComicCon piqued my interest. The Doctor Who spin-off The War Between the Land and the Sea, which has been rumoured for a while, hadn't grabbed me, but now that we have Russell Tovey and Gugu Mbatha-Raw leading I am interested. And as for the Marvel announcement of who's playing Doctor Doom... I actually think that could work brilliantly.
It's Star Trek that really piled on with the announcements and trailers though, so here's my thoughts on the next phase of Trek productions:
Star Trek: Section 31
I was never too interested in this idea when it was announced as a series, but the TV movie approach has some merit. Both the Mirror Universe and Section 31 are elements of the Trek universe that get bolring quickly, so one big nasty movie is probably better than dragging it out.
Based on this trailer... it's not very Star Trek, is it? Still, maybe that's a good thing. This is a very different take for the franchise, but it could work. Michelle Yeoh will carry it, she's never less than watchable. Cautiously looking forward to it.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds - Season 3
Hmmm... that clip does not fill me with confidence. I love SNW and I love the comedy episodes, so I'm up for some more of that, but this just looks like a comedy episode that isn't funny. Got to wonder what mission could need Vulcans that couldn't be more easily completed by bringing in some actual Vulcans. Love Pike's hair though.
Anyway, that's just one episode. Hopefully we'll get a proper season trailer too soon.
Star Trek: Lower Decks - Season 5
This trailer doesn't really tell us anything, but that's fine. It's Lower Decks - if it keeps doing what it's been doing, it's going to be great. I'm actually glad this is ending after five seasons rather than being dragged on past its prime.
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy
The least surprising announcement of the con: Mary Wiseman is back playing Tilly in this. Also no surprise: Oded Fehr back as Admiral Vance. More of a surprise: the wonderful Tig Notaro back as Jet Reno as a regular.
The big surprise: Robert Picardo back as the Doctor! After her turned down a role on Picard, we've had him for a whole season of Prodigy and now he's back for the 32nd century. I wonder if he's playing the back-up version of the Doctor from VOY: "Living Witness." I've said for a while he should appear in Discovery, it would be about time for him to get back to Federation space.
Untitled Star Trek comedy series
The big surprise of the panel was the announcement that Tawny Newsome Justin Simien are writing a new Trek comedy series. This is going to be a live action show, pitched as a Trek equivalent of The Office or Parks and Rec, and set on a "gleaming resort planet." It's apparently set in the 25th century, which does give us a hundred years of leeway, but if it's early on I wouldn't be surprised if we get some Picard era cameos. I'd be very surprised if Newsome doesn't show up as an older Mariner at some point. Really looking forward to seeing what this will be like.
