With Star Trek: Strange New Worlds set to return next month, writer and co-executive producer Bill Wolkoff spoke with TrekMovie about the upcoming penultimate season of the series.
Now in its fourth season, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is known for its bold and experimental storytelling, while still largely staying true to the spirit of classic Star Trek. It's this mix of risk taking that has made the series so compelling, though admittedly not every "big swing" has landed with fans.
Ahead of its return, Wolkoff was specifically asked about the approach to Season 4 and if fans can expect as many "big swings" this season.
"I think we do have more what you would call more classic Star Trek episodes," Wolkoff said. "It’s still our show and we still do the things that our show does."
That's not to say Season 4 won't have its share of experimental stories. Wolkoff brought up the puppet episode, which was one of the first to be teased this season, which will see the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise portrayed as puppets created by the iconic Jim Henson's Creature Shop.
"I would call that a big swing. Is every episode a puppet episode? Of course not. And there are probably more classic episodes mixed in," Wolkoff said. "And for every “big swing” — that is a term that gets bandied about, but we want every single episode to be a Star Trek episode even if it is a big swing. But to answer your question, there are perhaps less of what you know we would have called those in previous seasons."
While Strange New Worlds may be playing it a bit safer in Season 4, there are still some big surprises in store for us. The trailer show one particular episode that looks like a voyage to some sort of prehistoric Earth-like planet, complete with a T-Rex. Additionally, Ethan Peck (Spock) and Paul Wesley (James T. Kirk) teased a "fantastic" horror episode.
The crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise, led by Captain Christopher Pike, embarks on a series of thrilling and emotional adventures across the stars. On their journey, they will battle inner demons and external threats, encounter colorful new characters, reunite with familiar faces and confront terrifying aliens. Through it all, they strive to embrace a bright, hopeful future.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 4 wlil premiere on July 23 only on Paramount+. The series will continue to a truncated fifth and final season.