Summary
Star Trek: Section 31is only a few weeks away. However, one of its actors aired his concern about its potential reception since it is reportedly different from the other films in the franchise.
Star Trek: Section 31was announced in 2019 as a TV series featuring Michelle Yeoh as Emperor Philippa Georgiou. However, as production was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, it was decided thatSection 31would instead be a movie. Another reason was Yeoh’s schedule. She received many project offers after winning an Oscar in 2023 for her role inEverything Everywhere All at Once. Although loyal to theStar Trekfranchise, Yeoh couldn’t spend as much time filming for a TV series. Production forSection 31began in January 2024 and wrapped up two months later. Fans will soon witness the anticipated movie exploring the darkest aspects of theStar Trekuniverse, highlighting the espionage and covert missions. One of the stars was concerned about how Trekkies would embrace the film.
Robert Kazinsky, who plays Zeph inStar Trek: Section 31,spoke withGames Radar’s SFX magazineabout the upcoming movie. He admitted that the project explores a new territory in the franchise, so he feared its reception. “I’m terrified of how it’s going to be received because it’s not the Trek people want,” Kazinsky explained. “The Trek that people want, the Trek that we all want, is just 1,000 more episodes of [The Next Generation]. Everyone’s always furious that they’re not getting more TNG, whilst at the same time when TNG came out, everybody hated it.”
He warned thatStar Trek: Section 31would feel different. Since it is not the usualStar Trekmovie, Kazinsky was concerned about how fans would accept it. “So this is going to come along and it’s not going to feel like any Trek that they’ve ever seen. My fear was that it might not feel like Trek at all.” Kazinsky previously made headlines in August when the trailer for the film was released. Many speculated he was playing a Borg in the sci-fi movie because of his costume. However,Kazinsky debunked the rumorsin a post on Instagram, saying, “Ride of a lifetime. No, I’m not Borg.”
Kazinsky’s concern about theSection 31reception sounds plausible. Fans are inclined to reject new themes, especially for a franchise likeStar Trek, which has been around for decades. Solid Trekkers have already watched multiple movies and TV shows from the franchise, so there’s a sense of familiarity and with it gone, by exposing them to a new concept, they might feel reluctant to embrace it.
Section 31 is a division of Starlet founded to protect the United Federation of Planets but operates in the shadows. They are willing to do everything it takes to maintain the peaceful utopia in the Federation. The new theme may not appeal to the traditional Trekkies, but those who are fans of dark and complex storytelling might appreciate it because it will tackle ethical dilemmas.Yeoh’s star powermay also affect the reception. The Academy Award-winning actress’ presence could draw her own fans to watch the movie, potentially introducing a new audience to the franchise.
Star Trek: Section 31will stream on Paramount+ on June 28, 2025.
