Michelle Yeoh returns as Empress Philippa Georgiou in “Star Trek: Section 31”. The first trailer for the new streaming film promises an exciting mission for the mysterious Section 31. Fans can look forward to familiar faces, new characters and ethical gray areas. The Star Trek universe continues to expand: “Star Trek: Section 31” is the first streaming film in the franchise and is in the starting blocks. Paramount+ has now released the first teaser trailer (see above), fueling fans’ anticipation.
The film focuses on Michelle Yeoh as Empress Philippa Georgiou. The Oscar winner reprises the role she played in “Star Trek: Discovery”. Georgiou, who originally comes from the dark mirror universe, joins the secret Section 31 – an organization within Starfleet that uses unconventional methods to protect the Federation. The teaser trailer suggests that Georgiou will not only be confronted with dangerous missions, but also with her own past. Interestingly, the film will also feature a younger version of Georgiou, played by Miku Martineau.
In addition to Yeoh, “Section 31” features a diverse cast. The cast includes:
Interesting for Trekkies: Kacey Rohl plays a young version of Rachel Garrett, whom fans know as the captain of the USS Enterprise-C from the “The Next Generation” episode “Yesterday’s Enterprise” (S03E15). Screenwriter Craig Sweeny emphasizes, however, that prior knowledge of this character is not necessary to enjoy the film.
Originally planned as a spin-off series to “Star Trek: Discovery,” “Section 31” was eventually turned into a film project. The decision was made in mid-2022 when it became clear that Yeoh could win an Oscar for her role in “Everything Everywhere All At Once” and that her schedule would become busier. Filming took place from January to March 2024 in Toronto, where “Discovery” was also produced. The film was directed by Olatunde Osunsanmi and the screenplay was written by Craig Sweeny – both of whom were already involved in “Discovery.”
The focus on Section 31 is not without controversy. The organization often operates in ethical gray areas and thus stands in contrast to the idealized values of Starfleet. Screenwriter Sweeny is aware of this challenge: “The idea is almost antagonistic to some of Star Trek’s values,” he admits. Nevertheless, he sees room for such stories within Gene Roddenberry’s vision.
“Star Trek: Section 31” promises to be a mixture of “Mission: Impossible” and “Guardians of the Galaxy” – an exciting combination for the Star Trek universe. The film is to be released exclusively on Paramount+, a specific release date is still pending. However, it can be assumed that it will be released in spring 2025. For fans, the film offers an interesting addition to the existing franchise.
It allows a look behind the scenes of the often idealized Federation and promises action-packed entertainment with a charismatic main character. At the same time, it raises questions about the moral ambiguity within Starfleet and could thus cause exciting discussions in the fan community. What do you think of the idea of making a film about Section 31? Are you looking forward to Michelle Yeoh’s return or are you skeptical about this dark spin-off? My heart actually beats for TNG and Voyager. Share your thoughts in the comments – I’m curious to hear your opinions!
