Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2 has ended an epic cliffhanger and here’s everything known about when it will be resolved in season 3.
Summary
- Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3 began filming in December 2023 and is expected to last until May 2024.
- Strange New Worlds season 3 likely won’t premiere until 2025, but some viewers hope Paramount+ releases completed episodes sooner.
- Season 3 will explore the fate of Captain Batel and the captured Enterprise crew, as well as introduce Nurse Chapel’s fiancé Roger Korby, and other exciting storylines.
Anticipation is high for Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3 following season 2’s nail-biting cliffhanger. Strange New Worlds season 2’s finale, “Hegemony,” saw Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount) and the crew of the USS Enterprise defy Starfleet orders to rescue Captain Marie Batel (Melanie Scrofano) and the colonists of the planet Parnassus Beta. By the end of Strange New Worlds‘ thrilling season 2 finale, Lt. La’an Noonien-Singh (Christina Chong), Lt. Sam Kirk (Dan Jeannotte, Dr. Joseph M’Benga (Babs Olusanmokun), and Lt. Erica Ortegas (Melissa Navia) are captured by the Gorn and Batel has become a host to the terrifying alien species’ parasitic eggs.
When the cast of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds returns in season 3, it will be to a very different Star Trek on Paramount+ landscape. Star Trek: Discovery ends with season 5 in 2024, essentially passing the torch to Strange New Worlds as the flagship Star Trek on Paramount+ live-action series. Star Trek: Lower Decks also returns for season 5 in 2023, while a new series, Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, is expected to begin production this year. The first made-for-streaming Star Trek on Paramount+ movie, Star Trek: Section 31 starring Academy Award-winner Michelle Yeoh, is also filming and could premiere in late 2024. But it’s safe to say Strange New Worlds will be the franchise’s new crown jewel series, especially after the positive reception to season 2.
Related
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 2 Ending & Cliffhanger Explained
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2’s finale nailbiter brings back the fearsome Gorn and ends with Captain Pike facing an impossible choice.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 3 Is Now Filming
Production started in December 2023 and is expected to last until May 2024
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3 was ready to begin filming in May 2023, but production was halted and delayed for 7 months thanks to the dual Writer’s Guild and SAG-AFTRA strikes. When the picketing was over, Strange New Worlds season 3 production finally began filming in December and is expected to last until May 2024. Producing director Chris Fisher is directing Strange New Worlds season 3’s premiere, which will resolve Strange New Worlds season 2’s Gorn cliffhanger. Fisher directed Strange New Worlds season 1’s finale, “A Quality of Mercy,” and Strange New Worlds season 2’s premiere, “The Broken Circle.”
Other directors lined up for Strange New Worlds season 3 are Jordan Canning, who helmed Strange New Worlds season 3, episode 2, and Dan Liu, who takes over for Strange New Worlds season 2, episode 3. Canning directed the Vulcan comedy romp Strange New Worlds season 2, episode 5, “Charades,” while Liu helmed the tense Strange New Worlds season 1, episode 4, “Memento Mori,” and Strange New Worlds season 2, episode 6, “Lost in Translation.” In addition, Jonathan Frakes will direct an episode of Strange New Worlds season 3 after he was lauded for directing Strange New Worlds‘ comedy crossover with Star Trek: Lower Decks.
Jonathan Frakes is also the director of the first half of Star Trek: Discovery’s series finale, season 2, episode 9, “Lagrange Point.”
When Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 3 Could Release
The wait for Strange New Worlds season 3 will likely last until 2025.
Realistically, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3 probably won’t premiere on Paramount+ until some time in 2025. When filming finally wraps in May 2024, post-production and visual effects for Strange New Worlds season 3’s 10 episodes will take time to complete. Further, Paramount+ will need Strange New Worlds season 3 as the centerpiece of Star Trek in its 2025 schedule. However, this doesn’t stop eager audience members from hoping Strange New Worlds season 3 could split its release and drop the first episodes by the end of 2024, mainly so that they can see the resolution of Strange New Worlds season 2’s cliffhanger.
What Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 3 Could Be About
Expect more “big swings” from Strange New Worlds season 3
As well as resolving the fate of Captain Batel and the captured Starship Enterprise crew, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds has already set up multiple storylines for season 3. One of the biggest storylines will be the arrival of Nurse Christine Chapel’s (Jess Bush) fiance Roger Korby which will create new a love triangle involving Lt. Spock (Ethan Peck). Other big storylines set up in Strange New Worlds season 2 include Dr. M’Benga and his dark secrets from the Klingon War, the impending fatherhood of Lieutenant James T. Kirk (Paul Wesley), and Kirk’s promotion to Commander aboard the USS Farragut. Scotty (Martin Quinn) also joined the cast of Strange New Worlds and could recur in season 3.
Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy and Hikaru Sulu are the only 2 Star Trek: The Original Series season 1 main cast members who have yet to appear as their younger selves in Strange New Worlds.
Viewers can also expect some big genre swings to follow in the footsteps of Star Trek‘s first-ever musical episode and the animated crossover with Star Trek: Lower Decks. Most excitingly for fans of Star Trek: The Original Series will be a chance to see the young Montgomery Scott learn and grow into the USS Enterprise’s legendary Chief Engineer. There are still at least six years before Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) takes command of the Starship Enterprise giving Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3 plenty of ground to cover when it returns.
