Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 4 Gets Major Filming Update From Paul Wesley

Captain Kirk actor Paul Wesley reveals when Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 4 is expected to begin filming. Spinning out of Star Trek: Discovery, the sci-fi show follows the earlier voyages of the starship Enterprise before the events of the original series. In Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Wesley follows in the footsteps of William Shatner and Chris Pine in taking on the role of James Tiberius Kirk before he took the Enterprise’s command seat.

As Wesley opened up about his career to The Hollywood Reporter, the actor shed light on his upcoming commitments to the Star Trek franchise. Wesley founded a bourbon brewing company with his Vampire Diaries co-star Ian Somerhalder, and he revealed that he expects to hand over duties to Somerhalder and others when filming on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 4 commences next year. He said:

For example, I’m going off to shoot season four of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds in February, and they know that. So, I’ve accounted for that time, and I’m committed to that, and Ian’s gonna take over some of my duties, and I have other team members.

The actor also explained how maintaining his acting career remains an important part of his life, saying:

I need to be in front of the camera. I need to do things, as far as finding characters. That, for me, that’s rewarding. I’ve done it since I was a child. I’ve literally been doing theater since I was in third grade, and so I have to continue doing it. And also it feeds the product. If I’m doing well, then the company’s thriving as well, because I have more eyeballs on me, I suppose.

What This Means For Star Trek’s Future

Farewells And New Beginnings Are On The Horizon

Currently, the Star Trek franchise is undergoing great change, with many of its shows either wrapped or about to bring their runs to a close. Discovery‘s 5-season voyage concluded in May, Picard took its bow in 2023, Prodigy essentially ended in July, and Lower Decks will conclude in the fall. As such, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is the only ongoing series that will carry on beyond 2024, with season 3 expected to be released in 2025. Wesley’s comments reiterate its longevity, as season 4 puts it on track to rival Discovery and Prodigy for the longest-running new Trek show.

However, the next chapter of Star Trek is already in progress. Also following on from the events of Star Trek: Discovery, the upcoming Starfleet Academy will depict a new generation of heroes at the titular institution learning the ropes as they prepare for their own adventures. Furthermore, Star Trek movies will return in the form of the Michelle Yeoh-led Section 31 movie for Paramount+. Section 31 is also building off a story established by Discovery, so between that, Starfleet Academy, and Strange New Worlds, it so far seems like Star Trek‘s future is rooted in its first streaming series.

Our Take On Star Trek: Strange New World’s Season 4 Update

There Shouldn’t Be A Break In Star Trek’s Yearly Releases

While the scope of Star Trek‘s television output is largely slowing down, the franchise as it exists under Alex Kurtzman isn’t at risk of breaking its streak of yearly releases since Discovery‘s debut in 2017. Not only is Strange New Worlds season 3 confirmed to air in 2025, but Section 31 is currently expected to air later in the same year. As such, fans will not be left with gap years not featuring any new on-screen Star Trek releases.

Furthermore, no word has been given on whether season 4 will bring Pike’s journey to a close, so it is fairly likely that Strange New Worlds will continue into a potential fifth season and beyond, even if the Enterprise’s current captain has his fate sealed by the original series. With the show’s typical turnaround times and Wesley’s confirmation of season 4’s early 2025 filming, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds should be able to maintain the franchise’s television presence until the new projects can gain their footing.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter