‘Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’ Sets Aren’t Needed for That ‘Year One’ Pitch To Happen

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Most people think the period of new Star Trek shows led by Alex Kurtzman has come to an end. Paramount has officially taken apart the sets used for Strange New Worlds and Starfleet Academy. This marks the first real slowdown in new Star Trek content in many years, as there are currently no shows being filmed. Many anticipate Paramount won’t renew Kurtzman’s contract, leaving the future of the franchise uncertain. However, despite the dismantling of the sets, it’s possible this isn’t a negative sign for the future of Star Trek.

Even though no new Star Trek series are currently in production, there are still several episodes ready to be released. Season 4 of Strange New Worlds will premiere later this year, and Season 5 is already finished and scheduled for 2027. We can also expect Season 2 of Starfleet Academy to arrive around the same time. While the current creative direction led by Kurtzman seems to be ending, the transition could be smooth. The team behind Strange New Worlds has pitched a promising new Star Trek idea to Paramount, but if approved, the existing sets used for the current shows might not be suitable.

Why Dismantling the ‘Star Trek: Strange New World’ Sets Doesn’t Necessarily Make ‘Year One’ Less Likely

For some time, the team behind Strange New Worlds, Akiva Goldsmith and Henry Alonso Myers, have been developing a new show called Star Trek: Year One. This series would directly follow the events of Strange New Worlds Season 5, continuing the story with many of the same actors. It would focus on the first year of Captain Kirk leading the Enterprise – a period not yet shown on screen. Given that the Enterprise in Strange New Worlds is the same ship as the original Star Trek series, it makes perfect sense to reuse the existing sets. While it looks more modern, it’s officially the same vessel.

The removal of those sets strongly suggests that the Year One project is likely canceled. However, it’s worth considering this carefully. If Paramount did decide to move forward with Year One, would they really use the sets from Strange New Worlds? Currently, the difference in visual style between the two shows is excused by the fact that the story takes place after the end of Strange New Worlds and before the beginning of The Original Series. But if Year One were to happen, using those sets wouldn’t quite fit.

If the show Year One is made, it’s meant to lead directly into The Original Series. However, the sleek, advanced sets used in Strange New Worlds – which were initially thought to be used for Year One – would create a strange contrast. Because of this, Paramount might build new sets for the Enterprise that deliberately look older and less polished, similar to those in The Original Series. This would create a smoother transition between Year One and the classic show, making them feel like part of the same universe instead of two separate ones.

Adding a show called Year One could create confusion given that Strange New Worlds has already finished after five seasons. If Year One gets made, it wouldn’t really fit that it wasn’t simply considered a sixth season of Strange New Worlds. The actors and general feel of Year One wouldn’t be drastically different from the first five seasons of SNW. However, if the show used sets designed to look like the original Star Trek era, it would feel more like a deliberate and distinct spin-off. Maybe this is just hoping for something that won’t happen, but it seems like a logical idea.

Other Signs That ‘Star Trek: Year One’ Could Still Be Happening

If we assume the Year One project is definitely happening, it’s worth looking back to see if there was a clear plan for a spin-off series from the start. I believe there was. Strange New Worlds Season 5 has already brought in the last two missing members of Kirk’s original crew: Thomas Jane (from The Expanse) will make a guest appearance as Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy, and Kai Murakami will play Lt. Hikaru Sulu. While these castings could simply be for continuity and a smoother transition to The Original Series, the fact that they cast a well-known sci-fi actor like Jane suggests they plan to use him more significantly than we currently know. It would make sense to keep him involved with Year One to give him a bigger role.

The Strange New Worlds episode “A Space Adventure Hour” (Season 3, Episode 4) is particularly noteworthy. While largely a fun setup for a classic murder mystery—using an early version of the holodeck—it feels like a preview of the direction Year One would eventually take. Specifically, a scene featuring Paul Wesley as Captain Kirk imitating William Shatner’s portrayal of the character is a remarkably accurate recreation of The Original Series. It’s clearly a parody, complete with vintage sets and a ’60s soundtrack, but it genuinely captures the feel of the original Star Trek.

Think about what Goldsmith and Myers originally envisioned for Year One. It would need some adjustments to be less self-aware, but this is a good foundation. The actors could easily adapt their performances to fit the time period, and the sleek sets from Strange New Worlds could be swapped for something with the charming, low-budget feel of the “A Space Adventure Hour” sequence. This approach would also be more affordable to produce. While Star Trek might be taking a break from television after so many recent shows, I’m still hoping Year One happens and brings back the feel of a classic era that fans have been asking for.

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2026-04-15 01:18