The recasting of fan-favorite characters from “Star Trek: The Unique Sequence” will proceed till morale improves … or till “Strange New Worlds” comes to a close with its fifth and final season. Whichever comes first. The Paramount+ prequel sequence has steadily added to its roster of traditional heroes from franchise lore, first with Ethan Peck as our latest Spock and persevering with with Celia Rose Gooding as Nyota Uhura, Paul Wesley as James T. Kirk, and even incorporating Martin Quinn as each Trekkie’s beloved Montgomery Scott in latest seasons. Viewers have patiently awaited information on whether the show would ever round out its ensemble and bring in the rest of the USS Enterprise crew: specifically, Hikaru Sulu (initially performed by George Takei and once more by John Cho within the latest films) and Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy (DeForest Kelley and Karl City).
We now know that’s precisely the plan — and a type of castings will probably be properly acquainted to Marvel followers.
In an surprising improvement, Deadline has revealed that each Sulu and McCoy will lastly make their appearances in “Unusual New Worlds.” Sulu will probably be performed by Japanese actor Kai Murakami, predominantly recognized for his theatre work with the Royal Shakespeare Firm and performance-capture performances in video video games corresponding to “Murderer’s Creed” and “Rise of the Ronin.” However the huge headline-making information is that Thomas Jane of “The Punisher” fame has been recruited to painting our favourite grumpy physician, Bones. There’s one catch, nonetheless: Followers must wait fairly a while earlier than they make their appearances, as it has been revealed that they’re going to solely arrive throughout the remaining episode of “Unusual New Worlds” in season 5.
Thomas Jane is becoming a member of Star Trek, however does this trace at larger issues to come back?
What a time to be alive. Not solely have we been blessed with a “Star Trek” prequel sequence that recaptures a lot of what Trekkies beloved from “The Unique Sequence,” however we now get to see none different “The Punisher” star Thomas Jane put aside his over-the-top weapons and whip out his medical tricorder as Bones on “Unusual New Worlds.” The information of his and Kai Murakami’s casting comes as a little bit of a shock, provided that the inventive workforce behind “Unusual New Worlds” has lengthy performed coy about whether or not the legacy characters of Bones and Sulu would ever really seem within the flesh throughout the prequel sequence. (With that mentioned, they’ve definitively ruled out any appearance by Anton Chekov.) Now begins the talk over whether or not Jane and Murakami actually embody their respective characters — a time-honored custom in the case of any occasion of “Trek” recasting.
Extra curiously, nonetheless, their restricted roles in “Unusual New Worlds” increase sure questions. The truth that they’re going to solely seem within the season 5 finale means that the sequence will bow out proper when Kirk takes over the Enterprise as captain, setting the stage for all of the adventures to come back as informed in “The Unique Sequence.” On the identical time, “Trek” producers Akiva Goldsman, Alex Kurtzman, and Henry Alonso have hinted at the idea of keeping the good times rolling with a hypothetical “Star Trek: Year One” — a sequel sequence that covers the (untold) occasions of “The Unique Sequence.” Is that this meant as a dangling carrot for Paramount to lastly give that present a inexperienced gentle? That is definitely the hope, however we’ll have to attend and see.
“Unusual New Worlds” season 4 beams to Paramount+ someday in 2026.
