SDCC 2022 Interview: Star Trek Strange New Worlds

After a very successful season 1, the cast of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds arrived at San Diego Comic Con 2022 to participate in the Star Trek Universe panel in Hall H.

Strange new worlds recently finished season 2 as well, but in hall H the bomb dropped that one of the season 2 episodes would crossover with Star Trek: Lower Decks.

Related: Why Is Strange New Worlds’ Star Trek Crossover Great?

Screen Rant had the absolute pleasure of engaging in a fun and lively conversation with Anson Mount (Captain Christopher Pike), Ethan Peck (Spock), Celia Rose Gooding (Uhura), Christina Chong (La’an Noonien Singh) and Paul Wesley (James T. Kirk) on seasons 1 and 2. Because our conversation happened before Strange new worlds‘ onstage in Hall H, they may even have hinted at the crossover episode at the end of our interview.

VIDEO OF THE DAY


Hi, this is John Orquiola with Screen Rant at Comic Con and I’m here with the cast of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds – in person! Welcome to Comic-Con.

Cast of Strange New Worlds: Thank you.

And joining us, of course, Paul Wesley. He plays James T. Kirk. Happy birthday!

Strange New Worlds Cast: Hey! Happy birthday!

What a way to spend your birthday.

Paul Wesley: Isn’t it? Is it surreal?

How did you plan this so perfectly?

Paul Wesley: I know, I know. And I expect everyone in Hall H to sing Happy Birthday to me. (No I do not know.)

I think they will. I think they will. Paul, you and William Shatner got together earlier at Comic Con and had a photo op. Did you know Chris Pine was here too?

Paul Wesley: Actually, I knew that. I feel like someone told me that from Bill — I say Bill. “William” is so formal – at the handprint ceremony, I actually heard that. And someone said you should put all three Kirks in a picture, but…

Oh my God. A space-time singularity could form.

Paul Wesley: Yeah, something could happen.

Season 1 was very well received. I know I loved it. And safe to say it’s best received, most loved star trek show in the decades. I know you just finished the second season, so it’s your victory lap, your celebration. Can’t wait to stand outside Hall H and feel the love from the fans in person?


Christina Chong: Oh yes. I mean, I’m super excited. Because I mean, just for me, Star Trek, I understand how huge it is but I’ve never been in person with the fans. So it’s going to be a huge first experience. So, I half know what I’m going to expect, but I think it’s going to be overwhelming and very close to blinding me.

Ethan Peck: It’s going to be blinding. You talked about it.

Celia Rose Gooding: This is my first Comic Con. Yeah, I’m super excited. I think my first Comic Con will be one of the first Comic Cons back in person and I can see people and then share it with my cast instead of sitting in my living room in front of the computer or something . It’s incredible. I’m super excited. I think there are about 6000 people who will be there?

I think it could be seven, actually.

Ethan Peck: Wow.

Celia Rose Gooding: That’s a lot of numbers.

And they camped all night.

Christina Chong: All night?

On the sidewalk, yes.

Celia Rose Gooding: Yes, to feel that energy. I think it’s going to be amazing.

You have completed the second season. So you’re currently on hiatus, aren’t you? Which means no one is using Pike’s quarters right now. So let me ask you, do you want Airbnb for me?

Paul Wesley: What are you willing to pay?

Give me your price. I am ready to move in. I may not leave, but you can shoot around me. I am easy.

Celia Rose Gooding: Yeah yeah yeah.

Anson. Captain. I’m a foodie, so I like that Pike is a gourmet chef and uses food to round up the crew. I think that’s one of the really low-key but great aspects of your captain. But I think we all want to know: can you really cook as well as Pike?

Anson Mount: My wife would laugh at you. I can cook some stuff. It’s usually not my favorite thing to do. I cooked for the first time a few weeks ago. We went blueberry picking and with my daughter and I baked a bunch of blueberry crumbles.

Paul Wesley: How did it go?

Anson Mount: It went well.

Celia Rose Gooding: And you know your way around the grill.

Anson Mount: Yes, that’s true. I like to cook over a fire.


Strange New Worlds Pike Bridge

Let me ask the cast: what does Pike’s food actually taste like on set? Because you know, you have to say it’s delicious. It says in the script.

Ethan Peck: I try never to actively eat on camera because you have to do it every time. But I had his bacon. It’s not bad.

Now, Ethan… Man, we thought Kirk was the ladies’ man. But Spock has the best relationship problems in the galaxy. So what’s your take on the love triangle with Spock, T’Pring [Gia Sandhu), and Nurse Chapel [Jess Bush]?

Ethan Peck: Oh, my point of view? I mean, it’s really interesting to navigate as an actor because it feels like breaking new ground. Of course, there was some romance in the original series with Spock. But we really take it to a much deeper level and explore the nuances of that.

And it’s pretty nerve-wracking because, you know, I want to do it with precision and authenticity and stay true to the Spock that we know from The Original Series, so it’s been really interesting. I haven’t really had time to process and think about it. So it’s a very interesting question.

Yeah. It’s something fans ship. They ship all combinations.

Ethan Peck: Are they really?

Yeah, every combination of you.

Ethan Peck: Oh yeah.

Celia Rose Gooding: Even T’Pring and Chapel.

Ethan Peck: No way!

Celia Rose Gooding: Oh my god!

Paul, you just played the future alternate version of Captain Kirk, and you’re going to be in season two as a young James T. Kirk. How will your young Kirk be different? What is your opinion on that?

Paul Wesley: First of all, I take full responsibility for the success of Season 1. [Entire cast laughs]

You saved it at the end.

Paul Wesley: In 14 minutes of screen time. Really, I’m so glad I came to the screen. The Season 1 finale, Kirk, is, as you said, an alternate timeline, Kirk. So I felt there were liberties in what I could do with the character.

I mean obviously I walked in… The episode is very intense. If you watch the original “Balance of Terror” and see how it ends, Kirk is actually very intense and there’s no real levity. So I’m looking forward to season two because it’s a younger Kirk. It’s a little less, you know, it’s not titled “Balance of Terror.” So there’s obviously going to be some action-packed moments, but there’s a bit more levity to it, so I’m looking forward to it.

Impressive. I can not wait. Celia, you said your first Comic Con. So welcome to Comic-Khan. I saw your tweet this morning.

Celia Rose Gooding: BD-KHAAAAAAAANNN!!

Of course, I follow you on Twitter. I know you’re a huge Beyonce fan.

Celia Rose Gooding: Yes, I am. I am.

Anson Mount: We know! Oh my God. Beyonce releases her single, we can’t stop her from crying.

Celia Rose Gooding: Yeah, I blast every speaker. They were blocking me from using the Bluetooth speakers for a good reason, because I was a threat.

Will Uhura become a fan of Beyoncé in season 2?

Celia Rose Gooding: She always has been. No no, she’s a Beyonce fan first, then a communications manager. It’s lovely.

It’s hot, yeah. I mean, Kirk loves the Beastie Boys. It’s lovely.


Spock and Uhura from Strange New Worlds Passed Their Toughest Test

Christina, La’an is amazing. People I’ve spoken to who love the show, everyone points out what an amazing new character [La’an is]. Possibly the best new Star Trek character in a long time, La’an is. I also follow you on Instagram and I know you are a parkour expert.

Celia Rose Gooding: Are you? !

Christina Chong: Have you ever seen my parkour videos? They are online for everyone to see!

Celia Rose Gooding: Oh my god, I have.

Is this how young La’an survived being devoured by the Gorn?

Christina Chong: She was traveling the Gorn. That’s how she survived. They just didn’t think it was necessary to put it in the script.

Paul Wesley: It’s hot.

So. Everything here is canon.

Celia Rose Gooding: Gorn’s only weakness is sick parkour moves.

Christina Chong: The Gorn are not very coordinated.

Now they have to update Memory Alpha and do all that stuff. So it’s all in there. Yeah. When we spoke before the series premiere at the time, Celia and Chrissy told me that they were super excited for everyone to see episode eight. And you were right. Episode eight was amazing. So you can be as vague as you want, but in Season 2, is there anything you’re super excited for everyone to see?

Cast of Strange New Worlds: Yes.

I knew I had asked the right people.

Anson Mount: We all know what other people think.

Celia Rose Gooding: We’re all thinking the same thing and we’re all really excited about it.

Ethan Peck: Let’s keep our mouths shut.

Paul Wesley: Ah! I was like, “What are they talking about?”

Celia Rose Gooding: Yeah! The thing!

Paul Wesley: I was confused. You know I’m slow.

Christina Chong: Yeah, in a way, I think everyone would be okay with getting to the top of Episode 8.

It’s a bold statement.

Anson Mount: Actually, I think there are a few episodes vying for that. Besides the one we think of.

Celia Rose Gooding: We’re all merging minds right now.

Check out our other interviews with Star Trek: Strange New Worlds stars Gia Sandhu, Christina Chong, Rebecca Romijn, Ethan Peck, Jess Bush, Jesse James Keitel, Bruce Horak and Anson Mount, plus EP Henry Alonso Myers.

Next: Every Star Trek Reveal From Comic Con 2022

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2 will air in 2023 on Paramount+.

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