Isolated images and a brief teaser served as a preview for Star Trek: Discovery, which has just released its first official trailer. A new story set in the Prime universe, ten years before the adventure that elevated the USS Enterprise and its crew to legendary status.
New challenges, old enemies, and a visual style that so far looks very polished. The first season will have fifteen episodes, and Netflix will handle international distribution. It all sounds quite good, but there is one big question: Will fans watch it?
Context: Star Trek Beyond and the Shift to Television
Star Trek Beyond received much more positive reviews than anticipated, but brutal competition in the American market and a very fragmented release around the world turned its box office into a bad joke. The film barely managed to break even, and although Paramount said there will be a fourth film, the final numbers make us think the available budget will be much more limited. The films will have to find a way to evolve and move forward on their own, as the newest addition to the saga is destined for television. The enthusiasm surrounding Star Trek: Discovery is very significant, first because it has been twelve years since we saw something from Star Trek in that format, and second, because it represents the formal return to the Prime universe, ten years before the original series with Kirk and Spock. With that said, let's look at its first trailer:
Cast and Characters
One of the fundamental details we must understand about Discovery is that its main character is not the captain of the ship, but its first officer, a role that will be played by Sonequa Martin-Green (Once Upon a Time, The Walking Dead). It is expected that this change will give viewers a different perspective, not so focused on the actions and decisions of the captain. And speaking of captains, this is where things get confusing. The trailer clearly shows Michelle Yeoh (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) in command of what is actually the USS Shenzhou, while Jason Isaacs (Harry Potter, Event Horizon) appears in the cast as the captain of the USS Discovery. Rumors suggest that the series will be divided between the two ships, that the USS Shenzhou will be destroyed, or that it will receive upgrades to transform into the USS Discovery.
Release and Distribution
The good news is that we won't have to wait too long. It will technically debut in the fall, starting with a two-part premiere on CBS, then moving to the streaming service CBS All Access. And the very good news is that international distribution is in the hands of Netflix. Fifteen episodes have already been confirmed for the first season. Our sensors are on.
