Paramount+ Star Trek: Section 31

[Alex...]

Title: Star Trek: Section 31

Release: 2025

Plot: Emperor Philippa Georgiou joins a secret division of Starfleet tasked with protecting the United Federation of Planets and faces the sins of her past.

 

[Alex...]

 

[Sam Favate]

This seems like the best format for this project. I hope they can explore the history of Section 31 and how it managed to sit at the periphery of the Federation.

Nice to see they've gotten a commitment from Michele Yeoh.

 

[Jason_V]

In the long run, movies like that are probably going to be an easier sell for Trek. Why? Look at the number of aborted big screen movies in the last few years. It's almost comical. These budgets should be reasonable and can tell self-contained, one off stories (or multi-part stories, who knows) when a full series isn't needed.

I'm thinking something like the Babylon 5 TV movies. You can get a Michelle Yeoh to do a two-hour movie; getting her to commit to lead a ten episode series might be a stretch. As long as these movies have a solid story behind them, the sky really is the limit.

 

[jayembee]

Nice to see they've gotten a commitment from Michele Yeoh.

I suspect that this was one of the big reasons for changing this from a series to a movie. Now that she's a Big Time, her schedule probably wouldn't allow for a series commitment.

 

[Tino]

Yawn. No interest in this whatsoever. It was marginally entertaining on Discovery. I think it’s a big mistake for a Theatrical Trek project.

 

[jayembee]

Yawn. No interest in this whatsoever. It was marginally entertaining on Discovery. I think it’s a big mistake for a Theatrical Trek project.

It's not theatrical. It appears to be intended as a Paramount+ Original. Much like Prey and Fede Alvarez's new Alien film are for Hulu.

I think the original intended series was a dubious prospect. Having a one-off movie is a better idea.

 

[Tino]

It's not theatrical. It appears to be intended as a Paramount+ Original.

That’s good to know. Since this thread is in the MOVIES section and not the STREAMING FORUM I was confused.

Still not much interest for me tho. Thanks.

 

[Josh Steinberg]

It's not theatrical. It appears to be intended as a Paramount+ Original. Much like Prey and Fede Alvarez's new Alien film are for Hulu.

I think the original intended series was a dubious prospect. Having a one-off movie is a better idea.

I thought “Short Treks” was a great idea for introducing ideas that weren’t big enough to carry a full episode or that weren’t necessarily tied to a specific series, and I think the idea of some original, made for P+ streaming movies has worlds of potential for the same reason.

Not only do I hope this is a good film in and of itself, but I hope it’s successful enough to encourage Paramount+ to try this approach with other ideas. The Nicholas Meyer-penned script for a three night miniseries about Khan on Ceti Alpha Five is already written and just collecting dust; something like that doesn’t need to be a full season or a theatrical film but would be fun as a one-off event. It’s really a format with unlimited potential.

 

[Adam Lenhardt]

This seems like the best format for this project. I hope they can explore the history of Section 31 and how it managed to sit at the periphery of the Federation.

Nice to see they've gotten a commitment from Michele Yeoh.

I agree. An ongoing series about the Federation's dark and dirty underbelly isn't something that really interested me, but telling one well-crafted story in that world might be. Star Trek Into Darkness is a template for what a Section 31 movie could look like, even though this won't have anywhere near that kind of budget.

It's probable that Yeoh's Best Actress Oscar win finally gave Paramount execs enough confidence to pull the trigger on this, but also limited her availability. A season of television would eat up half a year or more. A movie can be shot in a month or two.

That’s good to know. Since this thread is in the MOVIES section and not the STREAMING FORUM I was confused.

This forum is for movies, regardless of whether they debut in theaters or on streaming. COVID-19 made the line between the two even murkier than it was before.

The streaming forum is for streaming services and streaming media, just like the Blu-Ray and UHD forum or the DVD forum are for physical media. It used to be grouped with those instead of grouped with the Entertainment forums, and that made it less confusing.

Here's the official press release:

Release
04/18/2023

PARAMOUNT+ ANNOUNCES “STAR TREK: SECTION 31” ORIGINAL MOVIE EVENT STARRING OSCAR® WINNER MICHELLE YEOH​

Yeoh to Reprise Her Fan-Favorite Role as Emperor Philippa Georgiou, First Introduced in “Star Trek:
Discovery”

From CBS Studios, “Star Trek: Section 31” Will Begin Production Later This Year
​

April 18, 2023 – Paramount+ today announced it has officially greenlit STAR TREK: SECTION 31 starring Academy Award winner Michelle Yeoh. In this special original movie event for the service, Yeoh will return to her role as Emperor Philippa Georgiou, a character she first played in STAR TREK: DISCOVERY’s first season.

In STAR TREK: SECTION 31, Emperor Philippa Georgiou joins a secret division of Starfleet tasked with protecting the United Federation of Planets and faces the sins of her past. Produced by CBS Studios, production will begin later this year.

“I’m beyond thrilled to return to my ‘Star Trek’ family and to the role I’ve loved for so long,” said Michelle Yeoh. “Section 31 has been near and dear to my heart since I began the journey of playing Philippa all the way back when this new golden age of ‘Star Trek’ launched. To see her finally get her moment is a dream come true in a year that’s shown me the incredible power of never giving up on your dreams. We can’t wait to share what’s in store for you, and until then: live long and prosper (unless Emperor Georgiou decrees otherwise)!”

“All the way back in 2017, before the first season of STAR TREK: DISCOVERY had even aired, Michelle had the idea to do a spin-off for her character, Philippa Georgiou,” said executive producer Alex Kurtzman. “She broke new ground as one of the first two women on screen in the pilot to usher in a new age of ‘Trek,’ and now, six years later, STAR TREK: SECTION 31 finally arrives on the heels of her latest groundbreaking win. Everyone on Team ‘Trek’ couldn’t be more thrilled to have our legendary friend return home to us as we expand our storytelling into new and uncharted corners of the Trekverse. Long live Emperor Georgiou; long live Michelle Yeoh!”

“We’re thrilled that STAR TREK: SECTION 31 will be the next title in our ‘Star Trek’ universe,” said Domenic DiMeglio, chief marketing officer and head of data at Paramount Streaming. “Michelle Yeoh is an incomparable talent – she brought Emperor Georgiou to life in such an incredibly fun and nuanced way that the character immediately became a fan favorite. We’re so thrilled to welcome Michelle back to the ‘Star Trek’ and Paramount+ family and can’t wait for fans to see what this special movie event has in store.”

“For years, we’ve been looking forward to Michelle Yeoh one day returning to ‘Star Trek,’” said David Stapf, president of CBS Studios. “Her powerful performance as Captain and Emperor Georgiou was a pivotal moment for the return of the franchise, and her portrayal resonated with fans around the world in a multitude of ways. We couldn’t be prouder to join forces with Michelle once again as we continue to explore the ‘Star Trek’ universe, celebrate its legacy and chart a course for the future of the franchise.”

Written by Craig Sweeny and directed by Olatunde Osunsanmi, STAR TREK: SECTION 31 is executive produced by Alex Kurtzman, Craig Sweeny, Aaron Baiers, Olatunde Osunsanmi, Frank Siracusa, John Weber, Rod Roddenberry, Trevor Roth and Michelle Yeoh, and is produced by CBS Studios in association with Secret Hideout and Roddenberry Entertainment.
​

Facebook/Twitter/Instagram: @StarTrekonPPlus, @StarTrek, @ParamountPlus
​

About Paramount+

Paramount+, a direct-to-consumer digital subscription video on-demand and live streaming service, combines live sports, breaking news and a mountain of entertainment. The premium streaming service features an expansive library of original series, hit shows and popular movies across every genre from world-renowned brands and production studios, including BET, CBS, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, Paramount Pictures and the Smithsonian Channel. The service is also the streaming home to unmatched sports programming, including every CBS Sports event, from golf to football to basketball and more, plus exclusive streaming rights for major sports properties, including some of the world’s biggest and most popular soccer leagues. Paramount+ also enables subscribers to stream local CBS stations live across the U.S. in addition to the ability to stream CBS News Network for 24/7 news and CBS Sports HQ for sports news and analysis.

For more information about Paramount+, please visit www.paramountplus.com and follow @ParamountPlus on social platforms.

About “Star Trek” on Paramount+

Paramount+ is now the exclusive home to every series and every episode of the full catalog of “Star Trek.” This includes all seasons of the Paramount+ original series STAR TREK: DISCOVERY, STAR TREK: PICARD, the animated series STAR TREK: LOWER DECKS and STAR TREK: PRODIGY, and the newest addition STAR TREK: STRANGE NEW WORLDS. “Star Trek” on Paramount+ also includes a selection of “Star Trek” films, including the documentary WOMAN IN MOTION.
For additional info on and photography from Paramount+’s STAR TREK: DISCOVERY, STAR TREK: PICARD, STAR TREK: LOWER DECKS, STAR TREK: STRANGE NEW WORLDS and STAR TREK: PRODIGY, please click here.

About CBS Studios

CBS Studios is one of the world’s leading suppliers of entertainment programming, with more than 70 series currently in production for broadcast and cable networks, streaming services and other emerging platforms. The Studio’s expansive portfolio spans a diverse slate of commercially successful and critically acclaimed scripted programming, which includes genre-defining franchises such as “NCIS,” “CSI” and the ever-growing “Star Trek” universe, award-winning late night and daytime talk shows, as well as an extensive library of iconic intellectual property. The Studio also develops and produces local language and international content originating outside of the U.S. with series in the U.K., Europe, the Middle East and Australia.

Paramount+ Press Contacts:
Morgan Seal [email protected]
Nikki Kozel [email protected]
Leigh Wolfson [email protected]
Mackenzie Lawn [email protected]

CBS Studios Press Contacts:
Kristen Hall [email protected]
Jennifer Verti [email protected]
Rachael Wesolowski [email protected]​

 

[Adam Lenhardt]

Also possibly driving this decision: The looming WGA strike. If they have a script already completed, it gives them something to shoot while most productions are shut down. A TV series, or even a miniseries, has too many moving parts to attempt without writers available to make changes.

 

[Alex...]

Filming begins

 

[Alex...]

Cast members announced

Michelle Yeoh’s ‘Star Trek’ Movie Adds 7 To Cast, Including Omari Hardwick, Kasey Rohl, Sam Richardson, As Production Begins

Production is underway on Star Trek: Section 31, Paramount+’s upcoming original movie starring Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh. Rounding out the cast are Omari Hardwick (Power), Kacey Rohl (Hannib…

deadline.com

 

[Adam Lenhardt]

Official Press Release:

Release
01/30/2024

PRODUCTION OFFICIALLY UNDERWAY ON STAR TREK: SECTION 31, A PARAMOUNT+ ORIGINAL MOVIE EVENT, STARRING OSCAR® WINNER MICHELLE YEOH​

PRODUCTION OFFICIALLY UNDERWAY ON
STAR TREK: SECTION 31, A PARAMOUNT+ ORIGINAL MOVIE EVENT,
STARRING OSCAR® WINNER MICHELLE YEOH

Photo Credit: Jan Thijs

Additional Cast Announced, Including Omari Hardwick, Kacey Rohl,
Sam Richardson and Robert Kazinsky

L to R: Omari Hardwick (credit: Warwick Saint), Kacey Rohl (credit: Kristine Cofsky), Sam Richardson (credit: Abita Jefferson), Sven Ruygrok (credit: Justin Munitz), Robert Kazinsky (credit: Eric Blackmon), Humberly Gonzalez (credit: Kristina Ruddick), James Hiroyuki Liao (credit: Joshua Monesson)

Yeoh to Reprise Her Fan-Favorite Role as Emperor Philippa Georgiou,
First Introduced in STAR TREK: DISCOVERY

STAR TREK: SECTION 31 Is Produced by CBS Studios

Click Here to Download the Start of Production Image and Cast Headshots​

January 30, 2024 – Paramount+ today announced that production has begun in Toronto on STAR TREK: SECTION 31, an original movie event starring Academy Award® winner Michelle Yeoh. In STAR TREK: SECTION 31, Yeoh will reprise her fan-favorite role as Emperor Philippa Georgiou – a character she played in STAR TREK: DISCOVERY’s first season – who joins a secret division of Starfleet. Tasked with protecting the United Federation of Planets, she also must face the sins of her past.

In addition, it was announced that Omari Hardwick (Power), Kacey Rohl (Hannibal), Emmy® winner Sam Richardson (Ted Lasso), Sven Ruygrok (One Piece), Robert Kazinsky (Pacific Rim), Humberly Gonzalez (Ginny & Georgia) and James Hiroyuki Liao (Barry) have joined the cast of the original movie event.

“And we’re off to the races! Thrilled to report principal photography has started on STAR TREK: SECTION 31,” said executive producer Alex Kurtzman. “We welcome our incredible cast of new characters as they join our beloved Michelle Yeoh on her next wild adventure across the ‘Trek’ universe.”

Hardwick is best known for his lead role of James 'Ghost' St. Patrick in the hit series Power, which earned him critical acclaim and back-to-back Image Awards (NAACP) for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series. Following his success in Power, Hardwick starred opposite Jennifer Lopez in the thriller The Mother. Hardwick also starred in the limited series Pieces of Her and Zack Snyder’s Army of the Dead. Next, Hardwick will star in Xeno, from Kevin Hart’s Heartbeat production company. In addition to acting, Hardwick founded the film and production company Bravelife in 2010. A talented actor, Hardwick also is a poet and musical artist; his debut album "Concrete & Whiskey" is on the horizon.

Rohl’s first on-screen appearance was in 2010 in the reboot of the series V. She’s best known for her role of Abigail Hobbs in Hannibal and as Sterling Fitch in The Killing. She played Prudence in the 2011 Warner Bros feature Red Riding Hood, opposite Amanda Seyfried, and portrayed Kerry Campbell in Wayward Pines, Alena in Arrow and Marina in The Magicians. After starring in the series Fortunate Son, she led the cast of the Toronto Film Festival's buzzy White Lie, which garnered her a spot among TIFF’s Rising Stars platform in 2019.

Richardson is best known for his standout role as Richard Splett on Veep. He most recently earned two Emmy nominations for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series, winning his first Emmy for his role in Ted Lasso. His diverse career includes starring in The Afterparty, Hocus Pocus 2 and Velma and voicing Uncle Brill in DreamWorks' Ruby Gillman: Teenage Kraken. His notable filmography includes Good Boys, Game Over Man, Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates, Neighbors 2, Senior Year, The Tomorrow War, Werewolves Within, Superintelligence, Detroiters, and Office Christmas Party. On television, he's been seen in The Office, New Girl, Arrested Development and I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson. Richardson is an alumnus of Second City Chicago MainStage.

Ruygrok is a dynamic South African actor who is well-known for his role as Rambo in the Spud film franchise alongside John Cleese, Troye Sivan and Caspar Lee. His other films include City of Violence, The Empty Man, Bring It On and Inside Man: Most Wanted. His most recent works include lead roles in The Good Life and Breathing In (in post-production), and he can be seen as Cabaji in the hit TV series One Piece.

Kazinsky can be seen in the Russo Brothers-directed film The Gray Man, starring Ryan Gosling, Chris Evans and Ana de Armas, and in the drama Second Chance. He starred opposite Brie Larson and Samuel L. Jackson in Captain Marvel; opposite Reese Witherspoon and Sofia Vergara in Hot Pursuit, directed by Anne Fletcher; and opposite Alexander Skarsgård and Paul Rudd in Mute for director Duncan Jones and Liberty Films. Kazinsky also appeared in the feature Warcraft for Jones. Previously, Kazinsky starred in Guillermo del Toro's film Pacific Rim, opposite Charlie Hunnam and Idris Elba, and was the mysterious love interest to Anna Paquin in True Blood.

Gonzalez next will play a lead in the feature Horrorscope. She stars in the new Star Wars video game Star Wars: Outlaws, stars in the hit series Ginny & Georgia and was recently seen in Jupiter’s Legacy. She starred in Nobody, opposite Bob Odenkirk and Connie Nielson; Slumberland, opposite Jason Momoa; and the indie A Hundred Lies. She played the lead role in the mini-series Utopia Falls and recurred on the series Nurses. Last year, Humberly played the fan-favorite role of Vanessa on the series In the Dark. Her previous credits include Orphan Black, Saving Hope, Workin’ Moms and The Detail. Humberly is a graduate of the prestigious CFC Conservatory program in Toronto and the National Theatre School in Montreal.

Liao, a Juilliard-trained character actor, is known for his roles as Edmond Ku in the award-winning series The Dropout and Albert Nguyen in the Emmy-winning series Barry. He is set to appear in the upcoming limited series Presumed Innocent and the first season of Orphan Black: Echoes and continues his recurring role of Lt. Fleming in the new season of Blue Bloods. Liao's recent credits include Cowboy Bebop, opposite John Cho, and Paramount Pictures’ Snake Eyes with Henry Golding. Other notable roles include Michael Pak in the film Lost Girls and voicing Toshiaki in Tim Burton's animated film Frankenweenie. Liao has a diverse range; he’s tackled everything from battling aliens in Battle Los Angeles to displaying his comedic skills in Management with Jennifer Aniston, Woody Harrelson and Steve Zahn. His television presence includes recurring roles in Paramount+’s SEAL TEAM, Prison Break, CSI and 24, along with guest appearances on shows like Manifest, Iron Fist and Law & Order.

Written by Craig Sweeny and directed by Olatunde Osunsanmi, STAR TREK: SECTION 31 is executive produced by Alex Kurtzman, Craig Sweeny, Aaron Baiers, Olatunde Osunsanmi, Frank Siracusa, John Weber, Rod Roddenberry, Trevor Roth and Michelle Yeoh and is produced by CBS Studios in association with Secret Hideout and Roddenberry Entertainment.

STAR TREK: SECTION 31 will be available to stream exclusively on Paramount+ in the U.S. and in all international markets where the service is available. The movie is distributed by Paramount Global Content Distribution.

For more information about Paramount+ and STAR TREK: SECTION 31, please visit www.paramountplus.com and follow @ParamountPlus on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, TikTok and X.

About Paramount+
Paramount+, a direct-to-consumer digital subscription video on-demand and live streaming service, combines live sports, breaking news and A Mountain of Entertainment™. The streaming service features an expansive library of original series, hit shows and popular movies across every genre from world-renowned brands and production studios, including BET, CBS, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, Paramount Pictures and the Smithsonian Channel. Paramount+ with SHOWTIME®, the service's cornerstone plan, is also home to SHOWTIME® content, including scripted hits and critically acclaimed nonfiction projects and films. This premium plan includes unmatched events and sports programming through the local live CBS stream, including golf, basketball and more. All Paramount+ subscribers have streaming access to CBS News Network for 24/7 news and CBS Sports HQ for sports news and analysis.

For more information about Paramount+, please visit www.paramountplus.com, and follow @ParamountPlus on social media.

About STAR TREK on Paramount+
Paramount+ is the streaming home of STAR TREK, featuring a robust library of STAR TREK series, which includes all seasons of classic favorites such as STAR TREK: THE ORIGINAL SERIES and STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION and of the Paramount+ original series STAR TREK: DISCOVERY, STAR TREK: PICARD, STAR TREK: STRANGE NEW WORLDS, and the animated series STAR TREK: LOWER DECKS; as well as a collection of STAR TREK films. Upcoming STAR TREK titles include the recently announced series STAR TREK: STARFLEET ACADEMY, and the original movie event, STAR TREK: SECTION 31.

About CBS Studios
CBS Studios is one of the world’s leading suppliers of entertainment programming with development and production for broadcast, cable networks, streaming services, and other emerging platforms. The Studio’s expansive portfolio spans a diverse slate of commercially successful and critically acclaimed scripted programming, which includes genre-defining franchises such as NCIS, CSI and the ever-growing Star Trek universe, award-winning late night and daytime talk shows, as well as an extensive library of iconic intellectual property. The Studio also develops and produces local language and international content originating outside of the US for viewers around the world.

#StarTrek #Section31

***

PRESS CONTACTS

Paramount+
Morgan Seal: [email protected]
Nikki Kozel: [email protected]
Leigh Wolfson: [email protected]

CBS Studios
Kristen Hall: [email protected]
Jennifer Verti: [email protected]

Paramount+ International
Christina Ringstrom: [email protected]

Paramount Global Content Distribution
Katie Tisherman: [email protected]

I'm not familiar with most of the cast, but Kacey Rohl is terrific and PERFECT for this morally murky cloak and dagger shit. On the other hand, Sam Richardson wouldn't seem to be at all suited for this kind of story, which makes his casting particularly interesting for me.

The screenplay was written by Craig Sweeny, who came up under René Echevarria and Ira Steven Behr on "The 4400" and then worked under "Moonlighting" creator Glenn Gordon Caron on "Medium". He co-wrote an early first season episode of "Discovery" when Gretchen J. Berg and Aaron Harberts were the showrunners.

Olatunde Osunsanmi was the logical choice to direct, since he is the producing director on "Discovery" and this is a "Discovery" spinoff.

 

[Adam Lenhardt]

Principal photography has evidently wrapped:

 

[Adam Lenhardt]

Variety has a cover story on the current state of Star Trek, which includes a dispatch from the set of Section 31.

It reveals that Kacey Rohl is playing (SPOILER) a young Rachel Garrett, later to be the heroic captain of the doomed Enterprise-C.. That would hint that when Mirror Georgiou was sent back in time, she ended up in the "Lost Era" between The Undiscovered Country and "Encounter at Farpoint" at the very end of the 23rd century or the very beginning of the 24th century.

Also of note: Yeoh would be up for making a sequel if this is successful, and Kurtzman is exploring a similar streaming movie follow-up to "Picard". Not the "Legacy" series we all want, but better than nothing if it's decent.

 

[Sam Favate]

Kurtzman is exploring a similar streaming movie follow-up to "Picard". Not the "Legacy" series we all want, but better than nothing if it's decent.

That could be the Picard film that Patrick Stewart mentioned recently, saying he’d just received a script.

Hopefully it could lead to the Legacy show.