It’s been said that Section 31 is meant for a broader audience, and it’s a different flavor of Star Trek.
So, what core elements of Star Trek did you feel still needed to be included within that mandate?
Alex Kurtzman: Anthony, you and I have talked about this a lot.
Alex Kurtzman: Sure Lower Decks and Prodigy fans are also looking to an animated streaming movie as a possible hope for more… Alex Kurtzman: It would be wonderful to be able to do that.
But here’s what I do know: I know that David Ellison is a huge, huge fan of Star Trek.
In advance of Friday’s release of Star Trek: Section 31, TrekMovie had the opportunity to speak with director Olatunde Osunsanmi and executive producer Alex Kurtzman. However, Alex ended up speaking the majority of our brief conversation. We discussed how this new Star Trek can still align with Roddenberry’s vision, Trek’s foray into streaming film, and the franchise’s future prospects following Skydance’s acquisition of Paramount later this year.
Section 31 is a different kind of Star Trek and is allegedly intended for a wider audience. What essential Star Trek components, in your opinion, still needed to be covered by that mandate?
Alex Kurtzman: I’ve spoken with you about this a lot, Anthony. In the end, I believe it is impossible to create Star Trek without reiterating [Gene] Roddenberry’s vision of a brighter future. I also need not mention that fans have been diametrically opposed to the idea of Section 31 since Deep Space Nine and what it stands for. Whether Star Trek is a mirror that holds itself up to the world and tells allegorical or metaphorical stories about how we live our lives is one of the things that we felt strongly about. If so, we talked about what it takes to preserve that vision. By oath, members of the Federation or Starfleet are obligated to live within the Federation and in accordance with its rules. We explicitly state at the start of the film that although this story is set outside of Federation space, the characters you are about to meet have the same desires as a typical Starfleet officer. Simply said, these individuals lack the character to dress in a traditional starship uniform. However, they are defending the same thing, which is that in order to preserve Star Trek’s vision and keep Starfleet what it is, you need people working in the background and in the gray areas that the Federation charter doesn’t always permit. It goes without saying that our world is having that discussion.
On the other hand, tone is where things get messy. I believe that if we created a very dark Star Trek, viewers could honestly remark, “Wow, that doesn’t feel like Star Trek.”. But we really made an effort to counteract the conversation by, first and foremost, creating something that was incredibly entertaining by including some very specific and purposeful references to what it means to be a member of the Federation and Star Trek and Starfleet, with Rachel Garrett being the most eloquent of those references. In the end, providing you with an entertaining, humorous, and poignant tale that resembles “wagon train to the stars” also leans toward a Western paradigm. For Georgiou, this is essentially a story of redemption.
It has also been suggested that streaming Star Trek films like this one might be the new norm. Are you already working on another one, and would it be a sequel to Section 31 or something else entirely?
Olatunde Osunsanmi: To begin, let me say that I hope we’re organizing another one. I wouldn’t necessarily have access to all of that information. The opinions of the fans regarding this one will determine the outcome. And we would be delighted to complete another one, especially another Section 31. Regarding the rest of the cosmos… [indicates Alex].
Alex Kurtzman: Of course we would like to. It would be excellent. Although some stories are better told over five seasons, others are better told in two hours. And determining which is which is our responsibility. Making this was a lot of fun. Everyone who attended had an amazing time. Therefore, we are completely receptive to more.
Could the [Picard season 3 follow-up] Star Trek: Legacy concept be implemented using this streaming movie format?
Alex Kurtzman: Certainly.
Fans of Prodigy and Lower Decks are considering an animated streaming film as a potential hope for more.
Alex Kurtzman: Being able to do that would be fantastic. The short answer is yes. It would be a pleasure to do so. In addition, I want to make sure that we have a compelling reason for telling a story before we do so. and that we are able to communicate it properly. There are instances when this calls for doing it as a film, and other times it calls for doing it as a series. We probably don’t want to make one for the sake of making one. Making one is what we want to do because it’s morally right.
Are all the major decisions being postponed until Skydance takes over [which is anticipated to happen sometime in mid-2025]? Have you had any preliminary conversations with any of the Skydance personnel regarding the franchise’s future?
No, we have not. David [Ellison], the CEO of Skydance and the incoming chairman and CEO of Paramount, is someone I greatly admire. They have not yet interacted with the company, so we have not had any discussions. Here is what I do know, though: David Ellison is a huge Star Trek fan. He loved working on the movies we produced as one of the producers. He is really fond of it. Thus, I have no doubt that those discussions will eventually take place.
We are currently working on Strange New Worlds, which is set to begin [production on season 4], and we are just two weeks away from finishing [production] on Starfleet Academy’s first season. And to be honest, we already have more than enough on our plate, and creating those shows is such a high-stakes sport. The quality of the show, in my opinion, degrades the moment we start doing too much, and it is our responsibility to guard against that.
Will you attempt to begin work on the Academy’s second season as soon as it’s announced?
Already, we have begun. Yes, season two is currently being worked on in the [writers’] room.
Do you anticipate shooting that this year, sooner or later?
Yes, mid-year is most likely.
Section 31 and additional interviews will follow.
In addition, TrekMovie conducted interviews with the cast of Section 31 today; stay tuned for those after the film’s Friday release, as we talked about some spoilers. Late tonight, after the (spoiler-free) embargo ends, TrekMovie will also publish some initial reactions from editors who have seen the Section 31 film. A comprehensive, in-depth review will be published on Friday.
See the upcoming days for red carpet interviews from the New York City premiere, which TrekMovie is also attending.
