As a long-time Trekkie, I jumped at the chance to attend the Star Trek panel at New York Comic Con. I couldn't wait to hear the latest news on upcoming shows and movies. So when I learned that my interviews at the press table would be done almost exclusively with the actors and director of Star Trek: Section 31 after watching its trailer, my heart sank a little.
For those who don't know, Section 31 is an intelligence and black ops organization within the Star Trek universe, first introduced in New deep space. Responsible for defending the Federation, Section 31 maintains a complicated relationship with supporters. Its existence seems, at first glance, to directly call into question Star Trekthe ideals of. Yet it is this contradiction that explains why Article 31 has endured, often portrayed as a necessary and morally ambiguous partner rather than a hero.
I have often said it Star Trek succeeds because it provides the perfect setting for exploring various genres and plots: action-adventure, courtroom drama, and even whimsical musicals. With Section 31I had hoped for a cerebral spy thriller, something like that Spy soldier handyman tailor Or Three days of the Condor. Judging by the trailer, it seems Alex Kurtzman chose a different path. Watch it here:
While it's unfair to judge a film by a teaser, my enthusiasm for the project has waned. The production's troubled history added to my skepticism: Section 31 started as a series, was later shortened to a movie, and has now moved to a streaming-only release on Paramount+ in late January. It was like an abandoned project. It was particularly disappointing because I love the protagonists, Michelle Yeoh And Sam Richardson. So I approached the interviews with the director and cast with some skepticism, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that everyone involved shared a commitment to the core ideals of Star Trek.
Director Olatunde Osunsanmi describe Section 31 as a deeply allegorical film exploring themes of redemption, change and the search for good. “One of the major themes of Article 31 is… that everyone is capable of transforming themselves and being better… that’s a really important message to convey,” Osunsanmi said.
Like a long time ago Star Trek director – after directing 14 episodes of Discovery as well as some Short hikes—Osunsanmi acknowledged that although Section 31 looks at some of Star Trekfrom the darker, seedier sides, he wanted the film to ultimately uplift viewers and retain them. Star Trekthe ambitious spirit of. “We didn’t want to make a film that would make people sad.” Osunsanmi said. “We wanted (fans) to feel what I felt watching Star Trek growing up.”
Growing up as the son of immigrants in a predominantly white Orange County, California suburb, Osunsanmi found representation in Star Trek. “I felt represented by (Geordi La Forge)”, he shared. “It didn’t matter who you were; (the characters) have just been accepted and are all part of the same team.
It was also reassuring to see the main actor Robert Kazinskywho plays the chaotic character Zeph, displays a real passion for the series. Kazinsky demonstrated his Star Trek in good faith by citing New deep space to defend the role of section 31 in the Federation.
“The idea is that we have bought into an optimistic view of the future… but the truth is… it is easy to be a saint in Heaven… if you actually want to have a realistic interpretation of what life is like. Federation, it always will be. have an article 31, » Kazinsky said.
Kazinsky's extensive knowledge of the series served as a resource for the actors, ensuring they stayed in frame Star Trekthe limits. Omari Hardwickwho plays Alok, the most grounded member of the motley crew of Section 31, praised Kazinsky's expertise and dedication to telling a Star Trek history.
“He's our geek… our Star Trek geek… He's definitely the Trekkie out of the cast,” Hardwick said. “We were still talking about making a movie for the fandom. The fan base is the most important part of this…maybe we freed ourselves and understood our characters better by doing so, but you still have to stay within the boundaries of what the fans want to watch.
At the end of the interviews, I was truly impressed by the cast and crew's commitment to telling a film. Star Trek a story that upholds the ideals that make the franchise so popular. I must admit that I was won over.
In a spirit of openness and exploration, when Section 31 premiering January 24 on Paramount+, I'll be tuning in with an open mind, ready to watch Emperor Philippa Georgiou and her team embark on their latest adventure.
