Excerpts from Friday’s special Star Trek: Discovery-themed issue of Entertainment Weekly continue to roll out, with more behind-the-scenes interview videos, photos, and discussion with the cast and crew on the new Trek coming in September.
The first video features the cast discussing the diverse nature of the show’s characters – from Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) as a black woman, to Lt. Paul Stamets (Anthony Rapp) as a gay man, to Lt. Saru (Doug Jones) as the alien Kelpian officer.
While there has been much discussion of diversity in interviews and publicity leading up to the series, Jones notes that on-screen, it’s much less front-and-center:
When you’re watching [‘Discovery’], it doesn’t have to be said: we never have to look at each other and say, ‘You’re an alien!’ or ‘You’re a woman of color!’ or whatever.
On the shipboard scientist, Lt. Stamets, Rapp and series producer Aaron Harberts divulged some new details on his character and how his romantic life is just one facet of his being.
“We’re at a point in time where people aren’t defined by their sexuality,” says Aaron Harberts. “What’s fascinating about the character is that when we meet him we don’t know who or what he is. He’s so super specific, he’s persnickety and difficult and brilliant, and he isn’t going to give an inch and he has very strong feelings about why he’s on the Discovery. We wanted to roll out that character’s sexuality the way people would roll out their sexuality in life.”
Rapp:
“I’m really excited and happy when a gay character is a part of a story — especially when a gay character is created in a complex and human and non-stereotypical, interesting way, and that has certainly been the case with Stamets.” Rapp tells us.
“And you get to see his relationship. There was a little glimpse in Sulu in Beyond, and it was a nice nod. But in this case, we actually get to see me with my partner in conversation, in our living quarters, you get to see our relationship over time, treated as any other relationship would be treated.”
“He’s a really, really smart guy and as smart guys go, he sometimes can be a little difficult to deal with because not everybody’s as smart as he is,” Rapp says. “So he’s got a little bit of an edge sometimes, which is fun to play.”
In a more lighthearted video, the cast does their best to share their favorite episodes and moments from Star Trek history.
With Sonequa Martin-Green calling out “Journey to Babel” (a natural given her character’s relationship with Sarek), Rapp going for Spock’s mind-meld in “Devil in the Dark,” Jason Isaac (Gabriel Lorca) remembering “Miri,” Shazad Latif (Lt. Tyler) enjoying both The Next Generation and the Kelvin Timeline films, Mary Wiseman (Cadet Tilly) fondly discussing TNG’s “The Offspring,” Doug Jones (Saru) reminiscing about Leonard Nimoy’s appearance in the 2009 Trek film, and Michelle Yeoh recalling her fascination with “Amok Time.”
EW has also released this additional set of images from their photo shoot accompanying the new issue, available Friday:
Star Trek: Discovery debuts September 24.