During today’s Star Trek Day presentation, our first hints towards the in-production fifth season of Star Trek: Discovery were sent our way thanks to a behind-the-scenes tour of the show’s studio!
Hosted by Discovery actor Wilson Cruz (Dr. Hugh Culber) from Pinewood Studios in Toronto, the five-minute tour of the Discovery production facilities didn’t reveal much about the Season 5 storyline, however there were a few moments spent with most of the show’s regular cast — including Sonequa Martin-Green (Capt. Michael Burnham), Anthony Rapp (Cmdr. Paul Stamets), Blu del Barrio (Ens. Adira Tal), and Mary Wiseman (Lt. Tilly).
Not seen was Saru actor Doug Jones, who told fans at last week’s Star Trek convention that he had a “longer break” than some of the other cast — so it’s possible Saru may be absent for part of the Season 5 tale.
Of note, Cruz gives us our first good look at the dedication plaque seen at the 3180s-era Starfleet Headquarters base/starship, officially named USS Federation, a Pax-class ship (as we saw in the Season 4 finale) with registry NCC-325002. (“Pax” means “peace” in Latin.)
The quote on the plaque is from The Old Astronomer to His Pupil by Sarah Williams, reading, “Though my soul may set in darkness, it will rise in perfect light. I have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night.”
But what we DID learn about Season 5 came from a press release which accompanied the Discovery production tour, giving us the first hints towards the season-long story arc planned for the next year of 32nd century adventures — and that despite some ambiguity around each character during the closing episodes of Season 4, both Wiseman and David Ajala (Cleveland Booker) remain part of the Star Trek: Discovery regular cast.
In STAR TREK: DISCOVERY Season 5, Captain Burnham and the crew of the U.S.S. Discovery uncover a mystery that sends them on an epic adventure across the galaxy to find an ancient power whose very existence has been deliberately hidden for centuries.
But there are others on the hunt as well… dangerous foes who are desperate to claim the prize for themselves and will stop at nothing to get it.
STAR TREK: DISCOVERY Season 5 cast members include Sonequa Martin-Green (Captain Michael Burnham), Doug Jones (Saru), Anthony Rapp (Paul Stamets), Mary Wiseman (Sylvia Tilly), Wilson Cruz (Dr. Hugh Culber), David Ajala (Cleveland “Book” Booker) and Blu del Barrio (Adira).
Also accompanying today’s tour and press release was the below photo of Captain Burnham on what appears to be some sort of futuristic ground transport, racing through a desert landscape from the upcoming Season 5 story.
With the show still in active production, and several seasons of already-completed Trek yet to air, no return date for Discovery was announced during the Star Trek Day event — but we anticipate that Captain Burnham and her crew will arrive sometime in the second half of 2023.
Star Trek: Discovery’s fifth season will return sometime in 2023 on Paramount+ in the United States, and on CTV Sci Fi Channel and Crave in Canada.
Outside of North America, the series is available on Paramount+ in Australia, Latin America, the UK, and South Korea, with expansions to Italy, France, Germany, Switzerland and Austria expected “later this year.”