Star Trek Confirms Two Original Series Characters Are Returning in Strange New Worlds (But Not in the Way Fans Want)

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For years, Star Trek enthusiasts have eagerly anticipated the Strange New Worlds series reaching a crucial point in the franchise’s history – the transition between Captain Christopher Pike’s (Anson Mount) command of the USS Enterprise and the beginning of Captain James T. Kirk’s (Paul Wesley) iconic voyages. Recent news suggests this transition is coming, but it may not happen as fans originally expected.

Okay, so I’m hearing some really cool news! Apparently, Thomas Jane – you know, the guy from The Punisher, The Mist, and The Expanse – is going to be playing Dr. McCoy in Season 5 of Star Trek: Stranger Things! And get this, a new actor, Kai Murakami, is taking on the role of Lt. Sulu from the original Star Trek! The bummer is, sources say we probably won’t get to see a ton of either of them, but still, how awesome is that?!

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Reveals Its Endgame

The exciting part of this casting announcement is that Strange New Worlds is holding back the reveal of these classic Original Series characters until the very last episode. According to The Hollywood Reporter, both McCoy and Sulu will appear in the finale of the show’s fifth and final season, which has already finished filming.

As a longtime Star Trek fan, seeing the finale of Strange New Worlds felt like everything we anticipated – and honestly, everything the show could deliver. It all came down to Kirk finally taking command of the Enterprise, with a fresh crew around him – Spock, McCoy, even Sulu! It’s the ending most of us expected, but knowing where these characters are headed, and everything that’s happened to get them there, it still feels incredibly impactful.

Strange New Worlds’ Ending Will Be Bittersweet

Strange New Worlds began as a spin-off of Star Trek: Discovery, which originally told a story set before the events of the original Star Trek series (and later moved to a far-future timeline). The core idea behind Strange New Worlds revolves around Captain Pike confronting a vision of his devastating future injury, and deciding to continue living his life and fulfilling his duties to Starfleet despite knowing what awaits him. Pike’s courageous acceptance of his fate, and the difficult life he faces afterward – severely injured and unable to move – profoundly shaped Captain Kirk and helped him become the inspiring leader he is known as.

Ultimately, when Kirk is reunited with his crew – Bones, Sulu, and the others – both he and the viewers will truly feel the impact of Captain Pike’s story, thanks to Anson Mount’s memorable performance.

At Comic Con 2025, Star Trek’s Akiva Goldsman and Henry Alonso Myers hinted that the newly cast actors playing Bones and Sulu might appear in a planned series called “Star Trek: Year One.” This series would focus on the early days of Kirk and his crew as they learn to work together and become a cohesive team.

We’d love to keep exploring the handover from Pike’s crew to Kirk’s, and then show Kirk’s crew beginning their adventures,” Myers explained to EW. “When The Original Series starts, they aren’t brand new to their roles – there’s already a history there. We’re interested in showing how those relationships developed. Plus, we’d have the chance to further develop the backstories of characters like Sulu, McCoy, and Chekov. It would be fantastic to continue that.

As a huge sci-fi fan, I’m really excited about Star Trek: Strange New Worlds – you can watch it on Paramount+. Sadly, we’re going to have to wait a bit for more, as season five isn’t hitting screens until 2026. If you’re watching and want to chat about it with other fans, the ComicBook Forum is a great place to share your thoughts!

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2025-12-24 00:44