One Star Trek: TOS Character Will Never Appear in Strange New Worlds (for a Good Reason)

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With *Star Trek: Strange New Worlds*, fans have been delighted to see familiar faces from the original *Star Trek* series return, like Spock, Uhura, Scotty, and even James T. Kirk. However, co-showrunners Akiva Goldsman and Henry Alonso Myers have revealed that one beloved character from the original series won’t be making an appearance before the show ends, disappointing some viewers.

In a recent TrekMovie interview discussing future seasons of the show, executive producer Goldsman confirmed that Walter Chekov won’t be appearing in the prequel series. Myers added that including Chekov wouldn’t make sense, as the show’s timeline places him as a teenager, likely still in high school. This absence from Captain Pike’s Enterprise is therefore logical and essential to maintain the show’s consistency.

During San Diego Comic-Con, according to TrekMovie, Mike Myers hinted that we might see more original *Star Trek* characters in *Strange New Worlds*. He said, “You are going to meet some of them for sure,” and also suggested Sybok (Spock’s half-brother) isn’t finished with the story. When asked if characters like Sulu or Dr. McCoy – or even Sybok – could return before the series ends, they wouldn’t confirm or deny it. However, it appears Chekov won’t be appearing in the show.

Strange New Worlds’ Chekov Snub Is Actually A Good Thing

Walter Koenig’s character, Ensign Pavel Chekov, became part of the original *Star Trek* series in its second season, working as both the ship’s navigator and security officer. According to the show’s established history, Chekov was born in 2245, meaning he was only 22 years old when he first served on Captain Kirk’s Enterprise. However, the new series *Strange New Worlds* is set more than ten years before the original, during Captain Pike’s time. This means Chekov would have been around 16 years old during that period – much too young to realistically be serving on the bridge of a starship. This makes Chekov one of the few key characters from the original *Star Trek* who can’t appear in *Strange New Worlds* without creating a major timeline conflict. In contrast, Captain Kirk has already appeared in the series, before he eventually takes command of the Enterprise.

The decision to not include Chekov in *Strange New Worlds* shows how carefully the writers are handling both fan expectations and established Star Trek history. While it’s fun to see beloved characters appear during Pike’s time, bringing in too many could lessen the impact of the original *The Original Series*. By saving Chekov for Kirk’s command, the show preserves the special feeling of when he first joins the Enterprise crew in *TOS*.

Chekov’s lack of presence actually helps *Strange New Worlds* stay true to itself. The show has thrived by focusing on characters like Captain Pike, Number One, Spock, and its new creations, such as La’an Noonien-Singh and Erica Ortegas. By not immediately introducing every character from the original *Star Trek*, the series makes space for fresh stories while still naturally leading towards the future with Kirk’s Enterprise.

The popular series *Star Trek: Strange New Worlds* will continue for two more seasons. Season 4 is expected to premiere next year, and filming for Season 5 will begin on September 17th and is scheduled to finish in December.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is streaming now on Paramount+.

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2025-09-16 14:40