Star Trek Section 31 – Spying, sabotage, and Starfleet’s wild side (trailer).

Star Trek fans, rejoice—or at least cautiously raise an eyebrow—as Paramount+ ventures once more into the final frontier with Star Trek: Section 31, a spinoff that dares to ask, “What if Starfleet had a shadowy black-ops department run by a snarky, morally ambiguous former emperor?” The answer, apparently, is a film directed by Discovery alumnus Olatunde Osunsanmi and written by Craig Sweeny, poised to debut on January 24, 2025. Yes, it’s not a series as once promised, but an “event film,” which is marketing speak for, “We couldn’t fit Michelle Yeoh’s schedule into an ongoing TV show, but we’ll take what we can get.”

Let’s talk about Philippa Georgiou, played by the inimitable Michelle Yeoh. Emperor, warlord, nightclub owner—her resume is as expansive as her disregard for Starfleet regulations. She’s stepping into the titular Section 31, Starfleet’s version of the CIA but with fewer accountability memos and a lot more “doing whatever it takes to protect the Federation.” Given her history of being, well, a murderous tyrant, this career pivot feels natural. Nothing says redemption arc like signing up for an ethically questionable secret organization! Yeoh herself assures fans that Georgiou will still retain her edge—because what’s a former Terran despot without a few sharp corners?

The film also features an intriguing roster of characters who seem tailor-made for chaotic shenanigans. There’s Omari Hardwick’s Alok, a Section 31 agent who combines “strategic mastermind” with “walking therapy session waiting to happen.” Kacey Rohl shows up as Rachel Garrett, the future captain of the USS Enterprise-C, moonlighting here as a representative of Starfleet—because nothing boosts your resume like hanging out with morally dubious spies. And Sam Richardson plays Quasi, a Chameloid (yes, a shapeshifter), whose disdain for utopia promises some deliciously sarcastic commentary.

And then there’s Fuzz, a “fun-loving” agent with anger issues (because what covert team doesn’t need someone likely to punch the wrong person?), a Deltan femme fatale named Melle, and Zeph, a guy who literally can’t take a step without his mechanical exoskeleton. This crew sounds like they stumbled out of a Marvel audition and into a Star Trek pitch meeting, but hey, if it works for Guardians of the Galaxy…

Let’s not forget the tonal experiment this film is attempting. The teaser trailer debuted with Beyoncé’s Formation, which, let’s face it, is about as “Star Trek” as Klingons doing karaoke. There’s a cheeky warning from Starfleet about “misfit content” and a title card that proudly proclaims Georgiou a “bad bitch.” You can almost hear Gene Roddenberry’s vision of idealistic optimism rolling its eyes, muttering, “This isn’t what I meant by boldly going where no one has gone before.”

Still, this tonal shift could be exactly what the franchise needs to shake things up. Star Trek has spent decades debating the finer points of morality, diplomacy, and the Prime Directive. Maybe it’s time to throw caution to the solar winds and let a bunch of ethically flexible agents wreak havoc. After all, this is the same universe where whales saved Earth, so anything goes.

Of course, the production wasn’t without its bumps. Originally envisioned as a full-blown series back in 2019, Section 31 suffered years of delays thanks to Michelle Yeoh’s skyrocketing career, the COVID-19 pandemic, and what I can only assume were heated debates over how many lens flares were too many. By 2023, Paramount wisely pivoted to a movie format, realizing that Yeoh’s post-Oscar schedule probably didn’t allow for the 14-hour days of episodic television.

Filmed in Toronto under the working title Dovercourt (which sounds like a rejected Law & Order spinoff), the movie promises slick visuals and plenty of action. Director Osunsanmi has teased an intense production process, with the crew pushed to “extremes” and emotions dialed up to eleven. Presumably, this means at least one scene of Georgiou rolling her eyes at some poor ensign while delivering a devastating one-liner.

Despite its rebellious vibe, the film still aims to uphold the ideals of Star Trek—sort of. Osunsanmi has likened Section 31 to real-world intelligence agencies like the CIA, which is either an endorsement or a warning, depending on your worldview. Either way, it’s a bold take for a franchise built on kumbaya moments in space.

So, what’s next for Star Trek: Section 31? If this film sticks the landing, more could follow, with Michelle Yeoh herself expressing interest in sequels. Will this movie be the edgier, espionage-laden shot in the arm the franchise needs, or just a quirky detour into “bad bitch” territory? Either way, SFcrowsnest is here for the ride. Engage!