It only took one trailer too Film Star Trek: Episode 31 to become the most anticipated coming Hike project on my list. This action-packed trailer for the film that will eventually be available with a Paramount+ subscription holds nothing back and is packed with tons of characters and species that will make any die-hard fan’s head spin. That said, the biggest question I have after this amazing trailer is: Why isn’t it in theaters?
I think a lot of Trekkies out there will be asking the same thing, so while I’m not saying we should raise pitchforks, the question should be asked. Partly because of what we see in this trailer and how brilliant it is. Let’s talk it out and hope there are enough people at the top of Paramount wondering the same thing when they see how it’s been received.
This doesn’t look like any previous Trek project we’ve seen, which makes perfect sense
From the jump, we’ve known that the Terran Emperor Georgiou wasn’t exactly the model representation of what Starfleet represents. What we didn’t know is that there are others like her within Starfleet, operating in the shadow of Section 31 and doing what needs to be done.
Of course, there are restrictions, which is why Kacey Rohls Rachel Garrett from The next generation is along for the ride. Given what we know about her, I think she’ll do her best to keep this broken team in check. Her presence makes it feel like Star Treks version of The Suicide Squadand i love it.
Section 31 is not supposed to function like Starfleet, so making it look more or less the same would be wrong. They get to get their hands dirty, do shady business, and maybe even break protocol, provided the ends justify the means. Sometimes there’s just no other way to do it, that’s where they come in.
With an Oscar winner and a fantastic cast, there are strong reasons for a theatrical release
Because as good as this trailer looks, I’m still shocked by the fact that this movie isn’t getting a theatrical release. Michelle Yeoh recently won an Oscar, and Sam Richardson won an Emmy. Omari Hardwick was popular in Driveand Olatunde Osunsanmi directed The fourth kind and other films that received theatrical releases.
Considering it’s been a very long time since we’ve seen a Star Trek movie in theaters, this would be a perfect way to start a new era for the franchise after a long delay. Like I said, we already know Paramount is preparing one Hike original film for theaters, so perhaps there was a fear of oversaturating the market.
I can also see the perspective that there is a clear risk with taking a film in theaters that are attached to Star Trek: Discovery. The series posted solid numbers in streaming ratings during its final season, but general mainstream audiences likely don’t have the prior knowledge of Georgiou to dive right into this feature. That said, I imagine that since we get some of her origin story and a younger portrayal by actress Miku Martineau, that would cover the basics of what casuals would need to know.
My hope is that as we get closer to release, Paramount will eventually announce a limited theatrical run for the film for Star Trek fans who want to see this adventure on the big screen. It’s been eight years since we had a chance to see our favorite series in theaters, so I’m asking someone at the top to consider it and make it available for people to see in all its glory.
Star Trek: Episode 31 come early 2025 movie scheduleand will stream on Paramount+. I’m absolutely stoked to see it, but like I keep saying, let’s get this on the big screen!
