One of the most entertaining shows in recent years will be coming to an end. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds has been renewed for a fifth and final season, and there’s some casting news that is sure to be a treat for fans: two iconic, fan-favorite characters will be appearing!
Paramount+ announced on Tuesday, December 23, that the series finale will introduce two iconic characters to the Enterprise crew: Thomas Jane as Leonard “Bones” McCoy and Kai Murakami as Hikaru Sulu. (DeForest Kelley played Chief Medical Officer Dr. McCoy and George Takei played helmsman Lieutenant Hikaru Sulu in the original series.)
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, which premiered in 2022, is based on the years Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount) manned the helm of the U.S.S. Enterprise. The series follows Captain Pike, Science Officer Spock (Ethan Peck), Number One (Rebecca Romijn), and the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise in the years before Captain Kirk (Paul Wesley) boarded the starship, as they explore new worlds around the galaxy. The characters of Pike, Spock, and Number One were introduced on Star Trek: Discovery in its second season in 2019.
Read on for everything we know about Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 5, from when it will be filming to why it’s the final season and more.
Is Star Trek: Strange New Worlds ending with Season 5?
Yes, it was announced to be on Thursday, June 12,2025, before Season 3 even premiered.
“From the very beginning, Strange New Worlds set out to honor what Star Trek has always stood for — boundless curiosity, hope and the belief that a better future is possible,” executive producers Akiva Goldsman, Henry Alonso Myers, and Alex Kurtzman said in a statement. “We’re deeply grateful to Paramount+ for the chance to complete our five-season mission, just as we envisioned it, alongside our extraordinary cast and crew. And to the passionate fans who’ve boldly joined us on this journey — THANK YOU. With three more spectacular seasons ahead for you to see and enjoy, this adventure is far from over.”
When will Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 5 premiere?
It’s too soon to speculate, though it’s hard to imagine it premiering before 2027. Season 3 premiered on Thursday, July 17, with the finale streaming on September 11. There’s also still Season 4 to air.
Strange New Worlds has been a summer show thus far. Season 1 was released May to July 2022, and Season 2 June to August 2023. With the third season following that pattern, we imagine the same will remain true of the fourth and fifth as well.
How many episodes are in Strange New Worlds Season 5?
The fifth and final season will be shorter than previous ones, with only six episodes. The first four seasons all consist of 10 episodes.
Who’s in the Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 5 cast?
It’s too early to predict who will still be around then, though we don’t expect too much change from the main cast. Season 4 stars Anson Mount (Pike), Rebecca Romijn (Una), Ethan Peck (Spock), Jess Bush (Chapel), Christina Chong (La’an), Celia Rose Gooding (Uhura), Melissa Navia (Ortegas), Babs Olusanmokun (M’Benga), and Martin Quinn (Montgomery Scott). Paul Wesley (Kirk) is a special guest star, and Carol Kane (Pelia) is a guest star.
And we now know that Thomas Jane (Leonard “Bones” McCoy) and Kai Murakami (Hikaru Sulu) will appear in the series finale.
The series is produced by CBS Studios, Secret Hideout and Roddenberry Entertainment. Akiva Goldsman and Henry Alonso Myers serve as co-showrunners. Alex Kurtzman, Akiva Goldsman, Henry Alonso Myers, Aaron Baiers, Dana Horgan, Alan McElroy, Robbie Thompson, Frank Siracusa, John Weber, Chris Fisher, Anson Mount, Rod Roddenberry, and Trevor Roth serve as executive producers for Season 4.
Marni Grossman / Paramount+
What will Strange New Worlds Season 5 be about?
Beyond the usual (and unusual) adventures of the U.S.S. Enterprise, it’s impossible to speculate what’s to come in the final season before seeing the Season 4 finale. But it is possible that it will see Kirk becoming captain of the Enterprise, at least in the finale. It could also see Pike meeting his fate that he saw back on Discovery when he learned he can’t escape after seeing the future, which he did in the Strange New Worlds Season 1 finale.
Is there a Strange New Worlds Season 5 trailer?
No, it’s too soon.
How did the Strange New Worlds cast mark the end of filming?
We know that filming has now wrapped, thanks to posts from the cast and crew.
“Last night at approximately 11:15pm EST, the last “cut” was called by Mr. Akiva Goldsman. Many tears were shed, many hugs were given, but everyone was smiling and proud of the work (so much of which has yet to been seen by anyone outside the fold). During my career I have learned a couple of things: 1) Acting is a service position, and 2) so is leadership. Thank you for allowing me to occupy the chair. Full sails an following winds, my friends. Pike out. ❤️🖖,” Anson Mount wrote on Instagram on December 20.
“Today was the end of a 5 year mission for La’an, and what an incredible one it was…” reads Christina Chong’s farewell, with a photo of her trailer door, on December 13.
“This feeling is very big. I could not be more thankful for the five years I got to spend growing with this group of people. That’s a wrap on the chap,” wrote Jess Bush alongside a series of photos on December 16.
“The last time our entire season regular cast was together on the bridge of the starship Enterprise…” director and co-executive producer Chris Fisher captioned a photo of the cast on December 19.
What are the other Star Trek series on Paramount+?
The Star Trek franchise is ever-growing on Paramount+. Discovery, Picard, and Lower Decks have all completed their runs. Michelle Yeoh‘s Star Trek: Section 31 is also available to stream. Still to come is the new Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, premiering in January 2027.
