“Emperor Philippa Georgiou joins a secret division of Starfleet tasked with protecting the United Federation of Planets and faces the sins of her past.” — official synopsis of Star Trek: Section 31
OK, let’s go back a little bit.
Early in 2019, it was confirmed that Michelle Yeoh’s ‘Emperor Philippa Georgiou’ (transported from Mirror Universe to Primary Universe) would be starring in a new “Section 31” spinoff series, written by Bo Yeon Kim and Erika Lippoldt. But, in April 2023 it was announced that the series was being reworked(?) into a one-off(?) Star Trek: Section 31 movie, written by Craig Sweeny — with Kim and Lippoldt still sharing credit — and directed by Olatunde Osunsanmi. Yeoh enthused,
“I’m beyond thrilled to return to my Star Trek family and to the role I’ve loved for so long. Section 31 has been near and dear to my heart since I began the journey of playing Philippa all the way back when this new golden age of Star Trek launched. To see her finally get her moment is a dream come true in a year that’s shown me the incredible power of never giving up on your dreams. We can’t wait to share what’s in store for you, and until then: live long and prosper (unless Emperor Georgiou decrees otherwise)!”
The film is said to be a cross between Guardians of the Galaxy and Mission Impossible. Other than that production was scheduled to begin later in 2023, news since last April has been scarce. However, ScreenRant‘s John Orquiola put forth a theory that this film could function as a “stealth sequel” to “Star Trek: Enterprise”. After the Guardian of Forever (aka Carl) sends her back in time,
“Georgiou’s ultimate mission may be to either take control of Section 31 or possibly even put an end to the organization. But perhaps this could entail Philippa learning the secrets of how Section 31 began, which ties into the 22nd-century founding of the United Federation of Planets, i.e. the timeframe of Captain Jonathan Archer (Scott Bakula) and ‘Star Trek: Enterprise’.”
(Dismantling Section 31 or even retconning it out of the timeline completely would certainly please certain Redditors.)
A month or so ago, it was confirmed that principal photography had finally begun in January and the following actors had joined the cast: Omari Hardwick (“Power”), Kacey Rohl (“Arrow”), Sam Richardson (The Tomorrow War), Sven Ruygrok (“One Piece”), Robert Kazinsky (“Second Chance”), Humberly Gonzalez (“Ginny & Georgia”) and James Hiroyuki Liao (“Unforgettable”). There are three more people listed with them — four, if you include Yeoh — in the movie’s IMDB’s entry. Alas, other than for Yeoh, we have no names or other information regarding these characters.
Then, just the other day, Kazinsky posted on social media that the film had completed filming, saying that it had been “one of the greatest experiences of my life.” He lauded director Osunsanmi as “the most exceptional captain I’ve worked under, leading a cast that is incomparable.” He also gushed about his fellow castmembers, saying, “these talented individuals will revolutionize the world of [Star Trek] with their unparalleled chemistry and camaraderie. The constant laughter, support, and love we shared every single day is something I will cherish forever…. As a devoted Trekker, I believe you’ll love it.”
The post-production phase is now officially underway….
I gotta tell ya, I loved the idea of Georgiou in a “Section 31” series. Lots of room for development of both the character and the stories and lore about the organization. So, when it transformed into just a movie, I was mightily disappointed. I didn’t care why they changed it… I was just miffed. I didn’t find out until recently, but here are the real reasons (as per The Hollywood Reporter):
“Between Yeoh’s schedule, fears of having too many shows going on at the same time in the franchise, and a desire to enter the feature film event space, a decision was made to shift Section 31 into a movie.”
My personal disappointment aside, I should probably just be glad the project didn’t get completely canned, and I sincerely hope Yeoh et al. put together a very smart and fan-satisfying film. If it does so well that it functions as a backdoor pilot for a “Section 31” series or possibly a movie sequel or two, then all the better. After all, Kurtzman already wants to do a Star Trek made-for-streaming movie every couple of years.
Star Trek: Section 31, set to premiere in 2025, is produced by CBS Studios and will air on Paramount+. Alex Kurtzman, Rod Roddenberry, Olatunde Osunsanmi, and Michelle Yeoh are among the executive producers.
Heroes and Aliens 