Rhys Darby To Bring Back A Legacy Character In Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 3

Darby is not Korby, but there are plenty of prior Star Trek roles to choose from.

By Jack Kiely /

CBS Media Ventures / Robyn Von Swank

What do ancient telephones, Atari, and Andy Warhol have in common? No, it's not that fever dream you had after eating the mis-molecularly synthesised food. They're all, in fact, spending time with Commander Pelia, who will herself be spending time in her quarters in the upcoming season of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. That was according to the always delightful Carol Kane on stage this Saturday at New York Comic Con (NYCC) alongside Ethan Peck, Akiva Goldsman, and Henry Alonso Myers. Three words to describe the season for Cane? "Too. Much. Fun."

Fun and a 'Foux Du Fafa' in my own challenging segue, the biggest news from the panel was that Flight of the Conchords, What We Do in the Shadows, Our Flag Means Death, and Jumanji: The Next Level actor Rhys Darby was joining the cast of Strange New Worlds as a guest star in a legacy role. Naturally, they didn't say which one! Well, you've had 'Seán Speculates' in our news breakdown video. Here's… 'Jack Gestures (?)' in the vague direction of a few characters for Darby.

Trelane (and/or Q) seems a popular choice on socials, some noting the resemblance but for a bit of hair dye. Others, like us, have suggested Doctor Piper (seen once in Where No Man Has Gone Before), and that other Doctor, McCoy, is equally high on everyone's list. Half-brother Sybok is getting a good deal of support. That would have the benefit of not leaving us dangling from The Serene Squall to Star Trek V. Darby will not be playing Dr. Roger Korby, however, as that role (recurring guest star) has already gone to Irish actor Cillian O'Sullivan, announced at San Diego Comic Con (SDCC) in July.

Other fun suggestions include Cyrano Jones (more tribbles before …m/More t/Tribbles?), Kirk's tormentor Finnegan, Flint (perhaps to share stories about old and ancient Earth with Pelia), and Matt Decker. We are promised a murder mystery in season three, directed by Jonathan Frakes, so I'm going to say… also Redjac. Joking, of course. His flag really would mean death!

The actual answer will have to wait, although for how long, we don't know. No release date for season three has been given yet except "2025". We do know that production on the third season, which began in December 2023, was completed in May 2024. By April, Strange New Worlds had been renewed for a fourth season.

In the meantime, you can content yourself — in addition to nine times your dose of Vulcan in the SDCC first look clip — with at least part of the rather dramatic opener to episode one of season three, itself some of the conclusion to the rather dramatic cliffhanger of the season two finale Hegemony. The NYCC exclusive clip shows Captain Pike and bridge crew as they hurriedly try to formulate a plan to rescue their Gorn-kidnapped colleagues in the middle of a firefight. Load up a dud torpedo with "Wolkite," and prepare for ramming speed!

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