10 BOLD Predictions For Star Trek's Next Decade

5. Lower Decks Goes Theatrical (Or Live Action)

Star Trek Strange New Worlds Those Old Scientists
CBS Media Ventures

When Star Trek: Lower Decks ended in 2024, it came as quite a surprise to the audience, though the producers were warned as they were constructing the fifth season. The show had seemingly gone from strength to strength, only to come to a premature end. Thankfully, the final season both ended the show nicely, while leaving the door open for further adventures.

Those Old Scientists depicted Jack Quaid's Brad Boimler and Tawny Newsome's Beckett Mariner in live-action, easily serving as a proof of concept for a live-action version of these characters. The episode also pulled double duty, depicting the Strange New Worlds cast in cartoon form. 

Lower Decks was a gift to Star Trek fans, walking the line between fan service and engaging stories that could be enjoyed without prior Trek knowledge. Mike McMahan assembled a team that understood the assignment, resulting in a show that engaged audiences from the jump, while also offering a template for how to bring various Trek iterations together. For example, it remains the only project to bring Jolene Blalock back as T'Pol since Enterprise went off the air in 2005. 

Perhaps this is a project that might suit the aforementioned crossover event well. Eugene Cordero and Noël Wells drew the short straws in the crossover episode - they have yet to play their characters in live-action, which simply needs to be fixed. A live-action Lower Decks movie may sound like a gamble, but it appeals to existing fans and, with its nature as a comedy, serves as an inviting entry point for new fans of all ages as well. 

Contributor
Contributor

Seán is the host and head writer/presenter for TrekCulture, as well as a writer/presenter on WhoCulture and WhatCulture Horror. He has authored two novels, dozens of short stories, and hundreds of articles for WhatCulture. He holds a Master of Arts in Creative Writing from University College Dublin. As part of his work with TrekCulture, Seán has been invited to participate in collaborations with Roddenberry Entertainment, as well as contributing to several Star Trek community projects. An avid fan of Star Trek, Doctor Who, and the horror genre at large, Seán's expertise has helped develop these channels to the successes they are today. As host of the Ups & Downs series on TrekCulture, Seán has become internationally recognised for his positive yet critically informed approach to reviewing every episode of modern Star Trek, ensuring he is one of the go-to voices in the Trek community. Favourite Quote to describe himself: "I'm serious about what I do, just not always about the way that I do it"