Star Trek has a long history of crossovers, predating popular franchises like the MCU or Star Wars. The upcoming season of Strange New Worlds will feature a unique crossover with the characters from Star Trek: Lower Decks making their live-action debut alongside Captain Pike and his crew. However, despite its extensive interconnectivity, Star Trek doesn’t receive credit as the original shared universe. In order to explore this topic, we spoke with the creators of Strange New Worlds to discuss the history of crossovers in Star Trek and how it has strengthened the franchise over the years.
Before delving into Star Trek’s crossovers, it’s important to define what a cinematic universe is and what counts as the first of its kind. While franchises like James Bond and Planet of the Apes were early examples of ongoing series, the term “shared universe” wasn’t commonly used at the time. However, when it comes to crossovers, Star Trek was among the earliest, although not in a formative way. According to Strange New Worlds co-showrunner Akiva Goldsman, Star Trek explored crossovers early on, but it wasn’t the first shared universe.
To understand the origins of crossovers, it’s necessary to look beyond movies and TV shows and consider the work of Norman Lear, the legendary TV producer. Lear’s shows, such as All in the Family, Maude, and Good Times, set the stage for crossovers in the ’70s. However, the first potential crossover in the Star Trek franchise can be traced back to its initial episode, “The Cage,” and its follow-up, “The Menagerie.” These episodes featured Captain Pike, played by Jeffrey Hunter, who was later replaced by William Shatner’s Captain Kirk. This early crossover utilized unaired footage from “The Cage,” depicting a different crew and a distinct look.
Captain Pike’s story didn’t end there. Anson Mount, who stars in Strange New Worlds as Pike, revived the character in a season-long run on Star Trek: Discovery before getting his own show. Mount emphasizes the benefits of working within a franchise and having different iterations and takes on storytelling within the same canon.
The legacy of Star Trek also extends to meta continuity, with indirect references and homages to Gene Roddenberry’s original vision. For instance, one of the characters in Strange New Worlds, played by Melissa Navia, has a last name that pays tribute to a character Roddenberry intended for the original series. These subtle connections serve as a reminder of the impact Star Trek had in the 1960s and how it continues to shape storytelling today.
While “The Menagerie” remains the primary crossover event in The Original Series, the show attempted to introduce more crossovers with episodes like “Assignment: Earth.” However, the series was largely self-contained. It wasn’t until Star Trek transitioned into a movie series that its crossover potential expanded.
The Original Series stood out for its early world-building and continuity, even compared to previous franchises like the Universal Monsters series. When the series made its way to the big screen after the success of Star Wars, it continued to build upon its established universe. The animated show that followed the original series maintained continuity and expanded the lore with the return of recurring characters and the introduction of Captain Robert April, showcasing the Enterprise’s history.
The movies allowed for further world-building and character development that we now take for granted. Notably, the second film brought back Khan, a character from the original series episode “Space Seed.” Ricardo Montalban’s portrayal of Khan became an iconic villain for the franchise. The movies played a pivotal role in evolving the Star Trek universe, showcasing the filmmakers’ commitment to maintaining continuity and expanding the series.
In conclusion, while Star Trek may not be recognized as the original shared universe, it has a rich history of crossovers that have deepened and strengthened the franchise over the years. From early TV crossovers to the expansive world-building of the movies, Star Trek continues to captivate audiences with its interconnected storytelling.
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Eugen Boglaru is an AI aficionado covering the fascinating and rapidly advancing field of Artificial Intelligence. From machine learning breakthroughs to ethical considerations, Eugen provides readers with a deep dive into the world of AI, demystifying complex concepts and exploring the transformative impact of intelligent technologies.
