Back in 2018, it was announced that Paramount+ was developing yet another Star Trek series. The show was to star Michelle Yeoh and would focus on Section 31. Over the years, reports indicated that the project would still move forward, however, there was never any strict timeline as to when the project would actually enter production. Well, after years of being “in development,” Paramount+ is finally moving forward with Section 31… but it’s going to be a movie now.
On Tuesday, the streamer revealed that Michelle Yeoh will star in Star Trek: Section 31. The movie will see Georgiou join a “secret division of Starfleet tasked with protecting the United Federation of Planets and faces the sins of her past.” The movie is being penned by Craig Sweeney and will be directed by Olatunde Osunsanmi — both Sweeney and Osunsanmi have worked on Star Trek: Discovery, where Yeoh made her debut as Georgiou.
“I’m beyond thrilled to return to my Star Trek family and to the role I’ve loved for so long,” Yeoh said in a statement to the press. “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)!”
Alex Kurtzman, who returns as an executive producer for Section 31, revealed that Yeoh initially pitched a spinoff series for her character back in 2017 – before anything was officially announced as being in development. ” “All the way back in 2017, before the first season of Star Trek: Discovery had even aired, Michelle had the idea to do a spinoff for her character, Philippa Georgiou. She broke new ground as one of the first two women onscreen in the pilot to usher in a new age of Trek, and now, six years later, Section 31 finally arrives on the heels of her latest groundbreaking win.”
Section 31 will kick off a new phase for Trek on Paramount+. The streamer is hoping to do a “Star Trek made-for-streaming movie every two years.” Production on the project will kick off later this year.
