Star Trek fans got a treat at this year’s New York Comic-Con, which saw the launch of an action-packed Discovery season four trailer, teasing the next adventure for newly promoted captain Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green).
The teaser sees the crew of the Discovery go boldly “where no one has gone before” – in a reference to the franchise’s iconic tagline – as they enter an anomaly that threatens the survival of life across the universe.
It’s anybody’s guess what they’ll find inside, as Discovery has proven itself to be a truly unpredictable series, with season three jumping far into the future for a survival tale on a desolate planet.
The trailer also confirms a winter release date for Star Trek: Discovery’s fourth voyage, which will be welcome news to fans clamouring for the next instalment in the saga.
But what does the future have in store for the crew?
Read on for everything we know so far about Star Trek: Discovery season four on Netflix.
When is Star Trek: Discovery season 4 released on Netflix?
CONFIRMED: Star Trek: Discovery season four will premiere on US streaming service Paramount+ on Thursday 18th November, with a UK release date likely to follow shortly after.
This is an impressive turnaround given that filming only began in November 2020 amid the coronavirus pandemic, with new safety measures being implemented to minimise the risk of infection for the cast and crew.
The show usually spends a considerable amount of time in post-production due to its ambitious visual effects, with all kinds of intergalactic action unfolding across a typical season.
Star Trek: Discovery season 4 plot
!["Star]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2021/01/star-trek-discovery-cast-3c69522.jpeg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413" "\"Star")
Plot details for Star Trek: Discovery’s fourth season are likely to be kept secret until closer to release, but it’s expected that the series will continue to follow Michael Burnham’s crew as they explore the distant future.
Burnham finally made it the rank of Captain in the season three finale, meaning she will be leading the crew of the Discovery on their next expedition – wherever it takes them.
It’s a tough gig at the best of times but she may face some particularly stern opposition from engineer Paul Stamets (Anthony Rapp), who is seemingly still harbouring resentment over Michael’s decision to expel him from the ship in There Is A Tide.
But generally, the characters on this show find themselves in a remarkably optimistic position heading into season four, following the defeat of the villainous Osyraa (Janet Kidder) and the identification of what caused The Burn.
The latter can be chalked up to Kelpien survivor Su’Kal (Bill Irwin), who appears determined to set things right after some encouragement from Saru (Doug Jones).
The relationships between the crew members will no doubt continue to evolve in exciting new ways as they are thrown into new situations, with some speculating romance could be on the cards for Keyla (Emily Coutts) and Joann (Oyin Oladejo).
We’ll also see the return of at least one other familiar face (more on that below).
Star Trek: Discovery season 4 cast
Much of the main cast is expected to return for the fourth season, most notably Sonequa Martin-Green, who plays the series lead Michael Burnham.
In addition, fans can expect to see more from Doug Jones as Saru, Anthony Rapp as Paul Stamets, Mary Wiseman as Sylvia Tilly, Wilson Cruz as Hugh Culber and David Ajala as new addition, Book.
Also confirmed to be returning are Blu del Barrio and Ian Alexander as Adira and Gray Tal, who broke new ground as the first major non-binary and trans characters to be featured in Star Trek.
In an interview with Inverse, Discovery showrunner Michelle Paradise promised fans that “Gray will be seen” in season four, following the introduction of a new holo-program.
“Representation matters,” she added. “It matters to see a version of yourself on screen. It matters there are non-binary and transgender characters. It matters that there is a Black woman in the captain’s chair. It matters that there is a gay couple on our show. We will continue to do that for the show, and the world we live in, but also, to honour the Star Trek legacy.”
Legendary director David Cronenberg will also be reprising his role of Kovich, a mysterious yet influential figure in the Federation.
Star Trek: Discovery season 4 trailer
The first trailer for Star Trek: Discovery season four was revealed at New York Comic-Con in October 2021, featuring newly promoted Captain Michael Burnham as she leads the ship into a bold new era. Watch below.
Star Trek: Discovery is available to stream on Netflix. Looking for something else to watch? Check out our guide to the best series on Netflix and best movies on Netflix, or visit our TV Guide.