Michelle Yeoh's long-awaited Star Trek: Section 31 is happening, but not in the form fans were expecting.
Paramount+ announced that the Oscar-winning actor is returning to the iconic sci-fi franchise as the fan-favorite character Emperor Philippa Georgiou for a Section 31 movie. While the spinoff was originally devised as a series, the feature-length film will follow Yeoh's character as she joins a secret division of Starfleet designed to quietly protect the United Federation of Planets while also coming to terms with the sins of her past. Craig Sweeny (Star Trek: Discovery) is attached to pen the script and Olatunde Osunsanmi (Star Trek: Discovery) is set to direct. While the project does not yet have a solid release date, production will begin in 2023 and the film will premiere exclusively on Paramount+.
"I'm beyond thrilled to return to my Star Trek family and to the role I’ve loved for so long," said Yeoh. "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)!"
What Is Section 31?
Section 31 is a long-running staple of the Star Trek universe originally introduced in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and growing in popularity as operatives of the group have appeared in various other productions including Enterprise, Into Darkness and Discovery. Functioning as an autonomous intelligence and defense organization, members of this clandestine unit are tasked with undertaking covert missions to ensure the safety of the Federation, no matter the cost. Section 31 was originally introduced to illustrate the cost of maintaining a utopian society, revealing a darker side to the Star Trek universe.
Despite Section 31's long-running presence in the franchise, it remains a controversial part of Star Trek lore. Many fans believe the concept of a black-ops team going to extreme and often deadly lengths to protect the Federation undermines the core message of the world. Others view it as a necessary evil to maintain the kind of idyllic lifestyle achieved in the Star Trek universe. How Section 31 will approach this divide in the fanbase remains unknown.
Star Trek: Section 31 does not currently have a solid release date.
Source: Paramount