The countdown to The Original Series just got a little more real. ‘Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’ has officially cast two of Star Trek’s most iconic figures, with Bones and Sulu set to make their long-awaited debut as the series approaches its conclusion.
It has been confirmed that Thomas Jane (The Expanse, Hung) will play Dr Leonard “Bones” McCoy, while newcomer Kai Murakami steps into the role of Hikaru Sulu. Both characters will appear in the final episode of the fifth and final season, which recently wrapped production.
For longtime fans, this feels like a carefully placed final piece of the puzzle. Bones and Sulu were core members of the Enterprise crew in The Original Series, portrayed by DeForest Kelley and George Takei, and later reinterpreted by Karl Urban and John Cho in the J.J. Abrams-era films. Their absence from Strange New Worlds until now has always been a matter of timing, with the prequel set several years before Captain Kirk’s tenure, but that timing is now tightening.
The showrunners have previously said the plan for the final season is to bring the story right up to the moment Kirk takes command of the Enterprise. Executive producer Akiva Goldsman has described Season 5 as getting “right up to Kirk’s first day of command,” while co-showrunner Henry Alonso Myers has confirmed Paul Wesley’s Kirk will continue to feature prominently as the timeline closes in.
Jane brings significant genre weight to the role of Bones, having played everything from Mickey Mantle in 61* to gritty leads in The Expanse and Hung, while Murakami makes his television debut after acclaimed stage work with the Royal Shakespeare Company and motion-capture performances in video games such as Assassin’s Creed Shadows. It is a blend of experience and fresh energy that feels very deliberate for a closing chapter.
Alongside the casting news, Paramount+ has also offered more insight into what lies ahead in Season 4. The upcoming run will see Captain Christopher Pike and the U.S.S. Enterprise crew embarking on a mix of emotional and high-stakes missions, confronting new alien threats, familiar faces, and personal demons, all while holding on to the franchise’s core sense of optimism.
Season 4 stars Anson Mount, Rebecca Romijn, Ethan Peck, Jess Bush, Christina Chong, Celia Rose Gooding, Melissa Navia, Babs Olusanmokun and Martin Quinn, with Carol Kane returning as a guest star and Paul Wesley once again appearing as Kirk. The series continues to be produced by CBS Studios, Secret Hideout and Roddenberry Entertainment, with Akiva Goldsman and Henry Alonso Myers serving as co-showrunners.
While Paramount+ has not confirmed exact premiere dates, ‘Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’ Season 4 is expected to arrive in 2026, with the fifth and final season following in 2027. Seasons one through three are currently available to stream. If I want to keep track of this or any other shows, I can add them via our Never Miss system, and I’ll be notified when it gets a UK premiere date. Visit Never Miss.
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