Paramount+ knows exactly how to get the “Star Trek” fandom talking; even years before their “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds” episodes actually air. Just when fans thought the Enterprise had already pulled out its biggest surprises, casting news dropped that immediately sent Trekkies spiraling in the best way. We’re talking legacy characters, major reactions, and a comment section that went from excited to emotional in about five seconds flat.
There’s still some time before we see it all play out. “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds” Season 4 is due to be released in 2026, with Season 5 expected in 2027; which means this reveal is very much a long-range tease. But let’s be real: when a series this deeply rooted in canon starts bringing in characters this beloved, people are going to have feelings.
Familiar Legends, Fresh Faces
We know you’re asking: “So who is it?” Well, according to Entertainment Weekly, Thomas Jane has been cast as Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy, while Kai Murakami has been cast as Hikaru Sulu. Both characters are set to make cameo appearances during the final season of “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.”
Bones was originally portrayed by DeForest Kelley in the original 1960s “Star Trek” series. Kelley passed away in 1999, but his portrayal of the gruff, sarcastic, and deeply loyal doctor remains one of the franchise’s most defining performances. Meanwhile, George Takei’s Hikaru Sulu became an enduring fan favorite and an essential part of the Enterprise crew.
The official “Star Trek” Instagram page confirmed the casting with the following post:
“🚨CASTING ALERT!🚨 Thomas Jane as Leonard “Bones” McCoy and Kai Murakami as Hikaru Sulu will appear in the final episode of #StarTrek #StrangeNewWorlds Season 5.”
And once that hit social media, the fandom response was immediate… and intense.
Bring on the Excitement, Emotion, and a Little Frustration
Many fans jumped straight into celebration mode. Some praised the casting choices outright, while others couldn’t even pretend to stay calm (we see you caps lock users).
Comments included: “wow solid casting!!!,” “MY FRICKIN BEST BOY SULU OMG I COULD CRY,” “THOMAS JANE !!!! AS BONES!!!!!! Already love strange new worlds but god dang I’m excited,” and a very long “Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh😍😍😍” of joy.
Others focused more specifically on the actors stepping into these legacy roles. One fan wrote, “Omg that’s a good choice.” Another added, “Yooooo…I’m not mad at either one but Thomas Jane as Dr. McCoy is hella dope! 🙌🏾🔥” And for Sulu’s return, one comment simply said, “Kai looks like a great Sulu!”
There was also appreciation for what this means within the larger “Star Trek” canon. One fan commented, “Really great news! I had wondered if we’d get more TOS characters before the end. I’m very familiar with Thomas Jane from the movie, ‘The Mist.’ Welcome to the world of Star Trek!😁👏🖖”
Of course, not every reaction was pure hype. A few fans weren’t thrilled about learning this information so far in advance. One comment read, “Spoiler! 😢 we didnt need to know this now,” while another replied with frustration saying, “this completely ruins some plot lines for me. I don’t need to have this story fed to me like I’m some idiot. Paramount: if you’re reading this—quit spoiling your own product (esp 2 seasons in advance)! Let the viewers just enjoy it.”
Even with those concerns, the overall response leaned far more excited than upset; a reminder of how invested fans remain as the series heads toward its conclusion.
Why Season 5 Will Look the Way It Does
In an August 2025 interview with Collider, the series co-showrunner Akiva Goldsman said “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds” will have six episodes because “the studio… wanted us to be done after [Season] 4,” but the creators pushed back.
“We had made a commitment to the fan base, and to the narrative, that we would get right up against TOS [The Original Series], like we’d about it, because there are a lot of folks from canon who are either different or who seem to have vanished by the time TOS happens, and so we wanted to fill in those gaps.”
Goldsman went on to explain that “the studio said, ‘Oh, yeah, we did. We agree. We were part of that bargain, too,’ and so they sort of said, ‘We can’t do a full season. What do you need to close it out?’ And we said ‘Six.’ And they said ‘Six.’ And so that gets us right up to Kirk’s first day on the job.”
Taken together, the casting announcements, fan reactions, and creative intent all point toward a finale that’s focused on connection; to canon, to legacy, and to the fans who’ve been along for the ride. And judging by the response so far, people are absolutely ready.
