Tribeca Festival Rolls Out the Red Carpet For "Strange New Worlds"

There’s something uniquely electric about watching Star Trek with a crowd, and last night at Tribeca Festival, that magic was turned up to warp 10.

Hundreds of fans, press, and industry insiders packed the Indeed Theater for the world premiere of Strange New Worlds Season 3’s opener, “Hegemony, Pt. 2.” The applause started early and didn’t let up. Cheers rang out for fan-favorite moments, new character beats, and those signature Strange New Worlds emotional gut punches.

Before the lights dimmed and the Enterprise launched (or rather lurched and rattled under fire from the Gorn) into "Hegemony, Pt. 2," I had the chance to hit the red carpet at Tribeca for exclusive interviews with the cast and executive producers of Strange New Worlds. From Anson Mount to Celia Rose Gooding, Ethan Peck, Carol Kane, and more, we talked all things Trek, legacy, and what fans can expect from Season 3. You can watch the full red carpet coverage right here.

The energy in the room was undeniable, and following the screening, the cast and executive producers took the stage for a lively, heartfelt, and often hilarious Q&A hosted by NPR's Eric Deggans that touched on everything from character arcs to the show’s impending conclusion.

“A Christmas Gift Side to All of This”

For the actors, seeing their work on the big screen with a live audience was a rare treat. “You know, we do it for the crew,” said co-showrunner Akiva Goldsman. “But there’s a sort of Christmas gift side to all of this. You think you’ve got the right thing that they’re going to like. Nights like tonight are the most impressive.”

Ethan Peck echoed that sentiment, describing the surreal process of watching Spock’s emotional evolution unfold. “Portraying Spock’s emotions is a constant source of anxiety,” he joked. “But I think we’ve all grown as people and as actors, and so have the characters. Sometimes I don’t know if it’s Spock or me anymore, and that’s kind of the point.”

A Different Kind of Captain

Anson Mount reflected on Captain Pike’s unique approach to leadership, and the impact it’s had on him personally. “I know that when a crew member comes to Pike’s office, everything stops. He puts away what he’s reading. The most important thing in his world is the person in front of him,” Mount said. “And yeah, I meant it when I said playing this character changed my life. It gave me the courage to become a father.”

Akiva Goldsman, Henry Alonso Myers, Anson Mount, Ethan Peck, Celia Rose Gooding, and Babs Olusanmokun at the Strange New Worlds premiere at Tribeca Festival - Photo Credit: Julian Brown

It’s that emotional vulnerability and strength in Pike that continues to redefine masculinity and Starfleet command. “There’s no question of his leadership, but he leads differently,” host Eric Deggans noted. “He cooks. He listens. He trusts.”

War, Healing, and Humanity

The cast discussed how their characters are dealing with trauma, both past and present. “M'Benga is a man of war who’s now a healer,” Babs Olusanmokun shared. “It’s been wonderful to hold on to the light, even with everything that he’s gone through.”

Celia Rose Gooding spoke passionately about Uhura’s ongoing journey: “She’s in her early twenties, and emotionally, it’s a really scary time. She’s figuring out who she is, and what she means to the people around her. This season, she’s growing into herself and I love playing a more confident version of her. It’s a meal.”

And of course, there was plenty of talk about the Gorn. “We wanted to give you a monster,” said Goldsman. “Something that at least at first, seemed truly evil. Because in Trek, we often start by seeing the other—and end by understanding. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t real evil in the universe.”

Reinventing the Legacy

The panel also touched on how Strange New Worlds walks the line between classic Trek nostalgia and modern storytelling. “We made a promise to ourselves,” said co-showrunner Henry Alonso Myers. “That we’d ‘park the show into TOS.’ These characters are in mid-stage development. How do they become who they’re meant to be? That’s our five-year plan.”

Goldsman put it simply: “Everything great has an ending. And now we get to write ours the way we want. That’s a blessing.”

Carol Kane, a newcomer to the franchise who made her debut as Commander Pelia in season two, summed it up with genuine awe: “I didn’t know much about Star Trek before this, and I told them that. But instead of firing me, they said, ‘That’s perfect for the character.’ I’m just so honored to be part of this. I watch the show now, and I’m blown away.”

A Love Letter in Five Acts

As the crowd filed out of the theater, still buzzing from the episode and the Q&A, it was clear: Strange New Worlds isn’t just a prequel. It’s a love letter. To classic Trek, to character-driven storytelling, to what’s possible when you trust your cast and crew, and yes, your audience too.

The stars were out in force at Tribeca, but last night, it was the Enterprise crew, on-screen and off, that burned the brightest. Strange New Worlds season three debuts Thursday, July 17th on Paramount Plus.