The pilot episode of “Strange New Worlds,” also called “Strange New Worlds” (May 5, 2022), was directed by Akiva Goldsman, who also serves as one of the show’s executive producers. Meyers noted that it was all Goldsman’s idea, saying:
“In the first director’s cut of the pilot that Akiva did, he just put a new version of the old ‘Trek’ opening titles sequence in, just like a placeholder. […] And we sort of loved it.”
It seems that when they first screened an incomplete version of the “Strange New Worlds” pilot, the theme sequence hadn’t been made yet. To indicate that the show would indeed have a title sequence before every episode, Goldman mocked up a temp sequence that was merely the original “Star Trek” theme with the credits altered. This was fitting, as “Strange New Worlds” is set aboard the exact same starship as the original “Star Trek,” and even features several of the same characters (Kirk, Spock, Pike, Uhura, Dr. M’Benga, Nurse Chapel, Number One, Scotty, and T’Pring appear in both shows). Meyers said that the executives loved the sequence, as it directly linked the new series to the classic 1960s “Trek.”
“Star Trek” is currently in a state of contraction. “Picard” recently ended and both “Prodigy” and “Discovery” will end after their next seasons. “Short Treks” is kind of over, and “Section 31” will be released as a movie instead of a series. We will soon be in a world where only “Strange New Worlds” and “Lower Decks” remain standing. It’s fitting that at least one of those remain intertwined with the original series, letting the franchise come full circle.
