With  latest entry into the Star Trek universe — “Star Trek:  Prodigy” — warping into the unknown on Paramount Plus, Space.com got the chance to talk to one of its stars: none other than Kate Mulgrew, best known for playing Capt. Kathryn Janeway in “Star Trek: Voyager.”Â
The new show from streaming service Paramount Plus and Nickelodeon will follow five kids who are incarcerated on an obscure planet in an uncharted part of the galaxy. They escape from their imprisonment and race across the planet to find a defunct starship buried in the sand of the planet’s surface. They enter the ship, but are unable to make it work. With prison guards hot on their heels, they suddenly stumble upon an Emergency Training Hologram in the form of Capt. Janeway.
The seemingly derelict starship is the NX 76884 USS Protostar. Since it carries the NX registration, perhaps this was an experimental ship or prototype of some kind. Here’s how to watch Star Trek: Prodigy online and if you’re looking for more Trek, check out our Star Trek streaming guide.
A protostar is a very young star that is still gathering mass from its parent molecular cloud and they have been mentioned in “Star Trek” before. The Enterprise NX-01 surveyed a protostar just before the incident at the Vulcan monastery at P’Jem in the “Enterprise” episode “The Andorian Incident” (S01, E07) and the Argolis Cluster was a protostar cluster mentioned in the “Deep Space Nine” episode “Behind the Lines” (S06, E04).
Interestingly, we learn in the “Voyager” episode “The Omega Directive” (S04, E21) that in theory, a type-6 protostar could be used to generate a wormhole… So we asked Kate Mulgrew about this. You can watch the full interview above.
“Do you enjoy being nerdy questions about Voyager?” I asked.
“Nerdy questions..?” Mulgrew replied with a quizzical tone in her voice.
“Do you mind if I ask you a nerdy question about Voyager..?!” I continued.
“I wondered if that was coming and I’m not surprised! Go for it!” Mulgrew said with a laugh.Â
“We learn in the ‘Voyager’ episode ‘The Omega Directive’ (S04, E21) that theoretically, a type-6 protostar could be used to generate a wormhole… So is this an indication of what’s to come, is this an experimental vessel designed to somehow travel to the Delta Quadrant in superfast time by way of a wormhole?” I asked, almost out of breath.Â
“Not only nerdy, but beautifully and wonderfully nerdy!” Mulkgrew said, smiling. “But unanswerable, due to spoilers. You’re going to have to wait and watch.”
Along with Kate Mulgew, “Star Trek: Progidy” features an all-star cast, including Jason Alexander (Doctor Noum), Ella Purnell (Gwyn), Jimmi Simpson (Drednok), Jason Mantzoukas (Jankom Pog), Jameela Jamil (Ensign Asencia), John Noble (Diviner), Daveed Diggs (Commander Tysess), Dee Bradley Baker (Murf), Brett Gray (Dal), Angus Imrie (Zero), Rylee Alazraqui (Rok-Tahk) and Robert Beltran as Capt. Chakotay.
“Star Trek: Prodigy” is airing now on Paramount Plus in the U.S. and has already been renewed for a second season. You can also stream it on Paramount Plus in international territories including Latin America, the Nordics and Australia. The first two seasons of “Star Trek: Lower Decks” are also available to on Paramount Plus along with four seasons of “Star Trek: Discovery” which just returned to TV this month.
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