However, it’s not Scotty joining the Enterprise, but another new face. 

Even before the Star Trek prequel series Strange New Worlds landed on Paramount this year we know it had scored a recommission.

Spinning out of Discovery’s second season, the show follows the USS Enterprise under the command of Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount). With Rebecca Romjin’s Number One and Ethan Peck as Lt. Spock, the show introduced a few further familiar names, as well as a clutch of original characters.

Strange New Worlds returns in 2023 and the recent Star Trek Day celebration on September 8th took the opportunity to drop a fresh piece of casting: Carol Kane (The Princess Bride, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt) joins the cast in the recurring role of Pelia.

As the Enterprise’s new Chief Engineer, the announcement describes her as a highly intelligent and experienced, if brusque, problem solver who suffers no fools.

The announcement does prompt a question though. During the season 1 finale, albeit a flashforward to an alternate future, Spock interacted with an off-screen Scotty. This was widely seen as foreshadowing Montgomery Scott’s character’s arrival on the show. However, it seems that’s not the case just yet and with Strange New Worlds Season 2 taking place in 2256, approximately six years before the original Star Trek, there’s ample time.

Ortega’s moment?

They also delivered a fun clip, seemingly an episode opener, featuring Lt Ortegas (Melissa Navia).

The Enterprise’s wise-cracking pilot is thrilled to join an away team before Spock takes the wind out of her sails. While Captain Pike, Lt. La’an Noonien-Singh (Christina Chong) and Dr M’Benga (Babs Olusanmokun) head off, Ortegas must remain at her post on the ship. It’s a lovely character moment, of the sort this show does so well.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 2 comes to Paramount+ in 2023. Filming wrapped in July 2022, but there’s no news on a start date just yet. If it follows the pattern of Season 1, we’re looking at a May start.

We’ll keep you posted.