At the start of the week, CBS made big news announcing a new Star Trek series focused on Section 31 and starring Michelle Yeoh. One of the showrunners for the new series is now speaking out about some reactions to the news.

Section 31 show not taking aim at Star Trek’s optimism

The official press release touted the new show with the tagline “CBS All Access goes black ops with Michelle Yeoh for new Star Trek series based on Section 31.” Yoeh will be playing the Mirror Universe version of Phillipa Georgiou, who has been recruited into Section 31 after being exiled in the Prime Universe. And of course, Section 31 has been shown to be a nefarious clandestine organization, willing to work in the grey areas where Starfleet either cannot or will not operate.

As Star Trek continues to expand on TV with a number of series in development, Alex Kurtzman – the executive in charge of the expansion of Trek – has made it clear he wants each show to have its own unique style and tone. Some fans and critics have wondered what that means for the Section 31 series, in light of how Section 31 by definition, does not hold itself to the standards Starfleet.

Some have even expressed concern that the show will abandon Star Trek’s core principle of representing an optimistic and hopeful future. This included Newsweek’s alarmist headline: “New Michelle Yeoh Section 31 Show Determined to Finally Kill ‘Star Trek’ Optimism“.

A fan picked up on that headline and asked Bo Yeon Kim – who is one of the executive producers/showrunners for the new series along with Erika Lippoldt – if the Section 31 series is taking aim at Trek’s optimism. Kim made it clear in her reply that this should not be a concern, saying: “Oof. That is NOT what we are aiming to do. We will never lose sight of what Star Trek represents.”

Oof. That is NOT what we are aiming to do. We will never lose sight of what Star Trek represents. — Bo Yeon Kim (@extspace) January 17, 2019

Kim and Lippoldt have served as executive story editors for Star Trek: Discovery, working on both seasons. Their writing credits include the season one mid-season finale “Into the Forest I Go” and the Saru-centric Short Treks episode “The Brightest Star.” As an avowed longtime fan of Star Trek, Kim should be aware of the themes and lore of the franchise. And based on what she wore to WonderCon last year (see below) she should be aware of the origins of Section 31 on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.

Keep up with all the upcoming Star Trek TV projects at TrekMovie.com.