Star Trek Las Vegas kicked off with a series of panels for Star Trek: Discovery, but for the rest of the con, the new show continued to come up in conversation, brought up by either other Star Trek celebrities and writers, or fans. We have compiled some of the highlights of the Discovery discussions beyond the specific Discovery-themed panels.

Karl Urban sees J.J. Abrams’ influence in Discovery

On Sunday, the subject of Discovery was brought up to Karl Urban (Dr. McCoy in the Kelvin Timeline movies) and the actor showed his inner fanboy, reacting with enthusiasm and noting he saw something familiar about the show:

How excited are you guys about [Discovery]! How cool is that. I cannot wait for that show. The trailer looks phenomenal. It sort of visually taken the energy that J.J. [Abrams] infused the new Star Trek films with and squished them into television, which I love.

TNG crew hopes for the best, offers advice to new Discovery cast

During the Friday night 30th anniversary panel for Star Trek: The Next Generation, a fan asked the assembled cast if any of them would want to do a guest spot. Here is the exchange that followed:

Brent Spiner: A guest shot? I don’t know about that. I am very optimistic about this show. I am very hopeful that it is going to be fantastic. I hope it continues this wonderful epic journey that star trek has been on and I feel it probably will. I don’t know that I need to be a part of it necessarily but I encourage them and hope for the best. Gates McFadden: Amen Patrick Stewart: Is the new series set in the future, if we take The Next Generation as the present? Brent: Past Patrick: So, it’s a prequel. Gates: You would have to have hair.

During the same panel another question came from the audience asking if the TNG cast had any advice for the new Discovery cast, and the responses were very practical:

Marina Sirtis: Save your money. Michael Dorn: Save your money. Don’t buy anything big for three years. Marina: Stay out of Gucci. Dorn: I work with quite a few actors who have been in the business a long time and the one thing that they always say is that they didn’t appreciate what they had at the time until much much later. I would say definitely anybody who is starting out to really appreciate where you are and what happening. You are extremely fortunate. Gates: Enjoy it while you can. Brent: That’s right.

McFadden likes Discovery‘s character focus

During a separate TNG panel with just Gates McFadden and Denise Crosby, the subject came up again, and McFadden had more to say about the show:

I am really excited. I think it is a great cast. I love the way they cast it. I have no idea what it is. I know there is going to be a spaceship and a starfield. But I am very excited. I think it is cool they are going to focus on one person’s point of view much more. I think that makes sense for the kind of TV we are seeing right now. It is letting you get another insight into this whole journey in space and I think it is quite different

Burton jealous of Frakes directing Discovery



As we have reported, Jonathan Frakes (who had to cancel Star Trek Las Vegas due to a work conflict and problem with his flight) directed an episode of Discovery. During a Q&A on Saturday with LeVar Burton and Brent Spiner, Burton was asked why he hasn’t been asked to direct as well. Burton hung his head in mock shame and Spiner consoled him….

Brent Spiner: It’ll happen. Sixth season. You’ll be there. Yep. LeVar Burton: I’m so glad you asked that question (fake tears). I actually have deep love and respect for my friend Jonathan Frakes. And at the same time I hate him. Spiner: There is such a fine line between hate and love isn’t there? Burton: That line is called Discovery.

Robert Duncan McNeill had to turn down Discovery directing gig

On a panel with some of the men of the Star Trek: Voyager cast, Robert Duncan McNeill revealed he almost followed TNG star Jonathan Frakes in directing an episode of Discovery. The former Tom Paris told the crowd:

I don’t know anything about Discovery to be honest. A couple of friends of mine have directed, like Frakes. I hope it is successful. They did ask me for some dates [to direct] but I just wasn’t available. I would love to do it. I hope it is a huge success. It is good for the fans, it is good for the franchise. It is good for the future of Star Trek.

McNeill did note that he had directed an episode of The Orville and he even spoke about how the show is being careful not to be too Star Trek-y (at least from a legal point of view):

I directed one [episode of The Orville]…Everybody’s very cautious of the legalities of a spaceship that looks a lot like other spaceships…

Garrett Wang prefers Orville

During that same Voyager panel, Garrett Wang (Ensign Kim) brought up Discovery, only to note that given a chance he would prefer to do a guest spot on a different show:

I did a role on American Dad for Seth MacFarlane. And the question on if I would be interested in doing Discovery, I would honestly be more interested in guest starring on The Orville than Discovery.

Braga and Bormanis happy to watch spoiler-free Star Trek

During a panel on writing for Star Trek, veteran writer/producers Brannon Braga and Andre Bormanis (who are both currently working on The Orville) were asked about the possibility of writing for Discovery in the future:

Andre Bormanis: The thing that I am most looking forward to about Discovery is that for the first time in literally 25 years, I will be able to watch an episode of Star Trek on television that I have not read the script for already. I am so looking looking forward to seeing it and not knowing what they are going to do. I scrupulously avoid spoilers. I don’t want to know, I want to be surprised. I want to enjoy it and see it with fresh eyes. Brannon Braga: I couldn’t have answered it better. Perfect.

More Star Trek Las Vegas Coverage

What We Left Behind Team Gives Details On DS9 Doc

Karl Urban talks Star Trek 4, Beyond, Judge Dredd and more

Marina Sirtis Says Paramount Threatened To Replace Her With Jeri Ryan In Star Trek Nemesis

Star Trek Film Academy At Original Series Set Tour Announcement

Patrick Stewart Talks About Gene Roddenberry Opposing His Casting As Picard And More

Denise Crosby talks about her plan for ‘Trekkies 3’

Full videos from ‘Discovery’ actors and writers panels

Star Trek Online announces LeVar Burton to reprise his role as Geordi LaForge for game

Panel: Details and covers for first ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ novel and comic revealed

Interview: Sam Vartholomeos and Wilson Cruz

Interview: Mary Chieffo And Kenneth Mitchell

Panel: Actors Discuss Different Klingon Houses In ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ + First Image of Kol Revealed

Panel: Writers Talk Technobabble, Timelines And How ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ Is Telling Our War Story

Stay tuned for additional coverage of STLV.