Everything We Know About Star Trek: Discovery Season 4

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Warning: SPOILERS for Star Trek: Discovery's season 3 finale.

Star Trek: Discovery season 4 is confirmed and here's everything known about the next voyages of the eponymous starship. Star Trek: Discovery season 3 created a bold new future for Star Trek by jumping to the 32nd century and reintroducing familiar concepts, planets, and races in exciting new ways, which season 4 will continue in earnest.

The main mystery Commander Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) and the crew of Discovery tackled in season 3 was finding the cause of The Burn, the dilithium catastrophe that fractured the galaxy and led to the collapse of the United Federation of Planets. As the season progressed, Burnham and the Discovery's crew learned what became of Earth, that Vulcan changed its name to Ni'Var and fulfilled the final mission of Spock (Leonard Nimoy), and they found the cause of The Burn to be a Kelpien named Su'Kal (Bill Irwin) trapped in the dangerous Verubin Nebula.

The time-tossed Starfleet heroes also tangled with the galaxy's biggest threat, the crime syndicate called the Emerald Chain. Their leader, Osyraa (Janet Kidder), was the big bad of Star Trek: Discovery season 3, and she tried to wipe out the Federation when her plans to take control of it were rebuffed. By season 3's end, Star Trek: Discovery underwent a major facelift with Michael Burnham becoming Captain, at last, and she is poised to lead Discovery on new journeys in season 4.

Star Trek: Discovery Season 4 Release Date

 

CBS All-Access officially announced Star Trek: Discovery was renewed for season 4 on October 16, 2020. Production on season 4 began in Toronto in November 2020 and is expected to last until June 2021. Originally, the plan was to begin production on Star Trek: Discovery season 4 and film it back-to-back with season 5, but the COVID-19 pandemic curtailed that.

As for when Star Trek: Discovery season 4 will premiere, it likely wouldn't be until sometime in 2022 due to how slow production is forced to proceed during the pandemic. Also, season 4 will likely be the first for Star Trek: Discovery to stream on Paramount+ if and when CBS All-Access rebrands their streaming service. In addition, executive producer Alex Kurtzman has indicated that Star Trek: Discovery season 5 is also mapped out, although it hasn't been officially announced yet.

Star Trek: Discovery Season 4 Story

 

Star Trek: Discovery season 4 will likely see the United Federation of Planets resurgent again after a new supply of dilithium has been found and mined. Now that the mystery of what caused The Burn has been solved, the U.S.S. Discovery became the beacon of hope, delivering dilithium to Federation member worlds and giving warp travel back to the galaxy. However, the Emerald Chain could remain a threat despite the death of their leader, Osyraa. Fans can also expect some sort of new menace for the crew of Discovery to face.

In addition, Michael Burnham is now the Captain of Discovery but whether or not this will be a permanent change or if Captain Saru will regain command is another question Star Trek: Discovery season 4 will have to answer. Star Trek: Discovery season 4 will also continue to address the state of the Federation and whether Ni'Var and even Earth will rejoin the union of worlds. Meanwhile, Alex Kurtzman has stated that all future seasons of Star Trek: Discovery will continue to be set in the 32nd century in order to keep exploring the new final frontier the series has established.

Star Trek: Discovery Season 4 Cast

 

Star Trek: Discovery's cast, led by Sonequa Martin-Green as Michael Burnham and Doug Jones as Saru, remains intact going into season 4, although the series bid a permanent farewell to Michelle Yeoh's Philippa Georgiou in season 3. Star Trek: Discovery season 3 also added David Ajala as Cleveland Booker (and Grudge the Cat), Blu del Barrio as Adira Tal, and Ian Alexander as Grey Tal, all of whom are expected to return for season 4.

Additionally, David Cronenberg's mystery man, Kovich, will also be back for Star Trek: Discovery season 4, as well as Tig Notaro's Commander Jett Reno, although Notaro will be in fewer episodes due to logistical and travel problems caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. It's not clear yet if Oded Fehr will return as Admiral Charles Vance, but fans have also come to expect surprise new cast members joining the series, and Star Trek: Discovery season 4 should be no different.