CouldStar Trek’s prequel movie also be a secret origin story for Section 31? In development for a potential 2026 release, theUntitled Star Trek Originmovie will be directed by Toby Haynes from a screenplay by Seth Grahame-Smith. Announced by Paramount Pictures as the nextStar Trekmovie targeted for theatrical release, Haynes’Star Trekprequel feature film is reportedly set largely on Earth and focuses on humanity’s early contact with aliens andthe formation of the United Federation of Planets.
Numerous questions surroundStar Trek’s prequel movie, which is set"decades before"J.J. Abrams’Star Trekmovie trilogy. Abrams’Star Trekcreated an alternate Kelvin timeline starting in 2233, and the three films starring Chris Pine’s Captain James T. Kirk and the Starship Enterprise took place in the mid-23rd century, circa 2258-2263 in the alternate reality. Toby Haynes’Untitled Star Trekwould predate this and presumably place the prequel inStar Trek: Enterprise’s 22nd-centurytime frame. But along with depicting an earlier Starfleet and the possible birth of the Federation,Star Trek’s prequel movie could also shed light on the beginnings of Section 31.
Star Trek’s Prequel Movie Could Also Be Section 31’s Origin
If the Federation is formed, Section 31 must protect it
If Toby Haynes’Untitled Star Trekprequel deals with the formation of the Federation, it would be logical if Section 31 is tied into it. Section 31 has always claimed it was formed and named afterArticle 14, Section 31 of the Starfleet Charter,which allowed for"extraordinary measures to be taken in times of extreme threat.“Star Trek: Enterprisecanonically established that Section 31 already existed whenCaptain Jonathan Archer (Scott Bakula)launched the NX-01 Enterprise in 2151. However, Section 31 could grow, evolve, and take on an even greater scope to protect the Federation itself inStar Trek’s prequel movie.
Star Trek’s Prequel Movie Means Enterprise’s Original Premise Can Finally Happen
While not much is known about Star Trek’s untitled prequel movie, its concept could reuse the original premise intended for Star Trek: Enterprise.
Explaining Section 31’s origin could go hand-in-hand with theStar Trekprequel movie’s prospective plan to show the birth of the United Federation of Planets. Section 31 is an established part ofStar Trek’s Prime Timelinecanon inStar Trek: Enterprise’s era, and Section 31 was canonically established in the alternate Kelvin Timeline’s 23rd century inStar Trek Into Darkness. Essentially, once humanity formed Starfleet and began taking steps to explore strange new worlds and seek out new life and civilizations, Section 31 was along for the voyage, doing Starfleet’s dirty work.
How Section 31 Has Changed Throughout Star Trek
Starfleet’s top secret agency isn’t so secret
Section 31 has taken on different forms since its introduction inStar Trek: Deep Space Nine. The idea of aclandestine black ops agency protecting the United Federation of Planets from threats perfectly suitedDS9,which was mired in the Dominion War that threatened the galaxy. InDS9’s 24th century, however, only the highest levels of power in Starfleet had even heard of Section 31 before Sloan (William Sadler) attempted torecruit Dr. Julian Bashir(Alexander Siddig), and the agency became known to Captain Benjamin Sisko (Avery Brooks).
Captain Michael Burnham’s (Sonequa Martin-Green) parents, Dr. Mike Burnham (Kenric Green) and Dr. Gabrielle Burnham (Sonja Sohn), were Section 31 agents developing the Red Angel time suit inStar Trek: Discovery.
In the 23rd-century era ofStar Trek: Discovery,Section 31 was less discreet. Section 31 was more widely known to Starfleet Officers like Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount) even before Control, Section 31’s threat assessment A.I., became malevolently sentient and tried to commit intergalactic genocide.How Section 31 entered the shadows and became unknown to most in Starfleetby the 24th centuryis a story yet to be told, although answers could come inStar Trek: Section 31,the first made-for-streamingStar Trekmovie headlined by Academy Award-winner Michelle Yeoh.
InStar Trek: Lower Decks, Lt. William Boimler (Jack Quaid), faked his death to join Section 31.
Star Trek Into Darknessdepicted Section 31 as a shadowy organization unknown to Starfleet Officers like Captain James T. Kirk. InStar Trek Into Darkness' alternate Kelvin timeline, Section 31 was overseen by Admiral Alexander Marcus (Peter Weller), Starfleet’s Commander-in-Chief. Section 31 was Marcus' personal apparatus to commit murder and plunge the Federation into a war with the Klingons in order to realize his dream of a militarized Starfleet.Toby Haynes’Star Trekprequel could be the cinematic return of Section 31.
Could Star Trek Secretly Have 2 Section 31 Movies?
Section 31 could get bigger than ever
It would be fascinating if Section 31 was part of Toby Haynes’Untitled Star Trekprequel sinceStar Trek: Section 31will premiere on Paramount+ in 2025. Michelle Yeoh was originally planned to lead aStar Trek: Section 31TV seriesbefore the project was reconfigured into the firstStar Trek streaming movie.Yeoh’sSection 31already looks to be unlike previousStar Trekprojectsas it seems more chaotic and violent, almost gleefully so, in keeping with the personality of Yeoh’s ruthless antiheroine, Emperor Philippa Georgiou. The future of Paramount+’s hopes to make moreStar Trekstreaming movies depends onStar Trek: Section 31’s success.
Section 31 is a counterpoint to Gene Roddenberry’s optimistic vision for Star Trek.
Similarly, if Toby Haynes’Star Trekprequel makes it to theaters, it will be the first newStar Trekmovie to hit cinemas sinceStar Trek Beyondin 2016. A 2026 release date forUntitled Star Trek Originwould make it a full decade sinceStar Trek Beyond, and it wouldcommemorate the 60th anniversary ofStar Trek.Considering Section 31 is a counterpoint toGene Roddenberry’s optimistic vision forStar Trek,Section 31 being part of Haynes' origin prequel film would be a sign of howStar Trekhas changed with the times while still remainingStar Trekat its core.
It’snot improbable for the next twoStar Trekmovies to include Section 31. After all, from 1989 to 1991,Star Trek: The Original Serieshad two movies in theaters about Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) and the Starship Enterprise, whileStar Trek: The Next Generationabout Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) and the USS Enterprise-D was in syndication. Section 31 has indelibly been part ofStar Trekfor almost 30 years since its creation inStar Trek: Deep Space Nineand it’s about time Section 31’s origin is finally revealed.
