‘It’s so egocentric to think we’re the only living species in the universe’: Meet the main stars of the new Star Trek series

How do you explain the success of this Star Trek connected universe on television?

Anson Mount (Captain Christopher Pike): I think there’s something optimistic about the Star Trek universe. Especially in this age when we watch a lot of dystopian events on TV.

I think we all want to leave a better world for our children and our children’s children. As a species, we want to ensure our survival, and I also think that the success of the series is due to our curiosity, which I think is the heart of science fiction.

Rebecca Romijn (number one): The universe of Star Trek can be appreciated by different generations, but it also generates discussions around the different themes that the series deals with.

What does the Star Trek universe represent to you? What is your first memory of the franchise?

Anson Mount: We both learned about Star Trek from our mothers when we were seven years old when the first Star Trek series was rerun. I still remember that time, Sunday at 6pm on Channel 14.

Thanks to this series, I discovered what science fiction can do, and to a certain extent, everything that can be said thanks to television. So it was complete madness to find myself on the set of Enterprise, as you can imagine. This is really the fulfillment of a dream I had since my childhood.

Rebecca Romijn: Yes, it’s definitely a dream come true. I remember the discussion with my mother, the sense of curiosity that the series created in me, the desire to learn…

At that time I wondered if we were the only living beings in this world and my mother answered me ‘But of course not! Such a self-centered idea that we are the only living species in the universe!’ (laughs) As parents, we always hope that our children will be guided by a spirit of curiosity and imagination in their choices.

Your characters only appear during the show’s rejected pilot episode (scenes from which were eventually used as flashbacks in another episode). Were you inspired by the original interpreters’ interpretations of your characters?

Rebecca Romijn: As far as I’m concerned, Majel Barrett only appears as Number One for 30 minutes in this episode. What I learned from the character in this episode is that he’s a very formal person, picky about following the rules, but he’s also someone we can deliver effectively.

So I took a lot of inspiration from that. I felt very honored to inherit such a character, but also given the freedom to explore his personality and background.

Anson Mount: Same for me. There wasn’t much inspiration, but it was clear to me that the Christopher Pike that would appear in Star Trek Discovery Season 2 would be different from the original series.

My version of the character is older and someone who has already decided who he wants to be and left all his youthful uncertainty behind. Knowing her backstory was very helpful and allowed me to see how she would evolve in our series.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 2 episodes can be seen every Thursday on Paramount+!