Section 31 You know why you’re nervous about the movie

this week, Star Trek back to the world of movies with a very different spin: not only in format, in the first streaming-exclusive film that the franchise has ever seen, but in perspective, as Section 31 shines the spotlight on one of the darkest ideas ever to emerge Trekthe utopia of vision. From the moment it was introduced in Deep Space NineSection 31 was considered an affront, not only by the heroes of these stories, but by fans who reject their very existence, and what it means for Star Trekthe idealized vision of the future. But that only makes the creators and stars behind the new movie want you to give them the benefit of the doubt even more.

“(Gene) Roddenberry created a universe that was utopian in its ideals. It’s a great idea, that we’ve evolved past these kinds of things, but people need to understand that these things don’t happen without sacrifice,” Rob Kazinsky , who plays the mech-suited Zeph between. Section 31The primary group of agents, he told io9 recently on Zoom. “You don’t get to the levels of equality, and kindness, and peace of the Federation, and all these beautiful things without fighting for it. And to fight for it and get it, then you have to fight to keep it.

The existence of Section 31 as an organization within the Federation – disillusioned to the point of near mythology, ready and willing to break any rule laid down in its charter to preserve the peace – has always made for a very controversial piece of the world The context in which it was first introduced Deep Space Nineas its culminating narrative about the Dominion War (and with its outbreak an existential threat to the Federation unlike anything contemplated by Trek first), for stars like Kazinsky, it is vital to understand why the idea is so compelling in the first place, even if it remains so strongly contested by Star Trek fans

“People in the Federation exist in a bubble of safety and happiness, but there are outsiders in this sphere of the Federation – surrounded by the Dominion, the Founders, the Klingons (of this era), the (Romulan secret police) Tal Shiar ., who don’t have the same moral relativism that we have. They would destroy (the Federation) to fit their moral relativism,” Kazinsky said. “People need to understand why people don’t like the idea (of Section 31), but it hasn’t changed the idea.”

“The Federation, humanity and all the planets that represent all the other species, strive for these great ideals of who and what we should be…but it doesn’t just happen by magic,” the actor concluded . “You want to expand the universe of Star Trekwhere we get to tell great stories about how we ever got to things like the Alliance Treaty (between Starfleet and the Klingons first The Next Generation), or how do we ever counter this kind of malevolence? So Section 31 is a crucial part of that story, and I think we’re exploring that.”

Kazinsky, an impudent Trek fan himself, may be the most passionate of his companions Section 31 stars on the subject of the film, but he is not the only one who sees the darker side of Section 31 as a way to amplify the highest ideals of Star Trek. “I think Section 31 is pushing that envelope of “hey, here is the reality of a group of police that we need because we need to return to the belief, and not only the belief, but the actuality, that egalitarianism can be, that the equality can be”. We believe in it again,” Omari Hardwick, who plays Section 31Team leader Alok added. “I think we really pushed that envelope that way Star Trek he has not before. They have other episodes, movies in the franchise that have pushed that, but I think Section 31 he’s doing a very, very aggressive push of that narrative, and I think that’s a good thing.”

“I think one of the big messages of the movie is redemption, that even people who have done heinous acts have within them the opportunity to redeem, to heal, and to make things right,” Kacey Rohl, who plays Starfleet officer Rachel Garrett. – the future captain of the The company-C as seen in the TNG “Yesterday’s Enterprise” episode – told io9. “It’s something to think about (now).”

“Section 31 plays in a really unique time, at Kacey’s point,” Hardwick chimed in. “We’re in that moment, there are conflicts (in the film) that are relatable in terms of Section 31 and to Star Trek in general. We’re (doing this interview from) the comfort of a hotel, with a bunch of human beings asking us great questions, we’re premiering a movie this week – we’re fine, but there are kids out there now who understand their own conflicts that they are actually through and see in the world. Redemption is its key – you must understand how not to throw a stone, because we can all be caught on what we have done wrong. I think this movie really pushes that narrative again, in a pretty cool way.”

It’s not just that Section 31 has to represent for Star Trek from a narrative perspective, but also tonal, something that has long been a question of debate in the cinematic legacy of the franchise. “I think you’re a fan of Star Trekyou see the world of the Federation and the world of Starfleet as a world that resembles the very specific vision of Gene Roddenberry’s optimism, and plays by very specific rules in Federation space,” Alex Kurtzman , executive producer and Star TrekThe broad architect of the Paramount, reflects. “The notion of Section 31 as it was originally conceived Deep Space Nine suggests that the Federation we know and love cannot exist without the people who live in the shadows, who operate outside of Federation space, protecting what we all treasure. Star Trek. It’s a really interesting conversation, because like all things Star Trekit reflects conversations we had about our real word, and for me that’s what makes it beautiful: it’s a mirror, it stops at our world and asks us to reflect on the life we ​​live, and the way we have it. you live them Section 31 does exactly that.”

What up Section 31 doing so? For Kurtzman, it is an idea of ​​tone that breaks as many preconceived ideas about what Star Trek it is as much Section 31 itself does in the wider fiction. “I think the takeaway (from the film) is a reinforcement of Roddenberry’s essential vision, which to me is the beating heart. Star Trekand the tone is so important for that,” continued Kurtzman. “If we did a dark, just serious, dark Star Trek movie I think the fans will be well within their rights to say “It’s not Star Trekwhich is not Star Trek that I know and love.

“This movie is funny, and funny, and it’s an adventure and it’s emotional – and it touches on darkness, but I don’t think it’s a dark movie. Our goal was to find a way to address, exactly, those concerns of the fans because we share them. At the beginning of the movie you are told that this story does not exist in Federation space, you travel outside of Federation space. I hope, I think the skeptics see that we have in in order to try to do what they want, which is to reinforce that essential vision of Star Trek.”

Star Trek: Episode 31 begins streaming on Paramount+ on January 24.

Additional reporting by Cheryl Eddy.

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