Can you imagine a universe without a new 'Star Trek' on the horizon?
As the Star Trek franchise celebrates its 60th anniversary, it faces the challenge of maintaining its cultural relevance in a crowded streaming landscape. The series is noted for its optimistic, political, and inclusive vision of the future.
Why it matters
Star Trek remains a significant cultural touchstone that has influenced generations of viewers and shaped science fiction tropes.
Ask actress Jeri Ryan about the endurance of Star Trek , and she answers with the earnestness of a truly converted fan.
"The way that Star Trek has always held a mirror up to society and always been political in a non-threatening way … it's fascinating to me. It was groundbreaking," said Ryan, who knew little about Trek when she joined Voyager in 1997 to play the character Seven of Nine.
Ryan marveled at how the original series, which debuted on NBC in 1966, featured a Russian character as the Cold War was raging in real life, alongside a Black female officer and a Japanese helmsman, sending a not-so-subtle message of what it might take to survive and thrive in the future.
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