I love how Captain Christopher Pike’s (Anson Mount) newStar Trek: Strange New Worldsseason 3 poster foreshadows the dark fate that will eventually befall the USS Enterprise captain. WhileStar Trek: Strange New Worldsseason 3 still doesn’t have a release date, Paramount+ dropped a gorgeous series of 12 newseason 3Strange New Worldscharacter postersto tide us over until the season drops later in 2025. The posters include series regulars, which now include Martin Quinn’s Lieutenant Montgomery Scott, and recurring guest stars like Carol Kane’s Commander Pelia and Melanie Scrofano’s Captain Marie Batel.
The element that makes these posters unique, compared toStar Trek: Strange New Worldsseason 2 promotional art, is the vibrant, luminous galaxies projected on the actors' faces. According toTrekCore.com, the portraits are the work of photographer Pari Dukovic, who used strobes and projectors in a darkened room to achieve the otherworldly effect.Strange New Worldsseason 3’s posters include cosmetic changes that signify character growth for Nurse Christine Chapel (Jess Bush) and Ensign Nyota Uhura (Celia Rose Gooding). But I think the most interesting portrait is Captain Pike’s, becausehalf of Anson Mount’s face is lit with a very symbolic vibrant purple.
Anson Mount’s New Star Trek Portrait Resembles Captain Pike In TOS
Pike’s Tragic Future Is Already Written In Strange New Worlds
Anson Mount’s new portrait of Captain Pike inStar Trek: Strange New Worldsseason 3 resembles Sean Kenney asFleet Captain PikeinStar Trek: The Original Series’two-part episode, “The Menagerie”. Because original Pike actor Jeffrey Hunter would not return afterTOS' pilot episode “The Cage”,Sean Kenney was hidden under heavy makeup representing disfiguring delta radiation. The color and placement of purple lighting on Mount’s face echoes Kenney’s makeup fromStar Trek: The Original Series, making Pike’s new poster a clever artistic allusion to the accident Pike will suffer in the future.
All 4 Actors Who Played Captain Pike In Star Trek
Christopher Pike predated Kirk as the original Star Trek Captain, and four actors have played Pike in two Star trek timelines and Strange New Worlds.
Even though we already knew what would happen to Captain Pike inStar Trek: The Original Series,Star Trek: Strange New Worldsmade Pike’s story compelling by letting Pike himself in on the secret. After witnessing a vision of his future in an encounter with a Klingon Time Crystal inStar Trek: Discoveryseason 2, episode 12, “Through the Valley of Shadows”,Pike spent the first season ofStar Trek: Strange New Worldswrestling with his seemingly pre-ordained fate. InStrange New Worlds' second season, Pike accepted his future and took more risks, becausePike knew he wouldn’t dieyet.
Strange New Worlds' Season 3 Portraits Could Foreshadow Other Characters' Fates
Colorful Artistic Details Unite Strange New Worlds' Legacy Characters
Captain Pike may not be the onlyStar Trek: Strange New Worldscharacter whose fate is foreshadowed by the newStrange New Worldsseason 3 portraits. Melanie Scrofano’s Captain Marie Batel even getting a portrait seems to indicate that she’ll surviveStrange New Worlds’season 2 cliffhanger ending—but the fear in Batel’s eyes and the stark half-light on her face suggest it won’t be easy. Melissa Navia’s Lieutenant Erica Ortegas is the only subject looking down, which makes me wonder if Ortegas might not make it toStrange New Worldsseason 4.
Lieutenant Ortegas' portrait is also lit with the same purple as Pike’s, but on the back of her head. This might foreshadow an equally grim fate for Ortegas—who still hasn’t gotten a full spotlight episode inStar Trek: Strange New Worlds.
Of course, the new posters aren’t all bad news forStar Trek: Strange New Worlds' characters, especially those who are destined to stay with the USS Enterprise on its next five-year mission. A curved golden light on Celia Rose Gooding’s Ensign Uhura resembles Nichelle Nichols' Uhura earpiece inStar Trek: The Original Series. Both Pelia andChapel will have to leave the Enterprise, and both are lit in bright pink. Ethan Peck’s Spock, Paul Wesley’s Lt. James T. Kirk, and Martin Quinn’s Scotty all have blue lights over their eyes, all gazing upward to the future ofStar Trek: Strange New Worlds' USS Enterprise.
