Every New & Returning Star Trek Character

The cast of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds has already become beloved by fans after its inaugural season. Boasting a 99% Fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes, Strange New Worlds season 1 landed on many Best of 2022 lists and was lauded for recapturing the New Frontier spirit of optimism and exploration of Star Trek: The Original Series, but updated for the modern streaming era. Strange New Worlds season 2 returns with 10 new episodes on Paramount+ that will continue the series’ ability to deftly cross different genres thanks to Star Trek‘s classic episodic format.

Strange New Worlds‘ core premise restores Star Trek‘s high concept of exploration. The USS Enterprise under the command of Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount) continues its 5-year mission of seeking out new life and new civilizations. While Strange New Worlds adheres to the format of meeting a new alien or traveling to a new planet each episode, the character arcs are serialized, dealing with weighty issues like Captain Pike’s trauma about knowing his dark future and Number One (Rebecca Romijn) getting arrested for literally being an illegal alien to more romantic predicaments like Lt. Spock’s (Ethan Peck) engagement to T’Pring (Gia Sandhu). Strange New Worlds‘ central cast aboard the Starship Enterprise also grows in season 2, while recurring characters also come back. Here is everyone you need to know in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2.

Strange New Worlds Season 2 Returning Cast & New Characters

Anson Mount as Captain Christopher Pike

Captain Christopher Pike leads the USS Enterprise, the flagship of the United Federation of Planets. One of Starfleet’s greatest Captains, Pike is a compassionate leader who cares for his crew and even prepares them gourmet meals in his luxurious quarters. Strange New Worlds season 1 dealt with Pike’s trauma about his horrific, unavoidable future and Strange New Worlds season 2 will further test Pike’s resolve and what it means to be Captain of the Enterprise. Anson Mount also starred in Hell on Wheels and Marvel’s Inhumans.

Rebecca Romijn as Commander Una Chin-Riley AKA Number One

Commander Una Chin-Riley, affectionately dubbed Number One by Captain Pike, is the First Officer of the USS Enterprise. Una revealed she is an Illyrian, a genetically engineered race outlawed by the Federation. Starfleet learned Number One lied about her species and arrested her in Strange New Worlds‘ season 1 finale. Season 2 of Strange New Worlds will see Una face a court-martial to determine her rights before she resumes her post on the Enterprise. Rebecca Romijn was a supermodel whose acting credits include the original X-Men movies and The Librarians.

Ethan Peck as Lt. Spock

The younger version of Leonard Nimoy’s legendary Vulcan, Lieutenant Spock is the Enterprise’s Science Officer. At this point in his life, Spock is attempting to reconcile his Vulcan and human sides, which is exacerbated by his engagement to T’Pring (Gia Sandhu) and his attraction to Nurse Christine Chapel (Jess Bush). Spock dealing with his emotions comes to the forefront in Strange New Worlds season 2 in more ways than one. Ethan Peck has appeared in Penny Dreadful: City of Angels and The Midnight Sky.

Celia Rose Gooding as Ensign Nyota Uhura

The younger version of Nichelle Nichols’ Lt. Uhura, Nyota began Strange New Worlds season 1 as a Cadet wrestling with whether her future belongs in Starfleet. Under the mentorship of Lt. Hemmer (Bruce Horak), Uhura gained confidence, fortitude, and the respect of her Enterprise crew mates. In Strange New Worlds season 2, Uhura has been promoted to Ensign with new responsibilities as the Enterprise’s Communications Officer. Strange New Worlds is Celia Rose Gooding’s first major TV role.

Christina Chong as Lt. La’an Noonien-Singh

La’an Noonien-Singh left Starship Enterprise on an errand of mercy in Strange New Worlds season 1, but she is back as Chief of Security in season 2. La’an has two unique links to Star Trek canon: she’s the descendant of the genetically-engineered supervillain Khan Noonien-Singh (Ricardo Montalban) and she is a survivor of the reptilian Gorn. Tough, serious, and self-assured, La’an may become romantically entwined with Lt. James T. Kirk (Paul Wesley) in Strange New Worlds season 2. Christina Chong has also starred in Tom & Jerry: The Movie and Line of Duty.

Melissa Navia as Lt. Erica Ortegas

The Starship Enterprise’s helmsman, Lt. Erica Ortegas is a cocky pilot who is perfectly at home on the bridge. Prior to serving on the Enterprise, Ortegas saw plenty of action in space as a veteran of Star Trek: Discovery‘s Klingon War. Strange New Worlds season 2 promises to not only reveal the snarky Ortegas’ long-awaited backstory, but it will also allow Erica to leave the ship on a landing party mission. Melissa Navia also appeared in Bull and New Amsterdam.

Babs Olusanmokun as Dr. Joseph M’Benga

Dr. Joseph M’Benga is a character familiar to fans of Star Trek: The Original Series but in Strange New Worlds, M’Benga precedes Dr. Leonard McCoy (DeForest Kelley) as the Chief Medical Officer of the USS Enterprise, a position he takes great pride in. In Strange New Worlds season 1, M’Benga cared for his terminally ill young daughter, and Strange New Worlds season 2 is poised to reveal more of his backstory and friendship with Nurse Christine Chapel. Babs Olusanmokun also starred in Black Mirror and Dune.

Jess Bush as Nurse Christine Chapel

Strange New Worlds revamped Nurse Christine Chapel into a brilliant and capable medical officer who helped innovate the Federation’s technology to genetically modify humans into aliens. Chapel became romantically attracted to Lt. Spock in season 1, and it only intensifies in Strange New Worlds season 2. In addition, more of Chapel’s backstory will be revealed. Jess Bush also starred in Skinford: Chapter Two and Playing for Keeps.

Paul Wesley As Lt. James T. Kirk

Paul Wesley joins Strange New Worlds season 2 in a recurring role as Lt. James T. Kirk, the younger version of William Shatner’s Captain Kirk. Wesley portrayed an alternate future version of Captain Kirk in Strange New Worlds season 1’s finale, but the younger Lt. Kirk has a long way to go to reach his destiny as Captain of the Enterprise. Strange New Worlds season 2 promises to show the canonical first meeting between Kirk, Spock, and Uhura in Star Trek‘s Prime universe, but keep an eye on a burgeoning relationship with La’an Noonien-Singh. Wesley is best known for his starring role in The Vampire Diaries.

Carol Kane As Commander Pelia

Commander Pelia comes aboard Strange New Worlds season 2 as the USS Enterprise’s new Chief Engineer. A mystery character at the outset, Pelia’s integration with the Enterprise and how her comic energy gels with her new crew mates will be one to watch as she replaces the late, beloved Lt. Hemmer (Bruce Horak). Carol Kane is a legend of stage and screen from her roles in Taxi, Scrooged, and The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.

Gia Sandhu as T’Pring

T’Pring is Spock’s Vulcan fiancée, and she has proven to be patient and understanding of his desire to remain in Starfleet and explore the galaxy aboard the Enterprise. In turn, Strange New Worlds revealed T’Pring rehabilitates Vulcan criminals, including Spock’s half-brother Sybok. How the growing attraction between Spock and Nurse Chapel will affect T’Pring remains to be seen in Strange New Worlds season 2. Gia Sandhu has also starred in A Simple Favor, The Lost Symbol, and The Mysterious Benedict Society.

Adrian Holmes as Admiral Robert April

Admiral Robert April is a legendary Star Trek character who was introduced in Star Trek: The Animated Series as the Captain of the Enterprise before Christopher Pike. As a flag officer, Admiral April gives Captain Pike his marching orders but finds the Federation facing new dangers in Strange New Worlds season 2. Adrian Holmes was also in The Cabin in the Woods, and he stars as Phillip Banks in Bel-Air.

Melanie Scrofano As Captain Batel

Captain Batel is the commanding officer of the USS Cayuga, and she is Captain Pike’s girlfriend. Already facing the challenges of two starship Captains attempting to have a relationship, Batel and Pike’s romance is tested further after she is ordered by Starfleet to arrest his First Officer, Commander Una Chin-Riley. In Strange New Worlds season 2, Batel serves as the prosecutor at Number One’s court-martial, which could seriously impact her love affair with Pike. Melanie Scrofano is best known for playing the lead role in Wynonna Earp.

Dan Jeannotte As Lt. Sam Kirk

Lt. George Samuel Kirk, known as Sam, is the older brother of Lt. James T. Kirk who serves as a xenobiologist aboard the USS Enterprise. The mustachioed Sam enjoys his position on the Federation flagship and is competitive with his younger brother. How Sam reacts when Jim Kirk comes aboard the Enterprise in Strange New Worlds season 2 remains to be seen. Dan Jeannotte has appeared in Reign and Designated Survivor.

Other Strange New Worlds Season 1 Characters

Bruce Horak as Lt. Hemmer

Lt. Hemmer was the new Chief Engineer of the USS Enterprise Strange New Worlds season 1. The gruff but wise and lovable Hemmer sacrificed his life to save his crew from the Gorn. The blind Aenar, which is a subspecies of the Andorians, also mentored Uhura, who will still be dealing with Hemmer’s memory and influence in Strange New Worlds season 2. Bruce Horak also starred in Warehouse 13 and is rumored to possibly return as a new character in Strange New Worlds season 2.

Andre Dae Kim as Chief Kyle

Chief Kyle was the Starship Enterprise’s transporter chief in Strange New Worlds season 1, and the character of Kyle was reconceived from Star Trek: The Original Series, where he was originally played by John Winston. Andre Dae Kim appeared in American Gods and Locke and Key, but the actor left Strange New Worlds before season 2. A new character, Chief Jay, played by Noah Lamanna, will be the Enterprise’s new Transporter Chief in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds premieres Thursday, June 15, on Paramount+.