Star Trek movie star is "terrified" about how new film Section 31 will be received by fans, as he feared it “might not feel like Trek at all"

Michelle Yeoh as Georgiou in Section 31
(Image credit: Paramount)

It's not quite Marty McFly's Back to the Future declaration that 'your kids are going to love it', but it's fair to say that some Star Trek properties take a little while to warm up with its passionate fanbase than others.

It's a thought that's clearly running through the mind of Section 31 actor Robert Kazinsky ahead of the Star Trek film boldly heading into new territory – as a Michelle Yeoh-starring spy thriller.

"I'm terrified of how it's going to be received, because it's not the Trek people want," Kazinsky, who plays Zeph, says in the new issue of SFX magazine, which features Star Trek spin-off movie Section 31 on the cover and hits newsstands on December 31.

"The Trek that people want, the Trek that we all want, is just 1,000 more episodes of [The Next Generation]. Everyone's always furious that they're not getting more TNG, whilst at the same time, when TNG came out, everybody hated it," Kazinsky explains, nodding to the Patrick Stewart-fronted Trek series whose fearsome reputation has only grown down the years.

"So this is going to come along and it's not going to feel like any Trek that they've ever seen. My fear was that it might not feel like Trek at all. So for you to tell me that it still feels like Trek whilst being a completely different flavour of Trek, that encourages me. In 10 years time, we'll look back and we'll love every single one of these Treks."

Section 31 sees Michelle Yeoh reprise her Star Trek: Discovery role as the former Emperor Georgiou, who hopped from the Mirror Universe to the main timeline. After initially getting up to no good, Yeoh's Georgiou eventually lands with Section 31, a group of covert Starfleet members who work to protect the Federation.

Not a subscriber to SFX? Then head on over here to get the latest issues sent directly to your home/device!

Star Trek: Section 31 releases on Paramount Plus on January 24. Read more in the latest issue of SFX magazine, which features Star Trek spin-off movie Section 31 on the cover and hits newsstands on Tuesday, December 31.

Bradley Russell

I'm the Senior Entertainment Writer here at 12DOVE, focusing on news, features, and interviews with some of the biggest names in film and TV. On-site, you'll find me marveling at Marvel and providing analysis and room temperature takes on the newest films, Star Wars and, of course, anime. Outside of GR, I love getting lost in a good 100-hour JRPG, Warzone, and kicking back on the (virtual) field with Football Manager. My work has also been featured in OPM, FourFourTwo, and Game Revolution.

Read more
Michelle Yeoh in Star Trek: Section 31
The director of Michelle Yeoh's new Star Trek movie details how it's gone through "seven different iterations" over five years, with everything changing but two character names
Star Trek: Section 31
Star Trek: Section 31 review – "Michelle Yeoh deserves far better than this sci-fi spin-off"
Michelle Yeoh in Star Trek: Section 31
Star Trek: Section 31 cameo explained – breaking down the A-list appearance no one saw coming
Britt Lower as Helly R and Adam Scott as Mark S in Severance season 2
The reaction to Severance season 1 was so intense, creator Dan Erickson said he had to start therapy to process "all the wonderful feelings"
Mickey 17
Mickey 17 director Bong Joon Ho explains the one big change he made from the original novel for the new Robert Pattinson sci-fi movie
William Shatner in Star Trek
William Shatner was "so impressed" by a Star Trek writer's idea for a new Captain Kirk return that he's ready to give them a shot: "I'm awaiting a pitch"
Latest in Sci-Fi Movies
Mark Ruffalo and Toni Collette in Mickey 17
Although the Mickey 17 cast were at first baffled by the unique way Parasite director Bong Joon Ho works, now they want it no other way
Liam Neeson as Qui-Gon Jinn in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace
After 26 years, a secret Star Wars reference to George Lucas has been uncovered: "We got a new Phantom Menace Easter Egg before GTA 6"
Robert Pattinson in Mickey 17
Parasite and Mickey 17 director Bong Joon Ho doesn't want to make a franchise film – unless it's an Alien musical
Liam Neeson in The Phantom Menace
"Wise mentor" or "awful Jedi"? Star Wars fans are debating if Qui-Gon Jinn is to blame for Anakin's turn to the dark side
Robert Pattinson in Mickey 17
Mickey 17 director Bong Joon Ho would love to tackle the book's sequel too, but has a "plethora of new, weird ideas" he wants to make first
Robert Pattinson in Mickey 17
Director Bong Joon Ho says Robert Pattinson was "born" to play one of his Mickey 17 characters, with The Lighthouse convincing him he could take on both parts
Latest in News
The two characters in Split Fiction holding their hands up in surrender in a futuristic city
Split Fiction director says he'd "really appreciate" winning GOTY again, but if GTA 6 comes out in 2025 "it's going to be really tough" and he's fine with that because he's "a huge fan"
Grand Theft Auto 3
A GTA streamer is trying to beat every single 3D entry without dying, and in 33 hours he's made it as far as San Andreas but keeps getting caught in Vice City purgatory
Monster Hunter Wilds Nu Udra Palico
Monster Hunter Wilds players are so obsessed with Palico armor that turns your cute cat into a freaky little octopus that even Capcom is sharing fan art of it
Charli XCX
Charlie XCX is in talks to star in Greta Gerwig’s The Chronicles of Narnia movie - and that is so Brat
Spider-Gwen: The Ghost-Spider #12
Gwen Stacy and Loki team-up for a cosmic adventure in Spider-Gwen: The Ghost Spider #12
A screenshot shows the cat protagonist of Monster Hunter Puzzles waving a wand while wearing a Cinnamoroll costume.
Monster Hunter gets the collab of the century: Hello Kitty Island Adventure’s resident stalker Cinnamoroll joins Capcom’s puzzle game to stare at you without blinking