We’re in an age when it seems that being a fan of a franchise means… complaining about it. A lot. Current Star Trek mastermind Alex Kurtzman and Doctor Who producer/showrunner Russell T. Davies have something to say about that — why not try friendship? Why are fans complaining about two franchises that are absolutely about the power of hope and the human spirit? And what are these two creative powerhouses going to do about it?
They’re using Comic-Con as a springboard for “Intergalactic Friendship Day” on July 30, that’s what. I, for one, am delighted.
Kurtzman and RTD come together for a panel on Saturday July 27 at 5:30 pm in Room 6A to share insights on “…the art of storytelling in alternative universes and to celebrate the power of friendship.” TVLine’s Keisha Hatchett will moderate, and attendees will receive a special Doctor Who x Star Trek poster designed by Dusty Abell. And though both franchises will have individual panels, it still feels like Room 6A won’t be big enough.
But that’s not all — Doctor Who and Star Trek come together for a gallery experience in the Gaslamp District at 226 and 230 5th Street. The “Friendship is Universal” gallery hours are Thursday, July 25 through Saturday, July 27 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM, and Sunday July 28 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Admission is free. No SDCC badge is required. Friendship is universal, and so are massive crowds.
The gallery will feature props and costumes from both shows, and if there’s any justice, a chance to measure Christopher Pike’s (Anson Mount) growing hair style against the 12th Doctor’s (Peter Capaldi). Attendees will have plenty of photo ops, and of course, receive friendship bracelets. (Though I can’t guarantee it, I’m also betting on cool t-shirts for sale.) Hopefully, it’s all a chance for us to stop complaining about our favorite shows and just enjoy them, sharing that enjoyment with others.
That’s what’s solid knowledge. But let’s get into some speculation.
The aforementioned Anson Mount has promised that the next season of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds will get even crazier than the last one, which featured both a musical episode and a crossover with the animated Star Trek: Lower Decks. In the just-finished season of Doctor Who, the 15th Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa) referenced Star Trek and said “we’ll have to visit them someday…”
It was a throwaway line, one of many rapid-fire comments the Doctor made. At the time, I thought it was a way of canonizing an IDW comic book series from several years back, in which the 11th Doctor (Matt Smith) teamed with the crew from Star Trek: The Next Generation to fight a merging of the Borg and the Cybermen. In that series, it was revealed that Captain Kirk and crew from the original series had met the 4th Doctor (Tom Baker) and Sarah Jane Smith (Elisabeth Sladen).
Fun, right? And at the moment almost impossible to reprint, but possible to find in back-issue bins. But what if… the 15th Doctor is going to visit Strange New Worlds? It could happen. This is by no means confirmation, just speculation and wishful thinking.
But let’s boldly go…
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