'Strange New Worlds' trailer offers sneak peek at 1st musical episode of 'Star Trek' ever (video)

In space no one can hear you … sing?

Well, that might be technically true for warbling in the cold vacuum of outer space but inside the comfortable confines of a Constitution Class Federation starship like the U.S.S. Enterprise, the acoustics might be akin to any world-class concert hall.

This past weekend during San Diego Comic-Con at the official Paramount+ "Star Trek Universe" panel in Hall H, the powers that be not only announced an early Saturday, July 22 release for "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds" anxiously awaited live-action crossover episode with "Star Trek: Lower Decks" titled "Those Old Scientists," but also a surprise peek at the singing and dancing plot of the upcoming episode nine.

As seen in this ear-pleasing preview trailer above, it appears that the Enterprise is struck by some sort of interstellar interference that has a peculiar effect on Captain Pike and his intrepid crew, causing them to belt out a medley of catchy numbers.

Related: Star Trek streaming guide: Where to watch the Star Trek movies and TV shows online

Watch Star Trek: Strange New Worlds on Paramount Plus:

Watch Star Trek: Strange New Worlds on Paramount Plus: Get a one month free trial 

Get all the Star Trek content you can possibly handle with this free trial of Paramount Plus. Watch new shows like Star Trek: Strange New Worlds and all the classic Trek movies and TV shows too. Plans start from $4.99/month after the trial ends.

"Star Trek: Strange New Worlds" episode poster for "Subspace Rhapsody." (Image credit: Paramount+)

"Star Trek" and musicals go together like … well, never! "Subspace Rhapsody" is a joyous salute to Hollywood musicals of the 1950s and is deemed the first-ever, complete musical-themed episode in the "Star Trek" franchise's long 57-year history. There's even a cool retro-style movie poster designed just for this special occasion!

"Subspace Rhapsody" will break into song as the ninth and penultimate episode of Season 2 and it's due to air on August 3, 2023. This toe-tapping chapter is an ode to Technicolor spectacles Tinseltown churned out during the Golden Age of Cinema. 

It features ten original songs in addition to a whole new musical version of "Strange New Worlds'" main title theme, with music and lyrics provided by Kay Hanley ("Letters to Cleo") and Tom Polce ("Crazy Ex-Girlfriend"). 

Fans might recall previous "Star Trek" scenes where a certain character might spontaneously break out into song as in "Picard" Season 2, but never a full-blown musical episode filled hull-to-hull with upbeat lyrics-enhanced dance sequences.  

"Star Trek: Strange New Worlds" streams exclusively on Paramount+.

Join our Space Forums to keep talking space on the latest missions, night sky and more! And if you have a news tip, correction or comment, let us know at: community@space.com.

Jeff Spry
Contributing Writer

Jeff Spry is an award-winning screenwriter and veteran freelance journalist covering TV, movies, video games, books, and comics. His work has appeared at SYFY Wire, Inverse, Collider, Bleeding Cool and elsewhere. Jeff lives in beautiful Bend, Oregon amid the ponderosa pines, classic muscle cars, a crypt of collector horror comics, and two loyal English Setters.

  • CraigNB
    What a JOKE they are making of the Star Trek Universe these days!!!
    If combining the "CHILDRENS" animated characters with live action in episode 7 and now a "MUSICAL" Star Trek. I thought and was hoping that ST SNW was going to be the return of Star Trek but it looks like I was wrong. Seems that there is NO great writing anymore just lame excuses to fill in the episode numbers. What has happened to the Roddenberry legacy? Its been going downhill for decades now and each time a new series comes out they start out OK for a few episodes then the decline starts and gets very rapid once that happens. At this rate I can predict the end of STSNW by the end of season 3, they always produce 3 seasons of new ST to see how it is going. STSNW had such a promising future with the idea of the initial space exploration in the Enterprise but it has turned out to be a vary lame series now and is going downhill rapidly. Such a waste of some actors also.

    Might just have to stay with Star Wars instead as those series are GREAT Television viewing with little lameness in them. Maybe ST needs to take note of what they are doing. Good story lines and very good acting plus really great special effects plus a bonus of them being in Dolby Atmos to boot.

    WAKE UP ST!!!
    Reply
  • ReuvenF
    There was an episode on TOS where the "hippies" wanted to go to the Planet Eden that was CERTAINLY a musical.
    So...
    Reply
  • CraigNB
    ReuvenF said:
    There was an episode on TOS where the "hippies" wanted to go to the Planet Eden that was CERTAINLY a musical.
    So...
    It wasn't a musical. The crew did not get up and dance as on a Stage Musical and it was only 1 small segment of the entire episode. There were other times in TOS where music was involved BUT NEVER as a MUSICAL episode. Also combining Animation series with live action is a total joke, leave the animation for the children.
    Reply