Star Trek: Strange New Worldshas yet to introduce Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy (originally portrayed by DeForest Kelley), and the season 3 trailer just dispelled a possible theory regarding the future Enterprise doctor.Strange New Worldsfollows the adventures ofCaptain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount)and his Starship Enterprise crew, but the show’s timeline is slowly creeping closer to the beginning ofStar Trek: The Original Series.Since the introduction of Paul Wesley’s Lt. James T. Kirk in the season 1 finale,Strange New Worldshas begun laying the groundwork for Kirk and his iconic crew to take over.
In October 2024,Star Trekannounced that Rhys Darby would be joining the cast ofStrange New Worldsseason 3as a guest star. During theStar TrekUniversepanel at New York Comic Con,Strange New Worldsco-showrunner Henry Alonso Myers said thatDarby’s character"will be familiar yet completely new to folks that know Star Trek.”The most recent teaser trailer forStrange New Worldsseason 3 offers a brief glimpse of Darby’s character, revealing more about who he’s not playing than who he is.
Rhys Darby Is Not Playing Dr. Bones McCoy In Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 3
Who Could Rhys Darby Be Playing?
WhenRhys Darby’s castinginStrange New Worldsseason 3 was first announced,Star Trekfans immediately speculated that Darby could be playing Dr. Leonard McCoy, but those hopes have been dashed by his appearance in season 3’s trailer.Darby appears wearing a flamboyant outfit McCoy wouldn’t be caught dead in,suggesting he is portraying a comedic figure, perhaps a merchant like “The Trouble With Tribbles'” Cyrano Jones (Stanley Adams) inStar Trek: The Original Series.This also rules out Dr. Mark Piper (originally portrayed by Paul Fix), who once served as the Chief Medical Officer on Captain Kirk’s USS Enterprise.
Where Dr. “Bones” McCoy Is During Star Trek: Strange New Worlds
Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy could be the next TOS legacy character in modern Star Trek, depending on where Bones is during Strange New Worlds.
Rhys Darby only appears for a split second in the trailer, buthe can be seen snapping his fingers, much like John de Lancie’s Qdid when using his powers onStar Trek: The Next Generation.While Q was not around duringStar Trek: The Original Series, a character with similar powers namedTrelane (William Campbell)did pop up inTOSseason 1’s “The Squire of Gothos.” It’s possible Darby could be playing Trelane himself, who also loved a flamboyant outfit, or a character like him.Strange New Worldscould even reveal that Trelane is a member of the Q Continuum, something fans have long speculated.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Is Better Off Without Bones McCoy (For Now)
Strange New Worlds Shouldn’t Turn Into The Original Series Yet
While it’s likely that Dr. McCoy will appear onStar Trek: Strange New Worldsbefore the show comes to an end, perhaps it’s better if he doesn’t pop up this early. Captain Christopher Pike is still in command of the Enterprise, after all, and it doesn’t make sense to bring all of Kirk’s crew members aboard too quickly.Strange New Worldsshould keep exploring its own charactersbefore it becomes a rehash ofStar Trek: The Original Series. The show could allow Kirk to develop his friendships with Spock, Uhura, and Scotty before throwinganother classicStar Trekcharacterinto the mix.
A Massive Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Detail Means Season 3 Surely Needs More Than 10 Episodes
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds dropped a series of gorgeous character posters that hint at just how massive season 3 will be.
Paul Wesley’s version of James Kirkdebuted in theStrange New Worldsseason 1 finale, and the season 2 finale introduced Martin Quinn’s Scotty. Bones could make his grand entrance duringStrange New Worldsseason 3’s finale, and then become a more prominent character in the show’s fourth season. Based on this teaser trailer,Star Trek: Strange NewWorldsseason 3 already has a lot going on as it works to set up the perfect moment to bring in Dr. McCoy.
