There was quite a lot of online noise for a while about a potential crossover between Star Trek and Doctor Who. It turns out that this might have been something more than just fans and wishful thinking.
Akiva Goldsman, who was a producer on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds has confirmed that the crossover might have come closer than we thought.
Strange New Worlds has, you could say, not been shy about being somewhat experimental, featuring muppet style episodes and the now-infamous musical instalment.
In an interview with the Radio Times, Goldsman confirms that he and former Doctor Who showrunner Russell T. Davies had some conversations to try and make it a reality, but those further up the chain stopped it from happening:
“We were like, ‘Okay, let’s do a crossover,’ and we were plotting it out. There were too many grown-ups that were saying no. But I understand.”
After they were blocked, Goldsman said he decided to throw in some Doctor Who easter eggs across Star Trek, including the TARDIS appearing in one shot:
“I have thrown in literally every possible – by the way, without getting sued – I’ve, you know, tried to throw in every possible opportunity for an imagined intersection in the past.”
A very aged character also referred to a once being a companion to “doctor” who time travelled.
In the interview, Goldsman also seemed to indicate that this version of Star Trek really is coming to a very definite end, with the discussed Star Trek: Year One now being off the table:
“Nobody’s called, the sets are gone. Everybody else has started to take other jobs. It’s never been officially yes, and it’s never been officially no. But I don’t see it happening.”
The fifth season of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is the final one, and Starfleet Academy has already slinked away in disgrace.
Paramount higher-ups have been very vocal in their view that Star Trek is a prime IP and needs new leadership. Doctor Who has already been paused pending the search for new creative leadership via open tender.
