Star Trek: Strange New Worlds has 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 Worlds follows the adventures of Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount) and his Starship Enterprise crew, but the show’s timeline is slowly creeping closer to the beginning of Star Trek: The Original Series. Since the introduction of Paul Wesley’s Lt. James T. Kirk in the season 1 finale, Strange New Worlds has begun laying the groundwork for Kirk and his iconic crew to take over.
In October 2024, Star Trek announced that Rhys Darby would be joining the cast of Strange New Worlds season 3 as a guest star. During the Star Trek Universe panel at New York Comic Con, Strange New Worlds co-showrunner Henry Alonso Myers said that Darby’s character “will be familiar yet completely new to folks that know Star Trek.” The most recent teaser trailer for Strange New Worlds season 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?
When Rhys Darby’s casting in Strange New Worlds season 3 was first announced, Star Trek fans 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) in Star 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.
Related
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, but he can be seen snapping his fingers, much like John de Lancie’s Q did when using his powers on Star Trek: The Next Generation. While Q was not around during Star Trek: The Original Series, a character with similar powers named Trelane (William Campbell) did pop up in TOS season 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 Worlds could 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 on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds before 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 Worlds should keep exploring its own characters before it becomes a rehash of Star Trek: The Original Series. The show could allow Kirk to develop his friendships with Spock, Uhura, and Scotty before throwing another classic Star Trek character into the mix.
Related
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 Kirk debuted in the Strange New Worlds season 1 finale, and the season 2 finale introduced Martin Quinn’s Scotty. Bones could make his grand entrance during Strange New Worlds season 3’s finale, and then become a more prominent character in the show’s fourth season. Based on this teaser trailer, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3 already has a lot going on as it works to set up the perfect moment to bring in Dr. McCoy.
