Star Trek is boldly going where the past has gone before. At a Paramount+ panel during the Television Critics Association press tour, a select few who received press badges were treated to the first official footage from Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. Although the clip focused on Celia Rose Gooding's Nyota Uhura, the panel included some other tidbits that Trekkies are sure to go wild over. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Akiva Goldsman, the co-showrunner of the upcoming Paramount+ streaming series Star Trek: Strange New Worlds has confirmed that a link exists between the show and one of Trek’s most notorious villains, Khan Noonien Singh.

Christina Chong Will Play Laan Noonin-Singh

Although the Strange New Worlds, which wrapped filming in August 2021, connection with the legendary Captain Kirk foe was first hinted at when it was announced that Star Wars: Episode VII's Christina Chong would be playing Laan Noonien-Singh, a regular character on the series. Speculation in the fandom quickly grew to a fever pitch about the possibility that Laan might be related to the infamous Khan. But it was unconfirmed until last night if the character was at all related to Kirk's superhuman nemesis.

The confirmation came during the Strange New Worlds Television Critics Association panel, which took place on Tuesday, February 1st, 2022. Other first looks give Trekkies a lot to be excited for, but the news of a Khan progeny is by far the most disturbing revelation to come out of the TCA press event. During the panel, Trek universe chief and series co-showrunner Alex Kurtzman said that Laan was “for sure” related to Khan.

“The deal will unfold,” said Goldman. “We don’t want to bring folks into the show to be splashy. We want to dig deeper into characters that are part of our ensemble and then, obviously, we’re open to getting our arms … but right now, what you see is what you get.”

Khan was first introduced in the twenty-second episode of the first season of Star Trek: The Original Series, “Space Seed,” which originally aired in February 1967. The character, who was played by Ricardo Montalbán, was the leader of a group of selectively bred super-people who attempt to take control of the Enterprise. But Kirk ultimately thwarts them, stranding Khan and his followers on Seti Alpha V. In 1982's Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, Montalbán reprised the role of Khan, who returns to wreak vengeance upon Kirk for having stranded him.

Another interpretation of the role appeared in the second of the J.J. Abrams-directed Kelvin timeline movies, 2013’s Star Trek Into Darkness. In that movie, the role of Khan was played by Benedict Cumberbatch. The fandom has long debated which Khan would make a better Fabio.

Strange New Worlds Boldly Arrives May 5th

With the first episode of Strange New Worlds scheduled to be released for streaming on Paramount+ on May 5, 2022, you can expect more details about the show in the weeks to come. The show will feature the return of Anson Mount as Captain Christopher Pike, Rebecca Romijn as Number One, and Ethan Peck as Mr. Spock, roles they each first played in the second season of Star Trek: Discovery. In addition, the series will feature an Enterprise crew that includes Chong’s Laan, Babs Olusanmokun as Doctor M’Benga, Celia Rose Gooding as Nyota Uhura (the character originated by Nichelle Nichols on TOS), and Jess Bush as Nurse Christine Chapel (originated by Majel Barrett on TOS).

According to the buzz surrounding the show, it will be a return to an “adventure of the week” format, with less continuity than shows like Discovery or even Star Trek: Prodigy. Set in the years before Kirk takes command of the Enterprise, there’s a definite possibility that Trekkies will see more references to existing Trek lore. Considering some episodes of Star Trek: Lower Decks reached the double digits in the number of references to Trek lore, that's really saying something! What will Laan’s relationship to Khan prove to be, and will we ultimately see Khan on-screen? What actor do you hope appears in the role if Khan does make it to Strange New Worlds?