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Star Trek fan theory officially confirmed after 58 years – with a caveat from Strange New Worlds showrunners

All of your Qs have been answered!

Rhys Darby as Trelane in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3

Paramount+

Published: Monday, 21 July 2025 at 12:39 pm

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The latest episode of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds casually brought back two iconic characters from the franchise and, now, the showrunners have confirmed that an age-old fan theory is now canon!

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While his character wasn't named in the latest episode, Wedding Bell Blues, Rhys Darby played a character who looked uncannily like the mischievous being Trelane (previously played by the late William Campbell), with a voice cameo from John de Lancie (known for his role as Q) at the end.

The powers that be behind Strange New Worlds have now cleared up any ambiguity, confirming that the episode's ending does mean that Q is Trelane's father.

Showrunner Akiva Goldsman told TV Insider: "This is confirmation of that very smart piece of head canon that we now have absorbed into canon gratefully."

Co-showrunner Henry Alonso Myers added one small caveat, though, saying: "The only thing we can say is that father and mother, this is human. We’re applying our own human understanding of cultures to them, however they are."

John de Lancie (as Q) in a scene from the final episode of the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation

John de Lancie (as Q) in a scene from the final episode of the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation. CBS Photo Archive/Getty Images

Darby added that having De Lancie voice his father “was the inkling to how powerful this character must be,” he says. "It was an absolute privilege to have this be part of the canon and knowing that the Trekkies are going to be pretty excited about it all".

Trelane, who first appeared in the 1967 episode The Squire of Gothos, was up to his usual tricks in the latest episode of Strange New Worlds season 3, upending reality to make everyone believe that Spock (Ethan Peck) and Christine (Jess Bush) were getting married – everyone except her actual date, Roger Korby (Cillian O'Sullivan), that is.

Eventually, Trelane is persuaded to end the charade – only to be confronted by his father, Q, and told off like a petulant child.

There are still eight more episodes in Strange New Worlds season 3, with the widely-praised show set to run for two more seasons, ending with a truncated season 5.

That leaves plenty of time for more franchise-changing revelations - so watch this space!

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is available to stream on Paramount+.

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Authors

Louise GriffinSci-Fi and Fantasy Editor

Louise Griffin is the Sci-Fi & Fantasy Editor for Radio Times, covering everything from Doctor Who, Star Wars and Marvel to House of the Dragon and Good Omens. She previously worked at Metro as a Senior Entertainment Reporter and has a degree in English Literature.

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