Our phasers are set on stunned: The crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise gets turned into puppets in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 4, Episode 5, “Level-Five Transporter Accident.”
Go behind the scenes with a Paramount+ video, “Making Star Trek’s First Puppet Episode,” showing how Jim Henson’s Creature Shop created custom puppets of the Strange New Worlds characters, then check out photos of the puppets from the groundbreaking episode below.
How Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’ puppets were made
As we learn in the behind-the-scenes footage posted on the Paramount+ YouTube channel, the Jim Henson’s Creature Shop, the iconic workshop behind everything from the fuzzy creatures of Sesame Street and The Muppets, to inventive on-stage creations for Lady Gaga, designed custom puppets of the U.S.S. Enterprise crew. Strange New Worlds star Melissa Navia (who plays Lt. Erica Ortegas) says Puppet Ortegas captured her character’s likeness, right down to her eyebrows.
The puppets were also crafted to mirror the actors’ performances. As Ethan Peck (who plays Spock) marvels in the video, “It’s pretty shocking to [see the puppets] have the gestures and mannerisms of the actors playing the characters. They really honed in on what the actors are doing in their roles” The behind-the-scenes footage also shows how the camera team and crew adapted to working with puppets and puppeteers.
See photos from the puppet episode
Get a closer look at the puppet versions of the U.S.S. Enterprise crew in photos from “Level-Five Transporter Accident.” You’re welcome.
Spock (Ethan Peck) and the puppet version of T’Pring (Gia Sandhu) in Season 4, Episode 5 of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.
The puppet version of Una (Rebecca Romijn) in Season 4, Episode 5 of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.
The puppet Uhura (Celia Rose Gooding) and Spock (Ethan Peck) in Season 4, Episode 5 of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.
The puppet version of Capt. Pike (Anson Mount) in Season 4, Episode 5 of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.
Spock (Ethan Peck) and the puppet version of Capt. Pike (Anson Mount) in Season 4, Episode 5 of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.
The puppet version of Capt. Pike (Anson Mount) hits it in Season 4, Episode 5 of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.
The puppet version of T’Pring (Gia Sandhu) in Season 4, Episode 5 of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.
Spock (Ethan Peck) and the puppet version of T’Pring (Gia Sandhu) proceed with caution down a corridor in Season 4, Episode 5 of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.
The puppet versions of T’Pring (Gia Sandhu), Capt. Pike (Anson Mount), Una (Rebecca Romijn), Dr. M’Benga (Babs Olusanmokun) confer with Spock (Ethan Peck) in Season 4, Episode 5 of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.
A meeting of the felt minds: the puppet versions of T’Pring (Gia Sandhu), Capt. Pike (Anson Mount), Una (Rebecca Romijn), and Dr. M’Benga (Babs Olusanmokun) in Season 4, Episode 5 of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.
Paramount+
The puppet versions of La’an Noonien-Singh (Christina Chong) and Una (Rebecca Romijn) prepare to fight in Season 4, Episode 5 of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.
Watch the Star Trek: Strange New Worlds puppet episode on Paramount+
See the puppets in action in “Level-Five Transporter Accident,” Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 4, Episode 5. Watch the full episode, and stream Star Trek: Strange New Worlds on Paramount+.
WATCH NOW: “Level-Five Transporter Accident”
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds
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