Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Boldly Casts Thomas Jane as Bones and Introduces a New Sulu

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is officially leaning harder into legacy territory and honestly, it’s about time. As the hit Paramount+ series gears up for its fifth and final season, the show has revealed two pieces of casting news guaranteed to make longtime Trekkies sit up straighter in their captain’s chairs. Thomas Jane (Hung, The Expanse) is stepping into the role of legendary ship’s doctor Leonard “Bones” McCoy, while newcomer Kai Murakami has been tapped to play future Enterprise helmsman Hikaru Sulu.

For a series that has thrived by blending nostalgia with modern storytelling, this is a smart, fan-pleasing move that also carries some real creative risk.

Thomas Jane as Bones McCoy is the kind of inspired casting that makes immediate sense and then gets more interesting the longer you think about it. Jane has spent much of his career playing men who are blunt, weary, and just slightly fed up with the universe. That energy fits McCoy like a well-worn Starfleet medical coat. Bones has always been the emotional counterweight to Spock’s logic and Kirk’s bravado, and Jane’s grounded, grizzled presence could bring a sharper edge to the doctor without turning him into a caricature. He’s not here to imitate DeForest Kelley or Karl Urban; he’s here to grumble, diagnose, and probably insult a Vulcan or two.

via TVLINE

Then there’s Kai Murakami as Hikaru Sulu, a casting choice that feels deliberately forward-looking. Sulu is an iconic Star Trek character, but also one that has historically been underserved. Murakami, a relative newcomer with a background in performance and motion capture, represents a clean slate and a chance for Strange New Worlds to shape Sulu before he becomes the confident officer fans know from The Original Series. It’s a gamble, sure, but Strange New Worlds has built its reputation on making bold character choices pay off.

Both Bones McCoy and Hikaru Sulu are expected to appear in the final episode of the series, signaling that Strange New Worlds plans to go out with a full-throttle embrace of Star Trek history. Rather than feeling like a desperate nostalgia grab, the casting suggests a creative team that understands exactly when and how to open the legacy toy box.

As Star Trek: Strange New Worlds prepares to chart its final course, these casting announcements feel like a confident reminder of why the show works. It respects the past, trusts its audience, and isn’t afraid to have a little fun while boldly going out on a high note. Fans will be watching closely, tricorders ready.