This interview took place prior to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike.

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The Star Trek: Strange New Worlds and Lower Decks crossover has been a long time coming, but it's finally almost here!

Although much has been kept under wraps, we know that Lower Decks stars Jack Quaid (Brad Boimler) and Tawny Newsome (Beckett Mariner) will join our heroes on the Enterprise for an epic adventure, with Rebecca Romijn (Number One) revealing that the two actors improvised their way through the episode.

Speaking exclusively to RadioTimes.com, she revealed: "It was a blast! We had so much fun making it. Having Jonathan Frakes there to direct it, who's so great with comedy and knows our show, the whole Trek world so well inside and out. Having Tawny Newsome and Jack Quaid with their backgrounds in improv coming onto our set and just elevating the material, really playing with it and never doing the same thing twice.

"We really learn our dialogue verbatim, we're sticklers for words and because they have these backgrounds in improv, they came and played with it. It was inspiring watching them work, really fun."

Tawny Newsome as Mariner and Jack Quaid as Boimler in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds
Tawny Newsome as Mariner and Jack Quaid as Boimler in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. Michael Gibson/Paramount+

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Fans got their first glimpse at the long-awaited crossover in the Strange New Worlds season 2 trailer, with Quaid and Newsome popping up on the Enterprise and exclaiming: "Surprise!"

Just how they got there and what role they'll play remains to be seen, but we can't wait.

Plus, fans could be in for more crossovers in future, with Strange New Worlds showrunner Akiva Goldsman not ruling the possibility out.

He told SFX magazine: “I am as promiscuous as it comes when we discuss the crossing over into other series timelines. I delight in that."

Goldsman continued: “I think our rule is always it can’t just be fanservice – which is not to say that we don’t love servicing fans, but there also has to be a real storytelling get. Of which I think there are many.”

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is available to stream on Paramount Plus. Check out more of our Sci-Fi coverage and visit our TV Guide or Streaming Guide to see what's on tonight.

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Authors

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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