Star Trek Officially Returns To The Kelvin Timeline in Two Months
TJ Mills is an editor on ScreenRant's Comic team, where she combines her lifelong passion for DC with her analytical background as a former Intelligence Analyst. Since joining ScreenRant in 2023, she has specialized in covering major DC storylines, character evolutions, and industry developments.
Sign in to your ScreenRant account
17 years after the release of the 2009 movie, Star Trek is officially returning to the Kelvin Timeline with a new release in just two months. The 2009 Star Trek reboot is known among fans for bringing the franchise back to the big screen with a modern, action-packed take on its iconic characters, backed by an A-list cast. Now, if you’re one of the many fans who loved this era, mark your calendars for November.
While the 2009 movie isn’t without its faults, it served as an excellent gateway into Star Trek for newcomers, making the franchise accessible to a whole new generation of fans while honoring its classic roots. This chapter in the Star Trek legacy also stood out thanks to the stellar actors, including Chris Pine (James T. Kirk), Zachary Quinto (Spock), and Karl Urban (Dr. McCoy), who injected fresh life into the franchise’s most iconic characters and became the defining faces of the Kelvin Timeline.
These actors, among others, carried the Kelvin Timeline’s legacy across the era’s three main projects: Star Trek (2009), Star Trek Into Darkness (2013), and Star Trek Beyond (2016). It has now been 10 long years since the last installment in this movie legacy. Now, though, Star Trek is set to return to the Kelvin Timeline with a brand-new release that promises to bring fans back to the “world of the 2009 movie.”
Everything We Know About Star Trek: The Kelvin Era (So Far)
Main Cover for Star Trek: The Kelvin Era – IDW Classic Collections TP (2026)
IDW Publishing has announced that on November 17, 2026, it will return fans to the world of the 2009 movie with Star Trek: The Kelvin Era. This ULTRA-sized special collection will include the prequel, the Nero graphic novel, and the official movie adaptation. Available for $13.99 at release, the 360-page special collection will be brought to life by the creative talents of Mike Johnson, Tim Jones, Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci, David Messina, and Giovanna Niro in a portable 6 x 9 format.
In addition to revealing the main cover art for Star Trek: The Kelvin Era – IDW Classic Collections TP, the publisher has also released an official synopsis, giving fans an idea of what they can expect: “In the 2009 movie, Star Trek by J.J. Abrams, audiences were introduced to Nero, the mysterious Romulan who ultimately threatened the survival of the entire universe. Find out his origin and what drove him to perform such heinous deeds, as well as what he did in those cold, dark, lonely years he spent waiting for his nemesis to arrive.”
This special collection includes the official movie prequel Star Trek: Countdown, Star Trek: Nero, and Star Trek: The Official Motion Picture Adaptation, giving fans three graphic novels neatly collected in one volume. Fans of the movie should also note that all three graphic novels tie directly into the film and are considered canon. Hence, if you were one of the many fans disappointed by the scrapping and abandonment of several Kelvin Timeline movie projects, this new Star Trek collection offers a chance to revisit this era of the franchise and experience more of the story that began with the 2009 movie.
Stardate 47988.1 · Crew Assessment
The Final Frontier
Trivia Challenge
🚀ShipsEnterprise!
⭐CrewMake it so
☠EnemiesResistance is…
⚡TechWarp speed!
📖LoreLive long…
01
The USS Enterprise is the most iconic starship in science fiction. What is the registry number of Captain Kirk’s original Enterprise from The Original Series?
✓ Correct! NCC-1701 is the registry of Kirk’s original Constitution-class Enterprise. The “-D” suffix belongs to Picard’s Galaxy-class ship, NX-01 is Archer’s Enterprise, and NCC-74656 is Voyager.
✗ Red alert! The answer is NCC-1701. Kirk’s original Constitution-class Enterprise carried this now-legendary registry. NCC-1701-D is Picard’s Enterprise from TNG, NX-01 is Captain Archer’s, and NCC-74656 belongs to Voyager.
02
Kirk’s most trusted officer is a half-human, half-Vulcan science officer famous for his logic and iconic salute. Who is this legendary character?
✓ Correct! Mr. Spock, played by Leonard Nimoy, is the half-Vulcan science officer whose “Live long and prosper” salute became a cultural icon. His struggle between logic and emotion defines the heart of the Original Series.
✗ Red alert! The answer is Spock. Data is an android from TNG, Tuvok is Voyager’s Vulcan tactical officer, and Sarek is Spock’s Vulcan father. Only Spock is the half-human, half-Vulcan first officer of Kirk’s Enterprise.
03
Starfleet’s most important regulation forbids interference with the natural development of alien civilizations. What is this guiding principle called?
✓ Correct! The Prime Directive (also known as General Order 1) is Starfleet’s most sacred law. It prohibits interfering with less-developed civilizations — though Kirk, Picard, and Janeway have all famously bent or broken it when lives were at stake.
✗ Red alert! The answer is the Prime Directive. While “General Order One” is technically another name for it, the Prime Directive is the universally known term. The Omega Directive and Temporal Accord are separate, more specialized Starfleet protocols.
04
“Resistance is futile.” This chilling declaration belongs to a cybernetic collective that assimilates entire civilizations into its hive mind. What is this fearsome species called?
✓ Correct! The Borg are Star Trek’s most terrifying villains — a hive-mind collective that forcibly assimilates species and technology. Captain Picard was famously assimilated and transformed into Locutus in the landmark TNG episode “The Best of Both Worlds.”
✗ Red alert! The answer is the Borg. The Dominion is the Gamma Quadrant empire from DS9, the Romulans are a rival empire, and Species 8472 is actually one of the few species that the Borg themselves fear. Only the Borg declare “Resistance is futile.”
05
Captain Jean-Luc Picard commands the Enterprise-D in The Next Generation and later received his own series, Star Trek: Picard. Which acclaimed actor portrays him?
✓ Correct! Sir Patrick Stewart brought gravitas, Shakespeare, and Earl Grey tea to the captain’s chair for seven seasons of TNG, four films, and three seasons of Star Trek: Picard. His “Make it so” is one of TV’s most iconic catchphrases.
✗ Red alert! The answer is Patrick Stewart. William Shatner plays Captain Kirk, Avery Brooks is Captain Sisko on Deep Space Nine, and Scott Bakula captains the NX-01 Enterprise. Only Sir Patrick Stewart portrays the legendary Jean-Luc Picard.
06
Starfleet vessels travel faster than light by bending space around them using a matter-antimatter reaction. What is this propulsion system called?
✓ Correct! Warp Drive is the standard faster-than-light propulsion in Star Trek, powered by dilithium-regulated matter-antimatter reactions. Zefram Cochrane invented it in 2063, which led to humanity’s first contact with the Vulcans.
✗ Red alert! The answer is Warp Drive. Transwarp is an advanced Borg technology, Slipstream is an experimental quantum drive, and the Spore Drive uses mycelial network navigation (from Discovery). Standard Starfleet vessels use Warp Drive.
07
At Starfleet Academy, cadets face a notorious no-win scenario designed to test their character under impossible circumstances. James Kirk is the only cadet who ever beat it — by cheating. What is this test called?
✓ Correct! The Kobayashi Maru is an unwinnable rescue simulation that tests how cadets handle certain death. Kirk reprogrammed it so he could win — earning a commendation for original thinking. It was memorably featured in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.
✗ Red alert! The answer is the Kobayashi Maru. The Corbomite Maneuver is a TOS episode, not an Academy test. The Kobayashi Maru is the famous no-win scenario that Kirk defeated by reprogramming the simulation — because he doesn’t believe in the no-win scenario.
08
In the widely regarded greatest Star Trek film, a genetically enhanced superhuman from Earth’s past seeks revenge against Captain Kirk. “KHAAAAN!” Who is this iconic villain?
✓ Correct! Khan Noonien Singh, played by Ricardo Montalbán, is Star Trek’s greatest villain. First appearing in the TOS episode “Space Seed,” he returned in The Wrath of Khan (1982) for a devastating revenge plot that cost Spock his life.
✗ Red alert! The answer is Khan Noonien Singh. General Chang is a Klingon from Star Trek VI, Q is TNG’s omnipotent trickster, and Gul Dukat is DS9’s Cardassian antagonist. Only Khan inspired Kirk’s legendary scream across the cosmos.
Mission Complete Your Starfleet Record
/ 8
Are you an Admiral — or still a cadet on deck-scrubbing duty?
Star Trek: The Kelvin Era – IDW Classic Collections TP from IDW Publishing will be available to read on November 17, 2026!
- TV Show(s)
- Star Trek: The Original Series, Star Trek: The Animated Series, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Star Trek: Voyager, Star Trek: Enterprise, Star Trek: Discovery, Star Trek: Short Treks, Star Trek: Picard, Star Trek Lower Decks, Star Trek: Prodigy, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Star Trek: Starfleet Academy
- Video Game(s)
- Star Trek Online, Star Trek: Resurgence, Star Trek: Bridge Crew
KioskNews shows a cleaned-up reading view extracted from the publisher’s page — the original always lives on their site, not ours.