Star Trek’s Doctor Who Crossover Almost Happened, Akiva Goldsman Reveals Details

‘Star Trek: Strange New Worlds‘ has always showcased its love for sci-fi, but many fans were unaware of just how deep that passion ran behind the scenes. The Paramount+ series made its return this week with the premiere of its fourth season, titled “Valles Marineris,” continuing the journey of Captain Christopher Pike and the crew of the USS Enterprise as they navigate the decade leading up to the original ‘Star Trek’ series. While season four has already generated significant buzz online, the real excitement stemmed from something beyond the episode itself.

This excitement originated from co-showrunner Akiva Goldsman, who spoke with SYFY Wire in an exclusive interview about the show’s ongoing homage to ‘Doctor Who’. Fans had previously noticed a subtle TARDIS Easter egg hidden in the background of an earlier season, along with a mysterious comment from engineer Pelia regarding “the time I spent time travelling with a Doctor.” It turns out these were not mere playful references.

Goldsman confirmed that ‘Strange New Worlds’ seriously considered a full crossover with ‘Doctor Who’, collaborating directly with former showrunner Russell T. Davies. “We really did talk to Russell for a while about crossing over the two shows,” Goldsman shared during the interview with SYFY Wire, emphasizing that it was more than just a fleeting idea but a genuine discussion about “how narratively it would work.” The teams from both shows reportedly delved into the details of production logistics as well.

According to Goldsman, they even explored when the crossover would air, how to merge the distinct visual styles of the two shows, and the possibility of it unfolding as a two-part special. This level of detail makes the eventual outcome sting a bit more for dedicated fans of both franchises. It appears that corporate red tape, rather than creative differences, is what ultimately derailed the plan.

“Ultimately, there were too many corporate hurdles,” Goldsman stated, describing the crossover’s fate as “really lovely and unfulfilled,” a sentiment he believes applies to many ambitious concepts within the ‘Star Trek’ universe. Instead of abandoning the idea altogether, the writers chose to incorporate its essence into the canon.

Goldsman pointed out that Pelia’s TARDIS-related anecdote effectively canonized an off-screen encounter between the two universes, noting that this kind of crossover “has happened before in comics,” leading the writers to simply “assume it did happen.” This clever workaround allows both fandoms to enjoy the connection without requiring either studio’s official approval for the actual crossover.

This isn’t the first time Goldsman has hinted at this near-miss either. He and fellow co-showrunner Henry Alonso Myers previously mentioned to Awards Radar that discussions with Davies lasted “for years,” with Goldsman referring to it as a “near miss” rather than a dead end. Whether this door remains permanently closed is still uncertain, especially with ‘Strange New Worlds’ now heading toward its fifth and final season.

For now, fans are left to piece together TARDIS glimpses and throwaway lines instead of experiencing the real crossover. Would you have liked to see Pike’s crew interact with the Doctor on screen, or does the Easter egg version feel more appropriate for these two universes?