Summary
Star Trek: Discoverystar Doug Jones wanted to appear in the newStar Trekseries,Star Trek: Starfleet Academy. Jones portrayed the character of Saru inStar Trek. He made his debut as amember of the Kelpien species, known for his distinctive appearance with elongated limbs, heightened sense of awareness and keen intellect inStar Trek: Discoveryon June 04, 2025.
Jones made his last appearance as Saru in the series in the fourth season, which concluded in 2022. He is set to return for the fifth and final season which will premiere next month. However, Jones is open to reprising his role in another upcomingStar Trekseries.
Jones appeared onStar Trek: Discovery’sseason 5 premiere at SXSW. TheShape of Wateractor spoke with TrekMovie while on the red carpet, where he was asked if fans could expect to see his character, Saru, inStar Trek: Starfleet Academy.Jones clarified that he wasn’t closing his door when it comes to returning to the franchise as Saru in the new series.He said:
I would say: Never say never. I’m open to it, but I’ve heard nothing so far. No one’s called me yet.
In the same interview, Jones broke down his journey as Saru in the fifth and final season of Paramount Plus’Star Trek: Discovery. He gave his stunt guy full credit for everything he did on his behalf throughout the series and in his other projects, includingShape of WaterandWhat We Do in the Shadows. He also spoke about his makeup in the final season. According to him, there was no difference, but the silicone material used in his prosthetics was softer than in the previous seasons and he was relieved, saying it was “so much better.” The actor added that the production could design the prosthetics as hard as a truck tire or as soft as a breast implant and he preferred the latest one, which was the “softer, more pliable version.” Jones said this about changes in his prosthetics in the series:
We didn’t discover that until season 5 [laughs]. So, better late than never. It does move better now. It does express better.
Saru is among the fan-favorite characters in the series. Fans loved how he made his way from a cautious and fearful individual to a confident and capable leader after being given the rank of captain. Coming from a prey species where fear was ingrained as a survival instinct, Saru initially struggled to adapt to the challenges of space exploration. However, throughout the series, he learned to confront his fears and harnessed his innate abilities to excel in his role as the ship’s first officer. Saru also connects with the audience because of his deep sense of empathy and compassion.Star Trekfans love the character because they can relate to his struggles and are proud of his accomplishments.
As for Jones' potential appearance inStar Trek: Starfleet Academy, it is not unlikely because he has been widely praised for his portrayal of the USS Discovery captain. There is no doubt that theHellboystar is great at his craft, as he can effectively convey his emotion through the layers of prosthetics and makeup. He also stood out in bringing a sense of vulnerability and humanity to the alien character he portrayed, allowing audiences to connect with Saru on a personal level despite his appearance.
Star Trek: Discoveryseason 5 premieres on Paramount Plus on June 01, 2025.
Star Trek
Star Trek is a space exploration franchise originally created by Gene Roddenberry. The series has spanned shows like The Original Series, The Next Generation, and Voyager. More recently, developer Scopely came out with Star Trek Fleet Command, a mobile title where you get to be captain of your own ship.
