Warning: This Article Contains SPOILERS for Star Trek: Discovery’s Series Finale - “LIfe, Itself”
Summary
Star Trek: Discovery’s cast reassembled for the series finale’s emotional epilogue, but Wilson Cruz was"shattered"he couldn’t join his fellow castmates. Written by Kyle Jarrow and Michelle Paradise, and directed by Olatunde Osunsanmi,Star Trek: Discovery’s series finale ended with a flash forward to 30+ years into the future where Admiral Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) launched the USS Discovery on her final mission. Burnham poignantly reunited with her USS Discovery crew mates as they were in the 32nd century, including Dr. Hugh Culber - even thoughWilson Cruz wasn’t physically there.
BeforeStar Trek: Discovery’s series finale premiered,Wilson Cruz joinedTrekCulture Podcastand revealed that he was forced to miss filmingDiscovery’s coda because of his prior commitment to the Netflix movieMother of the Bride. However,Dr. Hugh Culber’s appearance inStar Trek: Discovery’s emotional ending was thanks to"the magic of television"and CGI effects.Read Wilson’s quote below:
I was shattered, honestly. And, by the way, it was Mother of the Bride. That’s what I was scheduled to do, and I had already signed a contract. I was ready to go. I couldn’t back out. And also, I shouldn’t back out. (laughs) We had just been fired. I needed a job. Through the magic of television, Hugh Culber is there.
I was shattered about not being there to film the coda… not being to be there at the end with all of my friends, and people I love and admire, to close a chapter of my life that has been incredibly meaningful. So it was very sweet and incredibly moving to me when, one day on set, my phone rings, and it’s Sonequa FaceTiming me from the wrap party, and I get to see everybody’s faces, and see them partying. They clapped everyone out, so they called to clap me out, and I got to cry all of the makeup they put on me for the movie. So there was some catharsis and some closure in that.
Star Trek: Discovery Season 5 Returning Cast & New Character Guide
As Burnham seeks the universe’s greatest treasure in Star Trek: Discovery season 5, she’ll need help from a host of new and returning characters.
Wilson Cruz’s Dr. Culber Can Return To Star Trek
Discovery’s finale was a farewell to Culber, but not necessarily forever
Dr. Hugh Culber had a heroic moment inStar Trek: Discovery’s series finale, “Life, Itself”, that paid off his spiritual journey throughoutStar Trek: Discoveryseason 5. After hosting the Trill symbiont Jinaal, Hugh struggled with the meaning of his spiritual awakening. Forging a friendship with Cleveland Booker (David Ajala), Dr. Culber was crucial in saving Captain Burnham when she was trapped in the Progenitors' dimension.It was Hugh’s bond with Jinaal that let him and Book save Michael, giving Culber a greater understanding of his touch with the ineffable.
Wilson Cruz has expressed his desire to reprise Hugh Culber if a future Star Trek project asks.
AlthoughStar Trek: Discoveryis now over, the possibility remains for Dr. Hugh Culber to return.Star Trek’s next series,Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, takes place in the 32nd century afterDiscoveryseason 5. Culber could appear as a mentor to a cadet in the new program instituted by Lt. Sylvia Tilly (Mary Wiseman). Wilson Cruz has expressed his desire to reprise Hugh Culber if a futureStar Trekproject asks. Although Wilson Cruz couldn’t join his cast mates to filmStar Trek: Discovery’s epilogue scene, there’s no question how integral Cruz and Dr. Hugh Culber are to the success of the series.
