Star Trek: Discovery season 4 trailer teases a new unstoppable foe

(Image credit: CBS All Access/Netflix)

The first teaser trailer for Star Trek: Discovery season 4 has landed online, and it appears that Captain Burham (Sonequa Martin-Green) and her crew are set to face their toughest threat yet on Paramount Plus.

A first look at the new season was released on April 5, otherwise known as First Contact Day to Star Trek fans, and showed what Trekkies can expect from Discovery's upcoming instalment. As the teaser suggests, a new galactic foe seems set to not only cause chaos to the Discovery crew, but to the cosmos overall.

Star Trek: Discovery season 4: everything we know so far
How to watch Star Trek in order
Here's how to watch Star Trek: Discovery season 3 online from anywhere in the world

Season 4 will also mark the first time that Captain Burnham will helm the USS Discovery following her promotion at the end of season 3. As threats go, then, this universe-spanning enemy is sure to test her limits from the beginning of her captaincy.

What is Star Trek: Discovery season 4 about?

As you might expect, little is known about the plot of season 4. However, to coincide with the teaser trailer's release, the official Star Trek website did provide a synopsis of what the next season will entail for Captain Burham and company.

"Season four of Star Trek: Discovery finds Captain Burnham and the crew of the U.S.S. Discovery facing a threat unlike any they’ve ever encountered," the brief description reveals. "With Federation and non-Federation worlds alike feeling the impact, they must confront the unknown and work together to ensure a hopeful future for all."

As the trailer shows, a five lightyear-wide gravitational anomaly threatens the galaxy, and it appears that nobody will be safe from its effects. That's down to the anomaly's unpredictable nature, which means that it can turn up anywhere across the universe and potentially wipe out any civilizations that it comes into contact with.

It's unclear how the U.S.S. Discovery - alongside its friends and enemies - will stop this gigantic space threat. What we do know, though, is that we won't have long to find out. Star Trek: Discovery season 4 will launch later in 2021 on Paramount Plus in the US. An international release date, which will see season 4 arrive on Netflix, will hopefully land around a similar timeframe.

Star Trek: Picard season 2: everything we know so far

As TechRadar's senior entertainment reporter, Tom covers all of the latest movies, TV shows, and streaming service news that you need to know about. You'll regularly find him writing about the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Star Wars, Netflix, Prime Video, Disney Plus, and many other topics of interest.

An NCTJ-accredited journalist, Tom also writes reviews, analytical articles, opinion pieces, and interview-led features on the biggest franchises, actors, directors and other industry leaders. You may see his quotes pop up in the odd official Marvel Studios video, too, such as this Moon Knight TV spot.

Away from work, Tom can be found checking out the latest video games, immersing himself in his favorite sporting pastime of football, reading the many unread books on his shelf, staying fit at the gym, and petting every dog he comes across. Got a scoop, interesting story, or an intriguing angle on the latest news in entertainment? Feel free to drop him a line.