Created by Bryan Fuller and Alex Kurtzman, Star Trek: Discovery has continued to captivate fans for years and has shaped a new era for Star Trek shows, which will be coming to an end with Season 5. Last year, Paramount announced that Season 5 would be the last season of the show. As the show gears up for its finale, one cast member recently reflected on her journey in the sci-fi universe.
Tig Notaro, known for playing the role of Commander Jett Reno in the series, shared in a recent interview that when she initially joined the show as one of the USS Discovery’s genius engineers, she was not sure if her character would survive beyond even two episodes.
Star Trek: Discovery Actress Was Uncertain About Her Future in the Show
Tig Notaro joined Star Trek: Discovery as Commander Jett Reno in season 2. In a recent interview, she reflected on how she landed the role in the TV series. Notaro shared that she had worked with the show’s creator Alex Kurtzman, who reached out to her to offer the role in the TV series.
I’ve known Alex… he and I used to work at Sam Raimi’s production company years ago, together. And he reached out [to me] out of nowhere, and just asked if I would come meet with him at his company, Secret Hideout.
The Morning Show actress shared that she knew Kurtzman had reached out to her for a role in the series. However, she didn’t realize her character would continue through to the series finale. The Army of the Dead actress shared that she was uncertain that she would even last beyond two episodes in the series.
She told ScreenRant,
But when he said, ‘We’d like to use you as much as possible,’ I thought that I was going to do an episode or two, and that would be the end of it. And then it was offered to me, and they just kept having me back. I had a really, really fun time on the show.
Although she was uncertain about her future as Jett Reno, the actress has shared that she would love to reprise her role in future projects within the franchise, as she expressed her love for the show and her character.
Tig Notaro Believes Her Character Was Created with “Han Solo Vibe”
Further in her conversation with ScreenRant, Tig Notaro also reflected on the comedic aspect of her character, who is often seen delivering some of the funniest lines in the show. When asked about the origin of her character’s wit, she asserted, “It’s 100% the writing.”
She shared that it was a pleasant surprise for her as she was unaware of Jett Reno’s comedic nature. The actress credited the charm and humor of her character to Alex Kurtzman. Notaro, who is a big Star Wars fan, suggested that the showrunner likely incorporated elements of her stand-up comedy and the essence of Han Solo into Jett Reno.
“Alex knew that I was a Star Wars fan,” she said before adding, “I think he said that he watched and listened to a lot of my stand-up and kind of folded in the vibe of Han Solo, in the character as well.” However, when it comes to Jett Reno’s humorous lines, she denied any improvisation or writing her own jokes, as she clarified that all credit for the humor goes to the writers.
Star Trek: Discovery is available to stream on Paramount+.
