Star Trek 4has been delayed for over 8 years, but if it happens, the fourth J.J. Abrams-producedStar Trekmovie can finally introduce Nurse Christine Chapel. Abrams successfully rebootedStar Trekin 2009 and proved that the iconiccharacters fromStar Trek: The Original Seriescould be recast with younger actors. However,one significantTOScharacter who hasn’t been seen in J.J. Abrams’Star Trekis Nurse Chapel.
Originally played by Majel Barrett-Roddenberry, Nurse Chapel was the main assistant to USS Enterprise Chief Medical Officer Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy (DeForest Kelley) inStar Trek: The Original Series.Chapel was primarily known for her unrequited love for Mr. Spock (Leonard Nimoy). However,Star Trek: Strange New Worldshas revitalized Nurse Chapel.Played by Jess Bush,Strange New Worldshas given Chapel a richer character and more agencyso that Christine is now a brilliant, resourceful, and determined Starfleet Officer who is seeking a greater destiny beyond a romance with Lt. Spock (Ethan Peck).
Star Trek Kelvin Timeline Movies Have Repeatedly Teased Nurse Chapel
Nurse Chapel Has Been Name-Dropped Already
Nurse Chapel has not been seen or heard from in J.J. Abrams’Star Trekmovies, butChristine definitely exists in the alternate Kelvin Timeline.When Dr. McCoy (Karl Urban) smuggles James T. Kirk (Chris Pine) aboard the Starship Enterprise inStar Trek(2009), Bones calls for Nurse Chapel to administer a treatment for Kirk’s allergic reaction to the Melvaran mud flea vaccine. However, there are several female nurses in the scene, and none of them were established to be Nurse Chapel. YetChapel was aboard the Enterprise during Star Trek (2009).
Star Trek 2009 Cast & Character Guide
J.J. Abrams' Star Trek relaunched the movie franchise and reintroduced audiences to Captain Kirk and the crew of the USS Enterprise.
Nurse Chapel does not appear inStar Trek Into Darkness, butChristine is name-dropped by Dr. Carol Marcus (Alice Eve). While Marcus was undressing and speaking to Captain Kirk in a shuttlecraft, she mentions Christine Chapel, with whom Jim had prior intimate relations. Yet the distracted Kirk seemed to have"no idea"who Carol was talking about. In a deleted scene fromStar Trek Into Darkness,Dr. McCoy mentions Chapel contracted an STD from Kirk, so perhaps it’s best that moment was excised from the film.
Star Trek 4 Is Nurse Chapel’s Best (& Probably Last) Chance To Appear In The Kelvin Timeline
Strange New Worlds Made Nurse Chapel A Vital Character
Star Trek 4would potentially be the best and last chance for Nurse Christine Chapel to appear in the alternate Kelvin Timeline. Chapel could easily be back aboard the USS Enterprise, and she could even be a foil forDr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy. Interestingly,Chapel did not have a romance - unrequited or otherwise - with Spock (Zachary Quinto) inStar Trek’s Kelvin Timeline,but Christine’s presence could make Captain Kirk uncomfortable, which might lead to comedic moments.
Chapel was a doctor inStar Trek: The Motion Picture, but she took a step back when Dr. Leonard McCoy resumed his post as Chief Medical Officer aboard the USS Enterprise.
SinceStar Trek 4would be set years after the last J.J. Abrams-producedStar Trekmovie, the Justin Lin-directedStar Trek Beyond, Chapel and the crew of the USS Enterprise would be in their 40s since they all started at Starfleet Academy together at roughly the same age.It would be logical that Chapel would no longer be a nurse inStar Trek 4.Dr. Christine Chapelwould be a welcome addition, and she could provide competition for Dr. McCoy. Still, it would be fantastic to see the Kelvin Timeline’s Dr. Chapel in action inStar Trek 4.
Star Trek Movies Are Missing Out By Keeping Nurse Chapel Offscreen
Chris Pine’s Enterprise Needs More Female Characters
Despite the breakneck pace of theStar Trekmovies starring Chris Pine,there is a palpable void in the USS Enterprise’s Sickbay without Nurse Chapel. Although Dr. McCoy has handily managed to oversee every medical complication aboard the Enterprise without a primary nurse, Chapel’s presence was missed. The USS Enterprise seems incomplete without Nurse Chapel, and her omission fromStar Trek(2009),Star Trek Into Darkness, andStar Trek Beyondhas been disappointing. Still,Star Trek 4can rectify it.
Following the tragic 2006 death of Anton Yelchin, who played Ensign Pavel Chekov, Jaylah would likely be his replacement inStar Trek 4.
Nurse Chapel can also fix the lingering issue of a lack of female characters in J.J. Abrams’Star Trek.Lt. Nyota Uhura (Zoe Saldana) is the only female main character aboard the USS Enterprise.Alice Eve’s Dr. Carol Marcuswasn’t inStar Trek Beyondafter controversy erupted over Carol inStar Trek Into Darkness.Star Trek Beyondlaudably added Jaylah (Sofia Boutella), who would hopefully return inStar Trek 4.Finally bringing in Christine Chapel would bolster the Enterprise’s female characters and debut the long-missing Star Trek: The Original Seriesicon.
Will Star Trek 4 Happen With Or Without Nurse Chapel?
Star Trek 4 Is Reportedly In The Works
Star Trek 4has been in development hell for years, with directors like Matt Shakman, S.J. Clarkson, and Quentin Tarantino exitingStar Trek4 over creative differences. Despite a report earlier in 2024 that screenwriter Steve Yockey (The Flight Attendant) was hired to pen"the final chapter"of Chris Pine’s USS Enterprise crew,there has been no update or further news on the status ofStar Trek 4.Instead, Paramount Pictures is moving forward with anUntitled Star Trek Originmoviedirected by Toby Haynes, which is in development to potentially film in 2025 to release in 2026 forStar Trek’s 60th anniversary.
Star Trek Beyond Ending & Why No Sequel 8 Years Later Explained
Star Trek Beyond set up a sequel for Chris Pine’s Captain Kirk and the Kelvin Timeline crew, but it’s 8 years later and we’ve yet to see Star Trek 4.
Still,Star Trek’s movie cast has publicly stated their interest in returning to the Enterprise ifStar Trek 4does happen. Whether that will finally include Nurse (or Doctor) Christine Chapel is anyone’s guess ifStar Trek 4gets a green light. One interesting aspect of Chapel inStar Trek 4will be who is cast in the role. Jess Bush is acclaimed and popular as Nurse Chapel onStarTrek: Strange New Worlds, but she’s playing Chapel in her 20s.The Kelvin Timeline’s Christine Chapel would be in her 40slike Chris Pine’s Captain Kirk and the rest of his cast. Hopefully,Star Trek 4does happen, and Nurse Chapel is aboard the Starship Enterprise when it warps into a new big-screen adventure.
