Black Mirror star confirms why USS Callister spin-off series was scrapped just before filming
Charlie Brooker and Annabel Jones are back with more dystopian nightmares as Black Mirror returns for its seventh season. Having come a long way from stories about the British Prime Minister doing unspeakable things to a pig, the tech anthology series had soared to new heights since Netflix purchased the rights in 2015. We’ve since had award-winning outings, including “San Junipero”, “Bandersnatch”, and “USS Callister”, with many considering the latter to be the ‘best’ Black Mirror episode ever.
UNILAD Tech sat down with Milanka Brooks ahead of the streaming service debuting its much-hyped “USS Callister” sequel. The episode sees the crew head out into the unknown after they escaped Jesse Plemons’ villainous Robert Daly in their first outing.
Brooks told us what it was like to return to the role of Elena Tulaska, getting back into the makeup chair to play the blue-skinned crew member of Space Fleet, and what could’ve been.
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Almost as soon as the credits rolled on “USS Callister”, there was talk about a potential spin-off series focused on Space Fleet. According to Brooks, that was nearly the plan until 2023’s Writers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA strikes scuppered the USS Callister’s expanded mission.
“There was talk of a sequel really since its inception when it first was released at the end of 2017, I think that's when it was released,” said Brooks. “As far as I understand, there were several iterations that Charlie went through to try and continue this world, this story, and these characters.”
As for why we’ve had to wait seven years for more from USS Callister, Brooks admitted: “For the most part, it was really down to availability. You know, trying to get seven people, or six, however many of us are left, all together was challenging.”
Referring to the canceled concept of a USS Callister series, Brooks continued: “We got to a point in 2022, 2023, where we were going to film a whole series. But then, and rightly so, the strikes happened.
“We were limited on what we could do at that point, so the fact that we got here to make this next episode is really exciting.”
Still, the upcoming sequel might not see the USS Callister confined to a spaceship scrapyard.
When pushed on whether she’d like to come back for more, Brooks admitted: “We're a very tight cast, and they bring such incredible real-life crews in as well that it's just really, honestly, such a pleasure to be a part of it.”
Season 7 looks like it’s also giving us another surprise sequel in the form of Will Poulter reprising his role from Bandersnatch, while the concept of a spin-off from the main series of Black Mirror was previously pitched via the idea of the ‘Red Mirror’ label for horror-centric stories.
Given that Star Trek has been going strong for nearly 60 years, there’s more than enough scope to give the Callister crew at least a third outing, if not a whole series of their own.
Offering her final thoughts on whether we could get that mythical USS Callister spin-off, Brooks suggested that she’s game, but it would be particularly tough on her. “If I was to film a series,” said the star, “I would have to say sayonara to all of my friends because I don't really have a world outside of Callister when we shoot because my call time is early.
“I'm in first, and I leave last basically…I think my biggest challenge would just be mental stability.”
Still, the smile on Brooks’ face suggested she’s more than game to keep playing Elena for as long as Brooker and co. are willing to put her in the uniform.