7 hours ago
1
Lost in space.
The massively popular “USS Callister” episode of Netflix’s “Black Mirror” from 2017 was originally going to be made into a full series, but instead it became a sequel that was released last month as part of Season 7.
Cinematographer Stephan Pehrsson is now revealing why the planned series based on the “Star Trek”-spoofed episode never happened.
“There was just so many complications. Even like a year after [the first one]… I’m good friends with the director, Toby Haynes, and he would come in and go, ‘Oh I think they’re planning like an eight-part series,’ and [I said], ‘Oh, that sounds amazing. I’d be loved to be involved,'” Pehrsson, 49, recalled in an exclusive interview with the Post.
“And then suddenly like a year later [Haynes said], ‘Oh, they’re doing a four-part series,'” he continued. “It kept sort of developing and actually I think like a year before we were due to start, we were almost going to make a three-part series. It was that close. And then things moved around and then it became a feature length special instead, which probably was the right fit for it.”
While he “would have loved” to make a series out of “USS Callister,” it was too difficult to reunite the cast for a lengthier project.
“There was a lot about getting the cast back together, you know, sort of finding a gap that was big enough,” the Emmy nominee explained. “When it was a three-part series, I think we needed like 12 weeks or something like that, and getting everybody together in that amount of time was really, really, really tricky.”
“So I think what we got in the end was six weeks, and then some of the cast were there for six, and some were there for four, some were there for two. And that sort of just fit a bit better with what we were able to get,” said Pehrsson. “Everybody is doing so well and they’re so popular, you know, so it just made sense.”
“USS Callister” starred Cristin Milioti, Jesse Plemons, Jimmi Simpson, Michaela Coel, Billy Magnussen, Milanka Brooks and Osy Ikhile. Only Coel did not return for the sequel, “USS Callister: Into Infinity.”
“It was so good to get back together,” Pehrsson told The Post. “It was a nice time. Me and Toby were sort of the only OGs behind the scenes, but it was really great to get together as a team.”
Pehrsson also confirmed that the team behind “USS Callister” watched “Star Trek” when they made the 2017 episode.
“We were sort of immersed in all things ‘Star Trek.’ We were even looking at a thing called ‘Star Trek Continues,’ which is a like a fan-made TV series where they sort of carried on the 60s TV show. They made at least another series of it with a new cast, but the same sort of classic sets. So absolutely, that’s what we wanted to do.”
“And it sort of fit so perfectly with the original, having that 60s look for the opening scene and really going full 60s TV approach with that,” he continued. “The classical TV lighting, 60s TV lighting, with lots of little slashes across the eyes. All that kind of stuff. We loved that. That was brilliant.”
Pehrsson also reflected on why he thinks “USS Callister” is so beloved by viewers.
“Generally, ‘Black Mirror’ always ends on such a downer. If there’s a terrible ending to be had, [creator] Charlie [Booker] will go for the absolute worst ending of that,” Pehrsson said. “So I think it was nice because you just didn’t know what you were going to get with this story and you got invested in these characters that they were so nice. You really wanted them to win.”
“But you know it was ‘Black Mirror,’ so you just thought that they’re not gonna win,” Pehrsson said. “It’s never gonna happen. The bad guy’s gonna take it, isn’t he? And then the relief of them actually making it out. I think the show just left you on such a high. Like, ‘Wow, this is so cool.’ And now they’re going off on more adventures, which I also think both for us and probably for the fans was like, ‘Well, I want to see those adventures. I love these guys so much. I want to see what happens next.'”
As for the future of “USS Callister,” Pehrsson is sticking with the mentality “never say never.”
“I think when we finished it, it felt like, ‘Nope, we finished it off, this is it,'” he said. “But you never say never. I’ve heard Charlie do sort of some weird inklings like, ‘Oh, you know, let’s see what happens.'”
“I mean, there’s definitely more to be mined,” Pehrsson added, “and these characters are so exciting and lovely and I’d certainly love to get back in that world. So let’s see.”
“Black Mirror” is streaming on Netflix.
English (US)