Star Trek: Discovery's Anthony Rapp reacts to season 4 delay

Star Trek: Discovery recently announced that while its fourth season will hit Paramount+ in the US on November 18, international audiences wouldn't be able to watch it until at least 2022.

Anthony Rapp, who plays Discovery's chief engineer Paul Stamets in the spin-off, has opened up about his frustrations with the delay.

"I hereby reach out to our many international Star Trek: Discovery fans, who are understandably upset at the last-minute news that you won't get to experience Season 4 until 2022," the actor wrote in a Twitter thread. "We cast members just found out about this as well and we share your disappointment and frustration."

anthony rapp in star trek discovery episode 3

CBS//Netflix

With previous seasons, the episodes have arrived on Netflix the day after they aired on Paramount+ in the US. The delay in the upcoming season is reportedly due to ViacomCBS buying out of its distribution deal with Netflix.

The first three seasons of Discovery have since been pulled from the streamer, in advance of it being redistributed internationally on Paramount+ next year.

"I don't pretend to understand how these sorts of deals for international rights are made (or unmade)," Rapp continued. "I will say I wish we all had been told that this was coming, so we could have braced ourselves and then we could have helped spread the word to all of you.

"Having just been to Germany for FedCon, having traveled twice to DST in Birmingham and having interacted with countless international fans on social media over the past 4 years, I am keenly aware of how much love and support our show receives from many folks from all over the world."

star trek discovery stamets, anthony rapp

CBS

He closed the thread with an earnest message to Trekkies around the world: "We remain deeply grateful to you all. We hope that when the show makes its way to you, you will continue to support the hard work that we all have done to bring Discovery to life.

"We are all of us saddened that you will have to wait months longer to experience Season 4.

"Thank you to those of you who've been tweeting out your honest and passionate and heartfelt responses. We see you, we hear you, and we are committed to doing our utmost to honor you with our work."

Jan Thijs//CBS

Discovery is slated to be one of the biggest titles in the roll-out of Paramount+ internationally, as it hits 45 international markets in 2022. The UK, Germany, Ireland, Austria and Switzerland will be among the first with access to Discovery on the streamer.

As for the other series in the Trek universe, Star Trek: The Original Series, Star Trek: Voyager and Star Trek: Enterprise were all removed from Netflix back in September. However, Star Trek: Picard and Star Trek: Lower Decks will continue to stream on Amazon Prime Video internationally.

Star Trek: Discovery airs on Paramount+ in the US.