By Z. Rice
2026 is a landmark year for Star Trek – marking the 60th anniversary of the legendary series’ first episode, which aired September 8, 1966. Star Trek fans – and merchandisers – are already celebrating – with lots more to come as the year unfolds.
In honor of the anniversary, Nacelle Toys will be releasing its Wave 3 action figures later this year (exact timing to be confirmed), celebrating the original bridge crew in what could be for many collectors the most exciting line of TOS figures to debut in the last 20 years.
Nacelle has already unveiled the first 1/10 scale paint master figures of Uhura and Spock, beautifully detailed and with a promise from founder Brian Volk-Weiss to overdeliver on accessories. But the figures that have fans buzzing – and guessing – are two Wave 3 mystery figures, sold as a set. Clues have been scarce, but Volk-Weiss guarantees these figures will make fans happy. So, what’s in the box?
At NYCC 2025, Volk-Weiss was quick to debunk the most popular fan theory – the figures will not be the black and white Lokai and Bele from “Let That Be Your Last Battlefield.” One fan asked if it would be Sisko and Dax from the DS9 throwback episode “Trials and Tribble-ations” or a non-bipedal character like the Horta. Volk-Weiss remained tight-lipped but quipped, “You’re asking good questions.”
Other fan theories point to a Kirk-Spock combo, potentially the gangster looks from “A Piece of the Action” or Depression-era “City on the Edge of Forever”, and to deep-cut characters like Lieutenants Kyle and Leslie.
Nacelle plans to reveal the mystery figures at the February ‘26 Toy Fair, but until then there’s still time to speculate. Guessing is half the fun, so here are a few possibilities of varying likelihood:
- Dr. Crater and The Salt Creature from the first episode, The Man Trap,
- TOS Khan and his love (and source of wrath), Lieutenant McGivers
- TOS Captain Pike and M’Benga, now popular on Strange New Worlds
- Sarek and Amanda, Spock’s parents and series favorites.
- Kirk and Edith Keeler from City on the Edge of Forever, a love doomed from the start.
- Kor and Koloth or Kang, legendary Klingons in TOS and later DS9
- Harry Mudd and the Gorn – two cult-favorite characters, but likely too obvious and a poorly-matched set.
- Finally, perhaps most creative and unlikely – Balok the puppet with removable childlike figure inside.
Volk-Weiss assures the wait to reveal will be worth it. “If you’re not happy,” he said at NYCC, “you can DM me and say **** you.” Given Volk-Weiss’s widely accepted fan cred, I’m guessing he’s right.
