The idea of the show revolves around the private university entity of Starfleet, Starfleet Academy, has been around for a long time, but we finally got a show – set in the far future of Star Trek, the current preamble. This future is nearing, and Paramount is granting that new series an additional show.
During the Star Trek Universe day at New York Comic-Con, the broadcaster revealed that Star Trek: Starfleet Academy has already been renewed for another season. Set in the 23rd century (and possibly after the initial events of Star Trek: Discovery’s final series earlier this year), the show will follow a new crew of aspiring bright young people as they become members of a new class of students accepted into Starfleet Academy for the first time in years, after a crisis that Discovery found itself in during its third season.
The show is being developed by the Architects Alex Kurtzman and Nog Landau starring Kiersey Brooks, Bella Sheppard, George Hawkins, Kareem Dian, and Zoe Steiner as some of the many academy students who will appear in the series, also featuring Holly Hunter as the academy advisor and Paul Giamatti as a mysterious villain. But they will also have some familiar faces joining them as well: from Discovery, Tig Notaro will reprise her role as the outspoken engineer Jet Reno as a series regular, while Mary Wiseman and Oded Fehr will appear as guests as Ensign Tilly and Admiral Vance, respectively. But there’s also a completely new addition to the cast: as announced during the panel, Shih Hallek will appear as Tatiana Maslany.
Attention cadets! We are pleased to announce the renewal of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy for a second season and the addition of Tatiana Maslany to the cast of the first season! pic.twitter.com/vGQozQXwAv
– Star Trek on Paramount + (StarTrekOnPPlus) October 19, 2024
In an interesting development, it’s not just the regulars from Discovery coming back. Robert Picardo, who played the famous Star Trek: Voyager doctor – also known as the Emergency Medical Hologram who became the chief medical officer of the ship when they were stranded in the Delta Quadrant at the start of the show – will also appear as a series regular. Whether he’s the latest embodiment of EMH technology in the 23rd century or a long-term unbelievably snarky version of the Voyager doctor we all know and love remains to be seen.
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is set to premiere on Paramount + sometime in 2025, making it the first new Star Trek brand series to be launched on the platform since Star Trek: Strange New Worlds started in 2022, after the recent high-profile exits of Journey ended the broadcast portfolio. Picard and Discovery both ended in 2023 and 2024 respectively Lower Decks and are scheduled to start its final season later this month.
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