©Deadline - Paramount+In the teaser, Holly Hunter, as the academy's chancellor, addresses the students. She emphasizes that they will learn "the skills that have shaped our greatest officers," but the footage shows something quite different from what traditional fans are used to. The young protagonists laugh, dance, flirt, and gaze dreamily at the stars—something more reminiscent of a coming-of-age drama than a classic space mission.
The series deliberately plays with the contrast between the old Star Trek, which prioritized duty, order, and science, and the new approach to dreams, emotions, and social dynamics. The official description promises a mix of "blossoming friendships, explosive rivalries, first loves, and a new enemy."
Besides the young main cast—Sandro Rosta, Kerrice Brooks, Bella Shepard, George Hawkins, Karim Diane, and Zoë Steiner—the series also features notable names: Holly Hunter as the Chancellor of the Academy, Paul Giamatti as the recurring alien antagonist, Tatiana Maslany (Orphan Black) in a guest role, and Robert Picardo returning as The Doctor from Star Trek: Voyager.
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is a strategic move for Paramount+ to make the Trek universe appealing to a young audience. Some will see it as a welcome modernization; others as a risky departure from the classic concept. Either way, with themes of self-discovery, hope, and connection, the series seeks to reimagine what Star Trek can be for the "next generation."
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is scheduled to premiere in 2026 on Paramount+.
Alex Kurtzman, in my opinion, is the worst thing that could have happened to this franchise.