Production Begins for Starfleet Academy: First Cast Photos Revealed

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy has officially commenced production, marked by new photos shared from the set of this exciting new Star Trek Universe TV series. The photos feature the principal cast outside “The Star Trek Stage” studio, where Paramount hosts its Star Trek productions. Another photo showcases the cast and crew, including Star Trek Universe head Alex Kurtzman, seemingly during a table read session.

A caption accompanying the photos reads: “School is in session, cadets! Today marks the official start of production as the #StarTrek Stage welcomes #StarfleetAcademy.”

The anticipation for Starfleet Academy among fans appears somewhat muted. Many were hoping that the excitement surrounding the third and final season of Star Trek: Picard would lead to a “Star Trek: Legacy” spinoff. The Star Trek: Picard Season 3 Finale hinted at this possibility by bringing together the son of Jean-Luc Picard and Beverly Crusher, as well as the daughters of Geordi La Forge, to help their parents and the rest of the Enterprise-D crew defeat the Borg and save Starfleet. This epic storyline seemed like a perfect segue into a new series featuring the next generation after Star Trek: The Next Generation.

However, instead of a Star Trek: Legacy series, we are getting a follow-up to Star Trek: Discovery, which ventured into the 32nd Century. In this era, the Federation was significantly weakened due to a cataclysmic event known as “The Burn,” which caused every active warp core to detonate. The Discovery crew managed to uncover the mystery of The Burn and restore Starfleet’s values and mission, leading to the recruitment of a new generation of cadets for the interstellar organization.

The synopsis for Star Trek: Starfleet Academy reads: “Star Trek: Starfleet Academy introduces viewers to a young group of cadets who come together to pursue a common dream of hope and optimism. Under the watchful and demanding eyes of their instructors, they discover what it takes to become Starfleet officers as they navigate blossoming friendships, explosive rivalries, first loves, and a new enemy that threatens both the Academy and the Federation itself.”

The new series features several fresh faces in the Star Trek universe, including Holly Hunter, who plays a Starfleet captain serving as the current chancellor of Starfleet Academy, and Paul Giamatti as the season’s main villain. The cast also includes Kerrice Brooks, Bella Shepard, George Hawkins, Karim Diané, and Zoë Steiner as Starfleet Academy students. Additionally, Gina Yashere (Bob Hearts Abishola) will have a recurring role as an academy instructor.

Legacy characters from previous Star Trek projects will also make appearances in Starfleet Academy. Notable actors include Tig Notaro (Jett Reno), Oded Fehr (Fleet Admiral Charles Vance), and Mary Wiseman (Sylvia Tilly) from Star Trek: Discovery, as well as Robert Picardo (The Doctor/Lewis Zimmerman) from Star Trek: Voyager and Star Trek: Prodigy.

The showrunners of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy are Alex Kurtzman and Noga Landau, who also serve as executive producers. Other executive producers include Gaia Violo, Aaron Baiers, Olatunde Osunsanmi, Jenny Lumet, Rod Roddenberry, Trevor Roth, Frank Siracusa, and John Weber. Gaia Violo penned the premiere episode of the series.

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy does not yet have a premiere date but will be available for streaming on Paramount+.

Source: Comicbook.com