This afternoon, the highly anticipated showrunners and cast members of the upcoming series Star Trek: Starfleet Academy will take the stage at New York Comic Con. In preparation for this exciting event, Paramount+ has offered a sneak peek into the series, sharing exclusive content with Entertainment Weekly and launching a new interactive website dedicated to the show.
A fresh article by Entertainment Weekly provides intriguing details and preview images from Starfleet Academy. The focus of this article is on the character Caleb Mir, portrayed by Sandro Rosta, who was first introduced at San Diego Comic-Con. Caleb is characterized as an "outsider" and is set to be a pivotal character in the storyline. The article reveals that Caleb is an orphan searching for his long-lost mother, played by Emmy-winner Tatiana Maslany. In a quest to locate her, he believes that joining Starfleet Academy is his best chance.
New visuals feature Rosta aboard the USS Athena, a ship integral to the academy. Notably, fans can spot Tig Notaro, reprising her role as Jett Reno from Star Trek: Discovery, seated in the command chair. Notaro joins the cast as a series regular, fulfilling her role as a member of the Starfleet Academy faculty. Additionally, fans can expect to see Oded Fehr return as Admiral Vance in a recurring capacity, along with Mary Wiseman, who will make a brief appearance as Tilly in the first season.
Tatiana Maslany's character was a late addition to the cast, and her connection to Caleb Mir has only recently been unveiled. The previews and trailers shared at San Diego Comic-Con hinted at her involvement, but the depth of her character’s relationship with Caleb has now been clarified. The Entertainment Weekly article also emphasizes the dynamic between Maslany, series lead Holly Hunter, who plays Academy Chancellor and Captain Nahla Ake, and Oscar-nominee Paul Giamatti, portraying Nus Braka, the main antagonist for the season. Executive producer Alex Kurtzman highlighted the impressive talent in a pivotal scene featuring these three characters, stating, “The second scene of the pilot is Tatiana, Holly, and Paul together. The firepower in this scene is extraordinary.”
Moreover, the EW article teases the introduction of S.A.M. (Series Acclimation Mil), a groundbreaking character who is a newborn hologram and the first of her kind to enroll at Starfleet Academy. Kurtzman shared that S.A.M. was initially conceived as a different character but was rewritten to align better with the high-energy performance of actress Kerrice Brooks. “We were in the presence of a genius,” Kurtzman noted, explaining the decision to adapt the character for Brooks’ unique voice and talent.
The showrunners emphasize that the stakes are exceptionally high at Starfleet Academy, particularly with the inclusion of the USS Athena, which has been likened to a teaching hospital. Co-showrunner Noga Landau remarked on the challenge of crafting a narrative that maintains the essence of Star Trek adventures while operating within a school setting. “It’s crucial for viewers to understand that these cadets engage in real Star Trek missions, facing actual peril and complex situations,” Landau stated.
The first season of Starfleet Academy is set to debut in early 2026, potentially in January, with a second season already in production. For further updates, be sure to check out the preview article at Entertainment Weekly.
Additionally, a new interactive Starfleet Academy portal has been launched on the official Star Trek site. This engaging platform offers an in-universe glimpse into life at Starfleet Academy, featuring sections like “Our Mission,” “Campus Life,” “Meet the Faculty,” and “Enrollment.” Visitors can explore the various activities and clubs available to cadets, including the “Association of Cardassian Cadets” and an exciting “Camping Expedition to Cestus III.” The site further showcases images of the campus and ships, and allows users to enroll, granting them a personalized badge. For more details, visit startrek.com/StarfleetAcademy.
Stay tuned to watch the panel live and discover more about the future of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy.
