Star Trek: Starfleet Academy Is Officially Underway
Calling all aspiring officers, school is in session! Starfleet Academy has officially begun production in Toronto with an exciting cast of familiar favorites and newcomers to the franchise. The new young adult Star Trek series will focus on the exploits of Starfleet Academy students on their journey to become officers. The new series is set in the 32nd century, portraying a rebuilt Starfleet Academy on Earth in San Fransisco.
Reconstruction After The Burn
Alex Kurtzman, one of the showrunners, explains that the setting for Starfleet Academy during the period of reconstruction following a cataclysmic event known as The Burn is intended to give the Starfleet cadets a palpable conflict to engage with.
While a lower-stakes period in academy history might make for an easygoing, fun show, giving the characters the task of helping to reignite humanity’s passion for exploration is a challenging but optimistic approach that gives the characters a lot to sink their teeth into.
Being the generation tasked with rebuilding the federation and seeking out new worlds and new civilizations again is a tall order, and it sets up the show for some stimulating action.
Nancy Drew Veteran
Star Trek veteran, Alex Kurtzman will be joined by young adult expert Noga Landau in executive producing Starfleet Academy, giving the new series a well-balanced and experienced team.
Noga Landau is most well known for her work on Nancy Drew but she also wrote and created the series Tom Swift. Kurtzman will direct the first two episodes of the series, and there’s a rumor that Jonathan Frakes will also be tapped as a director.
The Cast
Joining the cast for the upcoming Starfleet Academy season are Holly Hunter as the Chancellor of the academy, Paul Giamatti as a recurring villain, Oded Fehr as Admiral Vance, Robert Picardo as the Doctor, Tig Notaro as Jett Reno, and Mary Weisman as Tilly. George Hawkins, Zoë Steiner, Bella Shepard, Kerrice Brooks, Sandro Rosta, and Karim Diané will all join the cast as the cadets of Starfleet Academy.
The Starfleet Academy That Was Never Made
There was one other project with a similar concept to Starfleet Academy, following a young James T. Kirk, Spock, and Leonard McCoy in their years at the academy. However, the original Starfleet Academy was a movie, and was geared towards rehabilitating the franchise after Star Trek V: The Final Frontier movie failed. Titled Star Trek: The First Adventure, the original concept for the project would have been the beginning of the Kirk, Spock, and McCoy friendship.
When To Expect The New Series
The set for Starfleet Academy is located on the 45,900 square-foot stage at Pinewood Studio in Toronto. The main building on campus as well as a view of the Golden Gate Bridge is set to be included on the stage. The sound stage is the largest in Canada and will house a two-story academy set with a mess hall and atrium included.
The new Star Trek series will have a ten-episode first season, following the young cadets as they tackle first love, friendships, and of course an existential threat to the Federation. Starfleet Academy will likely be released on Paramount+ either in 2025 or 2026, although no official premiere date has been set yet. The new series is intended as a young adult addition to the Star Trek franchise.
