Let’s start with the biggest warp jump: Starfleet Academy. Set in the 32nd century - yeah, that far in the future - the show introduces a young, fresh cast and a blank-slate timeline post-Discovery. But don’t panic, they also brought in not one, but TWO Oscar winners. Holly Hunter as the Academy’s Chancellor? Inject that into my warp core. Paul Giamatti as a Klingon hybrid villain? Yes. Please. Especially when he’s casually whistling the Star Trek theme. This man understands the assignment.
But wait. It gets better. The Doctor - yes, Voyager’s Robert Picardo - is back. Not “a” hologram. The hologram. The same one. Still kicking 800 years later. And if that wasn’t enough fan service for you, Jett Reno (Tig Notaro) is returning, and there’s a freaking Jem’Hadar in Starfleet. Oh, and some mysterious references to Captain Sisko’s fate. Are we finally going there? Don’t tease us unless you mean it.
Also announced: Star Trek: Khan - a canon podcast! And not just any podcast, an audio drama starring Naveen Andrews as the genetically perfect supervillain himself, alongside George Takei and Tim Russ. YES, Sulu and Tuvok are BACK. My earbuds are so ready.
And just when you thought things couldn’t get weirder - Strange New Worlds is doing a full episode… with puppets. Real ones. From the Jim Henson Company. We’ve gone from space operas to space Muppets, and honestly, I’ve never been prouder to be a Trekkie.
This is what I love about Star Trek. It’s serious and silly. Nostalgic and experimental. Canon-obsessed and deeply unhinged. It’s everything, all at once. And I am so ready to boldly go.
