- - “Star Trek: Starfleet Academy”: Get schooled on the teen-focused spinoff (and Paul Giamatti's Klingon hybrid)

Allison DeGrusheJanuary 9, 2026 at 9:00 PM

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Brooke Palmer/Paramount+

Romeo Carere, Anthony Natale, and Oded Fehr on 'Star Trek: Starfleet Academy'Key Points -

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy centers on a new group of adventurous cadets.

Emmy winners Holly Hunter and Paul Giamatti bring their star power to the cast.

The first two episodes premiere on Paramount+ on Thursday, Jan. 15.

The Star Trek universe continues to expand at warp speed.

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, the latest Star Trek series from CBS and executive producer Alex Kurtzman, follows a new generation of cadets training to become Starfleet officers. Set in the distant future, the series explores life at the legendary academy, where the first class in over 100 years is preparing for deep-space duty.

The cast is packed with talent, with an intriguing blend of Hollywood heavyweights and promising newcomers. So, whether you're a seasoned Trekkie or just hopping aboard the starship for the first time, there's plenty to look forward to.

Here's everything we know so far about Starfleet Academy.

What is Starfleet Academy about?

Brooke Palmer/Paramount+

Gina Yashere on 'Star Trek: Starfleet Academy'

Set in the 32nd century, the series centers on a historic moment for the galaxy: the first Starfleet Academy class in 120 years.

"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 official synopsis teases.

Kurtzman, a co-showrunner on Starfleet Academy with Noga Landau, previously told Entertainment Weekly that the rookie cadets have "a lot riding on their shoulders, and they are meant to reestablish and rebuild everything that we all know and love about Star Trek."

He continued, "They convey hope and they search for hope, and that felt like an extremely relevant message to talk about now."

Landau described Starfleet Academy as a mix of "wish fulfillment" and classic "coming of age" stories with a Star Trek twist. "One week that can be a prank, war erupts another week, a romance begins another week, we encounter an alien species for the first time and we don't know what the hell we're doing [another week]," she added.

"But at the end of every episode, what we want our audience to feel is, 'I want to go to Starfleet Academy,'" she continued. "Even in the deepest, darkest depths of character problems and drama, you get such a good feeling from watching this show [of] how much you want to be there so badly."

Is there a Starfleet Academy trailer?

The official trailer for Starfleet Academy debuted at New York Comic Con on Oct. 11, 2025, offering fans a closer look at the new drama.

The clip highlights some of the young cadets, including Caleb Mir (Sandro Rosta), an orphan who attends the academy hoping it might help him find his mother.

"Being a cadet in Starfleet Academy means being open to the people around you," says Tig Notaro's Jett Reno as the trailer introduces fellow cadet Sam (Kerrice Brooks), who admits she often feels "invisible, but mostly awkward."

Viewers are also treated to glimpses of rigorous training, budding romances among cadets, and appearances from Holly Hunter and Paul Giamatti, both of whom are always welcome.

Who's in the Starfleet Academy cast?

Brooke Palmer/Paramount+

Holly Hunter on 'Star Trek: Starfleet Academy'

Leading the charge on Starfleet Academy is Hunter, who plays Nahla Ake, the academy's chancellor.

"You're sort of talking about 'the cool mom,'" Kurtzman told EW of the character. "It's a very specific voice that you need. She has to have the authority of the captain, but also she needs to be the head of a school and be nurturing in that way, but also be tough. She really is in her own category as a captain."

The cast also features a fresh lineup of young Starfleet hopefuls, with Karim Diané, Kerrice Brooks, George Hawkins, Zoë Steiner, and Bella Shepard taking on the roles of cadets. Joining them is Rosta, whose character acts as the audience's guide into the world of Starfleet Academy.

"Once the cadet enters into the school and meets all the other cadets, the balance of the storytelling begins to shift slightly," Kurtzman told EW. "By the end of the season, you really feel like you have this incredible understanding of everybody and how they function as a group."

Emmy winner Tatiana Maslany (Orphan Black, She-Hulk: Attorney at Law) and comedian Gina Yashere (Bob Hearts Abishola) are set to appear in recurring guest roles, while Tig Notaro, Oded Fehr, and Mary Wiseman will reprise their Star Trek: Discovery roles as Jett Reno, Admiral Vance, and Sylvia Tilly, respectively.

Landau also confirmed a special treat for longtime fans: Robert Picardo will return as the Doctor, continuing his journey from Star Trek: Voyager (1995–2001) and Star Trek: Prodigy (2024). Landau says Starfleet will "continue his story forward in a way that fans of Voyager are going to find really satisfying."

Miller Mobley/Paramount+

Paul Giamatti as the villain on 'Star Trek: Starfleet Academy'

Giamatti, a two-time Oscar nominee and Star Trek superfan, appears as Nus Braka, the series' big bad. The actor "had such a great time putting on the makeup," according to Kurtzman. "He loved sitting in the chair. We were worried it was going to take too much time, but he said, 'No, I love it. It really lets me drop into the character.'"

Without giving away spoilers, Kurtzman described Giamatti's character like "a tide that has swept across the world in a very profound and upsetting way."

And yes, Klingons will appear in the series, including a "Klingon hybrid species who are several of our main characters."

When does Starfleet Academy come out?

The first two episodes of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy premiere Thursday, Jan. 15 on Paramount+. New episodes release weekly on Thursdays.

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