At the recent Indiana Comic Convention, Jonathan Frakes shared all-new details about Star Trek: Starfleet Academy. The highly anticipated series is expected to debut on Paramount+ either later this year or early 2026.
During a Star Trek panel hosted by Collider's Steve Weintraub, Frakes, who was joined by fellow The Next Generation aums Brent Spiner and Denise Crosby, teased a bit more about the series, although he quickly found himself in potential spoiler territory.
Boasting about the series cast, Frakes pointed out the massive star power involved with the cast.
"Well, first of all, it's got movie stars in it, which I think is a great idea," he said. "Holly Hunter is in it, Paul Giamatti is in it."
When the crowd responded with excitement, he continued: "Right? That's exactly the response I think CBS is looking for. Holly— they're both fabulous. I didn't have the privilege of directing Paul. [Robert] Picardo's in it, Tig Notaro’s in it. [Audience cheers] Right? I love Tig."
Frakes then went on to discuss the series itself, revealing it to have the "most massive set of any Star Trek ever."
"There's also a spaceship on the show, which I think, I hope that's not a fu--ing secret," he revealed. "I have been known—I’ve had a bad experience with oversharing, and I hope that wasn't an overshare, but it's fabulous. The sets are great. The scripts are— they're funny, which is always helpful on Star Trek."
Created by Gaia Violo and executive produced by Alex Kurtzman, Star Trek: Starfleet Academy follows the adventure sof a new class of Starfleet cadets as they come of age in one of hte most legendary places in the galaxy.
"Star Trek: Starfleet Academy introduces viewers to a young group of cadets who come together to pursue a common dream of hope and optimism," the series description reads. "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."
Despite a focus on young cadets, the series is not necessarily being geared towards a younger audience. "Oh it's much more hardcore Star Trek fans," Frakes said when asked about the target audience. "It's, you know, it happens to be [at] Starfleet Academy, there are young people in it, but the movie stars run the— it's a show about…"
"Movie stars in space," Crosby said, cutting him off to prevent any potential spoilers.
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy features the aforementioned Holly Hunter, who plays the captain and chancellor of Starfleet Academy, alongside Kerrice Brooks, Bella Shepard, George Hawkins, Karim Diané and Zoë Steiner, and Sandro Rosta. Additional cast members include Tig Notaro and Robert Picardo, reprising their roles as Jett Reno and The Doctor. Guest stars Oded Fehr and Mary Wiseman will reprise their roles as Admiral Vance and Sylvia Tilly. Gina Yashere and Paul Giamatti are also recurring guest stars.
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy still does not have a premiere date, although Frakes did confirm that "the whole first season's in the can."