Summary
It was revealed atSan Diego Comic-Con2024 that legacy characters from bothStar Trek: DiscoveryandStar Trek: Voyagerwill be joining the cast ofStar Trek: Starfleet Academy. The YA-focusedDiscoveryspinoff will focus on the adventures of a group of Starfleet Academy cadets in the 32nd century. The young cadets will be played by Kerrice Brooks, Bella Shepard, George Hawkins, Karim Diané and Zoë Steiner. It’s also previously been announced thatPaul Giamatti will play aStar Trekvillainand Holly Hunter will be Starfleet Academy’s Chancellor.
While it’s unsurprising thatStar Trek: Starfleet Academywill feature legacy characters fromStar Trek: Discovery, San Diego Comic-Con marks the first time that their identities have been confirmed. During theStar Trekpanel at San Diego Comic-Con, at whichScreen Rantwas in attendance, it was announced thatDiscoverycharacters Lt. Sylvia Tilly (Mary Wiseman), Commander Jett Reno (Tig Notaro), and Admiral Charles Vance (Oded Fehr) will be joining thecast ofStarfleet Academy. Most surprising, however, was the announcement thatStar Trek: Voyager’s Robert Picardo will also joinStarfleet Academy’s cast.
Robert Picardo On His Return As The Doctor In Star Trek: Prodigy Season 2
Screen Rant interviews Robert Picardo about reprising Star Trek: Voyager’s iconic holographic Doctor in Star Trek: Prodigy season 2 and more.
Star Trek: Voyager’s Robert Picardo Joins Discovery Legacy Characters For Starfleet Academy
How Will The Voyager Legend Fit Into Starfleet Academy?
It’s surprising thatStar Trekhas taken so long to confirm Mary Wiseman’s involvement inStar Trek: Starfleet Academy, given that Tilly left the USS Discovery to teach at the institution.Star Trek: Discoveryseason 5 revealed that the Academy was facing some teething issues and Tilly felt they were “failing” the new recruits. Wiseman’sDiscoveryco-stars Oded Fehr and Tig Notaro will also be great additions toStarfleet Academy, as they played two of the best-loved recurring characters on its parent show. All threeDiscoverycharacters will presumably be dispensing wisdom toStarfleet Academy’s new recruits.
As a Hologram, the Doctor can presumably live forever, as long as the data is backed up, which presumably explains how he’s still around eight centuries afterStar Trek: Voyagerended.
Meanwhile, Robert Picardo’s casting inStar Trek: Starfleet Academyis a surprise that will delight anyone waiting forStar Trek: Prodigyseason 3to be confirmed.The Doctor’s mentoring of the young Starfleet hopefuls inProdigyclearly sets him on an 800-year career in higher education. As a Hologram, the Doctor can presumably live forever, as long as he’s backed up, which presumably explains how he’s still around eight centuries afterStar Trek: Voyagerends.
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy
The Doctor
Alternatively,the backup EMH who awoke in the 31st century inStar Trek: Voyagerseason 4, episode 23, “Living Witness” has found his way back to the Federation by the time ofStar Trek: Starfleet Academy. “Living Witness” was aboutRobert Picardo’s Doctorteaching a far-future society about the adventures of the USS Voyager, so this backup version could be a history professor. Robert Picardo’s involvement inStar Trek: Starfleet Academyhighlights that, despite being set in the far future, it will honorStar Trek’s past while establishing the franchise’s next generation.
Star Trek: Starfleet Academyis expected to start shooting in Fall 2024.
