Summary
Star Trek: Starfleet Academyis set to introduce fans to the next generation of Starfleet hopefuls and their adventures, but a recent comment by a longtime franchise creator and producer reveals that the show might not beforthe next generation.
TheStar Trekshows on Paramount+ have grown into a fairly dense web of lore and narratives since the franchise made a return to small-screen content, andStarfleet Academyis one of the first projects that seems poised to leverage all that build fully. The show is set to chronicle the adventures of the very first class of Starfleet cadets in over 100 years, following the cataclysmic events detailed inStar Trek: Discovery.In addition to some of the bareessential things concerningStarfleet Academythat came out during the announcement, fans have been getting more details courtesy of the show’s crew. Cast-wise, the show is set to look very different from everything that’s come before, with up-and-coming talent like Kerrice Brooks, Bella Shepard, George Hawkins, and others starring in main roles.
LongtimeStar Trekdirector Jonathan Frakes gave fans aStarfleet Academyupdateat the recent Indiana Comic Convention, and he also took the opportunity to clear the air on the upcoming show’s target demographic. Per theSci-Fi & Fantasy Gazette, Frakes was asked about the show’s target audience during theStar Trekpanel at the event, and he gave an unexpected response. “Oh it’s much more hardcore Star Trek fans,” Frakes responded. “It’s, you know, it happens to be [at] Starfleet Academy, there are young people in it, butthe movie stars run the— it’s a show about…” That’s as far as Frakes got before he was cut off by fellowStar Trek: The Next Generationstar Denise Crosby, who filled in the thought with “Movie stars in space” in a bid to stop Frakes from spoiling too much. Following the incident that saw Frakes accidentally give away a major plot point forStar Trek: Discoveryahead of its premiere, Crosby probably didn’t want to risk it.
Frakes’ comments here are certainly important for fans looking forward to the show. As he notes, the show being aimed at hardcore fans might seem counter-intuitive given its setting and cast, but it also makes sense when taking into account what the show is doing in the wider franchise. Geared towards more knowledgeable fans,Star Trek: Discoveryrecaptured the wild west feel ofStar Trek: The Original Serieswith its time jump, andStarfleet Academyis set to explore that future further. It’s fair to say that there’s going to be some homework to do if you want to get the whole picture put out inStarfleet Academy.
It’s been confirmed thatStarfleet Academyhasalready been renewed for a second season on Paramount+, which shows a massive amount of confidence behind the scenes that whatever target audience is being courted will respond positively to the show, and in large numbers. Fans (both casual and hardcore) will have to wait for the show’s premiere to come to their own conclusions about whether or notStarfleet Academyappeals to their particular level of engagement with the franchise. As for Frakes, he’ll have to really double down during public appearances to make sure he doesn’t give fans too much to go off of ahead of the show’s release.
TheStar TrekFranchise is available to stream on Paramount+, withStar Trek: Starfleet Academyset for a late 2025/early 2026 release window.
