Stephen Colbert Beams Aboard 'Starfleet Academy': Premiere Set for January 2026!

Get ready to boldly go back to school! Paramount+ just dropped a whole galaxy of fresh intel on its next big Star Trek series, Starfleet Academy, including a thrilling new trailer, exciting cast details, and a truly surprising voice addition to the faculty.

TL;DR: The Need-to-Know

• Star Trek: Starfleet Academy officially premieres on Paramount+ on January 15, 2026, with its first two episodes.
• Comedy icon and massive Trekkie Stephen Colbert will voice the Digital Dean of Students, providing campus announcements.
• The series promises a YA-friendly spin with a diverse cast of young cadets, led by Hollywood veteran Holly Hunter as Chancellor Ake, and featuring Paul Giamatti as the season's villain.

New York Comic Con Unveils a Universe of Details for Starfleet Academy

The Star Trek Universe panel at New York Comic Con this October 2025 was packed with exciting reveals, but perhaps none as eagerly anticipated as the deep dive into Star Trek: Starfleet Academy. Fans got their first real look at the series, which is set to usher in a new generation of Starfleet heroes. From who’s leading the cadets to a special guest voice, it’s clear that Paramount+ is going all out to make this a memorable entry in the beloved franchise.

The new trailer, a highlight of the panel, showed off not just the hopeful, inspiring side of the Academy, but also hinted at serious drama and adventure. We’re talking blossoming friendships, intense rivalries, first loves, and, of course, a formidable new enemy that threatens not only the Academy itself but the entire Federation!

Your New Digital Dean of Students: Stephen Colbert!

In perhaps the most delightful surprise of the New York Comic Con panel, none other than late-night king and self-proclaimed Star Trek mega-fan Stephen Colbert made a virtual appearance to announce his involvement in Starfleet Academy. While he joked about not having enough "bunting for his Mugato cosplay" to attend in person, his excitement was palpable.

Colbert is lending his "beautiful voice" to the role of the Digital Dean of Students. Imagine that! Instead of a flesh-and-blood dean, the cadets of Starfleet Academy will be getting their daily announcements and urgent alerts from a virtual authority figure, voiced by one of the biggest names in comedy. It's a perfect meta-casting choice, blending Colbert’s well-known passion for Star Trek with his signature wit.

"Folks, I’m sorry I couldn’t be with you in person today, but I’m a perfectionist, and I just didn’t have enough bunting for my Mugato cosplay. However, nothing could stop me from sharing this exciting news; I’m honored to announce that my beautiful voice will be joining ‘Star Trek: Starfleet Academy’ as the Digital Dean of Students. I’m thrilled to join this universe that I’ve loved for so long, and unlike my on-camera castmates, I’m thrilled to join it without having to spend four hours in hair and makeup every day. I’ll see you when Starfleet Academy premieres. Until then, enjoy the Con. Live long… and do your thing."

— Stephen Colbert, via virtual message at NYCC

This new gig comes as Colbert’s long-running talk show, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, is slated to end next May. It’s great to see him already lining up exciting new projects, including a role on Season 3 of CBS’s Elsbeth. Clearly, retirement isn't in his vocabulary!

Meet the Bold New Cadets and Their Stellar Mentors

Starfleet Academy is focusing on the first class of 32nd Century cadets to enroll in the Academy after the devastating "Burn" from Star Trek: Discovery season 3. This means we're getting a fresh start with a diverse group of young individuals, all striving to become Starfleet officers in a hopeful, rebuilt Federation.

Leading the Academy: Chancellor Nahla Ake

Oscar-winner Holly Hunter takes on a pivotal role as Chancellor Nahla Ake, who also captains the U.S.S. Athena (which is the Academy itself!). She’s a long-lived half-Lanthanite with a deep personal connection to the series' main antagonist. The trailer reveals that Ake has been searching for a young man named Caleb Mir for fifteen years, after his mother was kidnapped by the villainous Nus Braka. This gives Hunter’s character a compelling emotional drive and a direct stake in the unfolding mystery.

The Cadets of Starfleet Academy: A Diverse New Generation

• Sandro Rosta as Caleb Mir: An orphan with a troubled past, Caleb is an unlikely Starfleet cadet. He was separated from his mother (played by Tatiana Maslany of Orphan Black fame) by the villain Nus Braka fifteen years prior, and Chancellor Ake personally recruits him, promising to help him find his mother. This personal quest will likely be a central storyline.
• Karim Diané as Jay-Den Kraag: A Klingon cadet who dreams of becoming a medical officer, challenging traditional Klingon paths.
• Kerrice Brooks as Series Acclimation Mil, a.k.a. Sam: The first hologram student to ever attend Starfleet Academy, offering a unique perspective on life and learning. She quickly bonds with a familiar holographic face!
• George Hawkins as Darem Reymi: An aspiring captain from a wealthy home world, who carries a chip on his shoulder due to his privileged background.
• Bella Shepard as Genesis Lythe: The daughter of an admiral, determined to carve out her own legacy in Starfleet rather than live in her parent's shadow.
• Zoë Steiner as Tarima Sadal: A Betazoid and the daughter of the President of Betazed, suggesting diplomatic connections and unique empathic abilities.

A Familiar Villain and Returning Star Trek Alums

Every good academy needs a formidable challenge, and Starfleet Academy delivers with Paul Giamatti (yes, that Paul Giamatti!) recurring as Nus Braka. This part Klingon, part Tellarite hybrid is the season's villain and is directly tied to Caleb Mir’s tragic past. His ominous introduction in the trailer, ripping a child away from his mother, promises a truly dark and personal threat for our young heroes.

Beyond the new faces, several beloved characters from other modern Star Trek series are returning to guide the new cadets:

• Robert Picardo as The Doctor: Reprising his iconic role as the Emergency Medical Hologram from Star Trek: Voyager. It's fantastic to see the EMH still active and presumably thriving centuries later!
• Tig Notaro as Jett Reno: The quick-witted and sardonic engineer from Star Trek: Discovery brings her unique charm.
• Mary Wiseman as Sylvia Tilly: Also from Star Trek: Discovery, Tilly's journey from ensign to respected officer and her enthusiastic, empathetic nature make her a perfect instructor.
• Oded Fehr as Admiral Vance: Another familiar face from Discovery, bringing a sense of continuity and authority.
• Gina Yashere as Commander Lura Thok: A Klingon/Jem’Hadar hybrid who serves as Chancellor Ake’s First Officer and Cadet Master, promising a no-nonsense approach to training.

The inclusion of Jett Reno and Sylvia Tilly is particularly interesting. Both characters time-traveled from the 23rd century to the 32nd century in Discovery, firmly placing Starfleet Academy within the future timeline established by that series. This also subtly links it to Strange New Worlds, as Tilly and Reno served with Captain Pike on the USS Discovery during its second season, almost a millennium before the events of Starfleet Academy!

What to Expect from the Starfleet Academy Experience

The series is pitched as a "distinctly YA spin" on the Star Trek universe, which means while it will have all the sci-fi adventure we love, it will also heavily explore the personal journeys of these young cadets. They’re coming together with a shared dream of hope and optimism, discovering what it truly means to become a Starfleet officer under the demanding eyes of their instructors. We’ll see them navigate blossoming friendships, explosive rivalries, and even first loves – all while facing down external threats.

The new trailer provides glimpses of the full "school experience": touring the campus aboard the U.S.S. Athena, undergoing rigorous training exercises, attending classes with both new and familiar teachers, and experiencing those formative moments of young adulthood (including making out on campus!). It’s clear the show aims to capture the excitement and challenges of growing up while striving for a brighter future.

And here’s some fantastic news for those who get hooked: Star Trek: Starfleet Academy has already been renewed for a second season! The announcement came during New York Comic Con, even before the first season has premiered. This early renewal is a huge vote of confidence from Paramount+ and means fans can look forward to even more adventures with this new class of cadets.

Mark Your Stardates: Premiere Details and How to Enroll

Get your PADDs ready! Star Trek: Starfleet Academy will debut its first two episodes on Thursday, January 15, 2026, exclusively on Paramount+ in the U.S. Following the premiere, new episodes will drop weekly every Thursday, building up to a grand season finale on March 12, 2026. The first season will consist of 10 episodes.

If you’re already eager to immerse yourself in Academy life, Paramount has also launched an official interactive website: StarfleetAcademy.com. Here, fans can explore campus life, learn about the academics and faculty, and even "enroll" to receive exclusive updates and behind-the-scenes content as the series launch approaches. It's a great way to start feeling like part of the Starfleet family long before classes officially begin!

Frequently Asked Questions About Star Trek: Starfleet Academy

When does Star Trek: Starfleet Academy officially premiere?

The new series will premiere with its first two episodes on Thursday, January 15, 2026.

Where can I watch Star Trek: Starfleet Academy?

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy will be available to stream exclusively on Paramount+.

Who is Stephen Colbert playing in Starfleet Academy?

Stephen Colbert will provide the voice for the Digital Dean of Students, an AI character responsible for delivering daily announcements and urgent alerts to the cadets.

What is the main plot of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy?

The series follows a young group of 32nd Century cadets at Starfleet Academy as they pursue a dream of becoming Starfleet officers. They'll navigate friendships, rivalries, first loves, and face a new enemy that threatens both the Academy and the Federation, with Chancellor Nahla Ake (Holly Hunter) and cadet Caleb Mir (Sandro Rosta) having personal stakes in the central conflict.

Sources

• Brian Linder, PennLive.com (Date not specified in provided snippet, but content aligns with Oct 2025 news context)
• Deadline (Date not specified in provided snippet, but content aligns with Oct 2025 news context)
• Joe Otterson, Variety - TV News, "‘Star Trek: Starfleet Academy’ Sets Release Date as Stephen Colbert Joins Series, ‘Strange New Worlds’ Season 4 Drops First-Look Clip," October 11, 2025
• Meredith Jacobs, TV Insider, "‘Star Trek: Starfleet Academy’ Will Return for Season 2," October 10, 2025
• James Whitbrook, io9, "The New ‘Starfleet Academy’ Trailer Has a Lot More Than Lessons to Be Learned," Published October 11, 2025
• Nerdtropolis, "Stephen Colbert joins Star Trek: Starfleet Academy as Digital Dean," (Date not specified in provided snippet, but content aligns with Oct 2025 news context)
• Ryan Britt, Inverse, "Star Trek's Next Big Show Just Confirmed Its Release Date And A New Backstory," (Date not specified in provided snippet, but content aligns with Oct 2025 news context)