Our favorite late-night host is boldly going where he hasn't gone before, even as 'The Late Show' prepares for its final bow. Get ready for some Starfleet announcements and a meta-mystery!
TL;DR- Stephen Colbert is set to voice the "Digital Dean of Students" in the upcoming Paramount+ series Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, premiering January 15, 2026.
- He's also guest-starring in the third season premiere of CBS's Elsbeth, playing a late-night host who, in a meta twist, dies.
- These new acting gigs keep Colbert busy as The Late Show with Stephen Colbert is scheduled to end in May 2026, marking a significant transition for the beloved comedian.
Beam aboard! Discover everything about Star Trek: Starfleet Academy launching Jan 15, 2026. Get cast details, plot, Stephen Colbert's role, and how to watch on Paramount+.
Saying Goodbye to Late Night, Hello to the Galaxy (and a Murder Mystery!)
It's no secret that The Late Show with Stephen Colbert is wrapping up its impressive run in May 2026, after CBS announced its conclusion back in July. While fans are definitely sad to see the nightly monologues and hilarious interviews go, Stephen Colbert himself isn't wasting any time mourning. Our beloved host is already booked and busy, lining up some seriously cool acting gigs that are sure to keep him in the pop-culture spotlight!
He's diving headfirst into two exciting new projects: a voice role in the highly anticipated Star Trek: Starfleet Academy and a guest spot on the CBS dramedy Elsbeth. It seems the universe is calling, and Colbert is answering with his signature wit and charm.
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Beaming Up: Colbert Joins Star Trek: Starfleet Academy
Get ready, Trekkies! Stephen Colbert, a well-known genre fan, is officially joining the Star Trek universe. He announced his exciting new role in a pre-recorded video message during New York Comic Con 2025, where he revealed he’ll be lending his "beautiful voice" to Star Trek: Starfleet Academy.
He's set to voice the "Digital Dean of Students," an AI-like mentor who'll be delivering daily announcements and alerts to the young cadets. Imagine getting your morning brief from Colbert! The role promises to be a perfect blend of his comedic timing and a dash of authoritative gravitas, without the need for four hours in hair and makeup, as he joked.
"Folks, I’m sorry I couldn’t be in person with you today but I’m a perfectionist and I just didn’t have enough bunting for my Mugato costume," Colbert quipped during his Comic Con announcement. "However nothing could stop me from sharing this exciting news. I am honored to announce that my beautiful voice will be joining 'Star Trek: Starfleet Academy' as the digital dean of students."
— Stephen Colbert, at New York Comic Con 2025
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What to Expect from Star Trek: Starfleet Academy
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is shaping up to be a major pillar for the franchise, especially as other popular shows like Discovery and Picard have concluded, and even Strange New Worlds is confirmed to end after its fifth season. This new series introduces us to a fresh batch of cadets, all pursuing a common dream of hope and optimism within the Federation's prestigious training program.
The show will follow their journeys as they navigate burgeoning friendships, intense rivalries, first loves, and even a mysterious new enemy that threatens both the Academy and the entire Federation. It’s all about discovering what it takes to become Starfleet officers, and we're totally here for it!
Key Details and Star-Studded Cast for the New Star Trek Series
Mark your calendars, because Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is set to premiere with its first two episodes on January 15, 2026. Following the debut, new episodes will drop weekly on Thursdays, culminating in the season finale on March 12, 2026. You’ll be able to stream it exclusively on Paramount+ in a wide range of territories, including the U.S., U.K., Latin America, Australia, and Canada.
The series boasts an impressive cast, mixing new faces with some familiar ones from the Trek universe:
- Holly Hunter as Chancellor Nahla Ake
- Paul Giamatti as the recurring alien villain, Nus Braka
- Robert Picardo reprising his role as The Doctor (from Star Trek: Voyager)
- Tig Notaro reprising her role as Jett Reno (from Star Trek: Discovery)
- Oded Fehr reprising his role as Admiral Vance (from Star Trek: Discovery)
- Mary Wiseman as a guest star, reprising her role as Lt. Tilly (from Star Trek: Discovery)
- Gina Yashere as Commander Lura Thok, a Klingon/Jem’Hadar hybrid and the Chancellor’s First Officer
- Stephen Colbert as the voice of the Digital Dean of Students
The new generation of cadets includes talented actors like:
- Sandro Rosta (Caleb Mir)
- Karim Diané (Klingon cadet Jay-Den Kraag)
- Kerrice Brooks (holographic cadet SAM)
- George Hawkins (Darem Reymi)
- Bella Shepard (Genesis Lythe)
- Zoë Steiner (Tarima Sadal of Betazed)
- Tatiana Maslany also appears as a recurring special guest star, seen in the trailer as Caleb's mother.
- Romeo Carere as Ocam.
The show is helmed by co-showrunners and executive producers Alex Kurtzman and Noga Landau, with the premiere episode written by Gaia Violo and directed by Alex Kurtzman. Fans can also explore more about the Academy's history on the newly activated StarfleetAcademy.com website!
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Back on Earth: Colbert's Meta-Cameo in Elsbeth
But Starfleet isn't his only destination! Colbert is also staying within the Paramount family by guest-starring in the third season premiere of the CBS hit dramedy Elsbeth. In a wonderfully meta twist that feels very on-brand for Colbert, he plays Scotty Bristol, the host of a fictional late-night show called Way Late with Scotty Bristol.
The episode, which is expected to serve as the Elsbeth Season 3 premiere, will reportedly air on Sunday, October 12, 2025, following CBS's NFL coverage, before settling into its regular Thursday slot. And here's the kicker: his character is set to die! One article even mentioned that the show had "some fun with Colbert being 'killed off'," reuniting him with his long-time collaborator Amy Sedaris.
It’s a clever nod to the end of his own late-night era, allowing him to playfully (and dramatically!) be "killed off" on screen just as his actual show is concluding. It's the kind of smart, self-aware humor we've come to expect and love from Stephen Colbert.
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The End of an Era, The Start of Something New
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert has been a staple of late-night television for nearly a decade, earning critical acclaim and even an Emmy Award for Outstanding Talk Series in September 2025. While the cancellation came as a surprise to many, especially following the Paramount Global-Skydance merger (with some unconfirmed rumors about executive influence), Colbert has handled the news with his characteristic grace and humor.
He's expressed a desire to "land this plane beautifully," focusing on savoring every last day of the show. And with these exciting new roles, it's clear that while one chapter is closing, Stephen Colbert isn't going anywhere. Instead, he’s embracing new opportunities to flex his comedic and acting muscles in fresh, unexpected ways. We can't wait to see what he does next, whether it's broadcasting from Starfleet Academy or solving a murder mystery!
"I haven’t had a chance to update my headshot in a bit, but I think it still works. I’m going to savor every day of it. I want to land this plane absolutely beautifully. And I’ve got nothing else on my mind."
— Stephen Colbert, after winning an Emmy for The Late Show FAQ: Your Burning Questions About Colbert's New Ventures