Star Trek: Starfleet Academy Series, From Alex Kurtzman and Nancy Drew Creator, Ordered at Paramount+
Paramount+’s ever-expanding Star Trek universe is headed to Starfleet Academy.
The streaming service announced Thursday that it has handed a series order to Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, its fifth live-action Star Trek series (and seventh Trek series overall). Franchise boss Alex Kurtzman and Noga Landau (The CW’s Nancy Drew) will serve as co-showrunners and executive producers.
“Admission is now open to Starfleet Academy!” Kurtzman and Landau said in a statement. “Explore the galaxy! Captain your destiny! For the first time in over a century, our campus will be re-opened to admit individuals a minimum of 16 Earth years (or species equivalent) who dream of exceeding their physical, mental and spiritual limits, who value friendship, camaraderie, honor and devotion to a cause greater than themselves.
“The coursework will be rigorous, the instructors among the brightest lights in their respective fields, and those accepted will live and study side-by-side with the most diverse population of students ever admitted,” the statement continues. “Today we encourage all who share our dreams, goals and values to join a new generation of visionary cadets as they take their first steps toward creating a bright future for us all. Apply today! Ex Astris, Scientia!”
The pair will executive-produce alongside Gaia Violo (who is writing the series premiere), Aaron Baiers, Jenny Lumet, Rod Roddenberry, Trevor Roth, Frank Siracusa and John Weber. Production will begin in 2024.
Paramount+ is currently home to Star Trek: Discovery (ending with Season 5), Star Trek: Short Treks (an anthology series initially conceived to bridge the gap between seasons of Discovery), Star Trek: Picard (ending with its current Season 3), Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (renewed for Seasons 2 and 3), Star Trek: Lower Decks (renewed for Seasons 4 and 5) and Star Trek: Prodigy (renewed for Season 2).
As of January, an eighth series — the long-gestating Discovery spinoff about Section 31 starring newly minted Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh — was still in active development at Paramount+.
Let’s hear it, Trekkies: Are you excited about a Starfleet Academy series? Sound off in Comments.
Wonderful. Another teen show with teenagers running around saving Star Fleet and the Federation while the veterans take a back seat and are befuddled by the bravery and boldness what children are doing instead of them.
Bring back Picard.
You nailed it!! I can’t see this being any to good, and I am a long time fan of Trek.
Amazing! You’ve discovered the secret to working clairvoyance and/or time travel?
Despite not having seen the show, or even a plot outline or cast list, you’ve condemned it AND decided what the tone of it will be.
How about actually waiting for the show to come out and THEN decide if you like it.
I’ll give it a shot (someday) but the skepticism is strong with this one.
What do you mean “another?”
Which other Trek show has been about this?
Has the franchise ever really delved into what life is like at Starfleet Academy? Doesn’t it feel like a massive gap in the lore?
I think they might be referring to Prodigy? Which really isn’t about that, but does star teenagers, I guess.
(Also, if you haven’t been watching Prodigy – do it. It’s probably the best New Trek I’ve seen. Really strong first season.)
Yeah, Prodigy feels like the exact OPPOSITE of what they are describing – it has young characters, sure, but they are inherently less heroic and capable than Starfleet officers in basically every way, and the show is about them learning how to be better. It’s a love letter to the lofty ideals that define Trek.
It seems logical to posit that the cadets are taught by, and or mentored by, older members of the fleet.
So are we going to see classes of cadets learning the practical applications of fourth dimensional physics in the meta physical universe for an entire episode or will the cadets take it upon themselves to do something dangerous and against Star Fleet regulations?
I hope both.
Is your remote broken? It’s OK to skip a series that doesn’t appeal.
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Personally, I think the fact that the franchise has managed to create a spectrum of series that can appeal to various audience segments (young, old, progressive, conservative, drama, comedy, etc.) has been really, really impressive.
This does not interest me at all. Sorry, Paramount +, but this show is not worth a subscription.
Why have one Wesley Crusher when you can have a whole cast of Wesley Crushers?
I don’t know what is wrong with Paramount. Nothing that Kurtzman has created has drawn an audience or buzz. He is oversaturating and abusing a franchise that should be treated with respect.
Meanwhile Terry Matalas has managed to create something that fans actually like, and which respects the legacy of Star Trek, in only a handful of episodes… and Paramount turns back to Kurtzman instead.
Hopefully this goes as far as the stupid Section 31 series. Keep it in development hell for a while, while Legacy is being developed, so Kurtzman can hold his head up. Then let it fade away without ever filming.
Honestly… this is a series that fans have been vocally opposed to for decades. What are they thinking?
it set in the 32 century when being in starfleet not the big deal it is in the past.
so these cadets may not be wesleys, maybe more cynical about the whole thing
Your comment makes no sense. If it was true that none of the trek series so far has drawn an audience or buzz, do you think they’d keep ordering more and more of them to series? For Paramount/CBS:AA to have continued doing so means its much successful for them and they have a very good audience for it. Don’t let your dislike for something colour your objectivity about the actual state of things.
Tell this to The CW.
Star Trek used to be an event franchise. A new movie or series was a huge deal. Fans started conventions before companies did. Countless websites and discussion boards. Huge merchandise sales. If you think that nuTrek is a success by any measure, you aren’t paying attention. I like season 3 of Picard, but I am not under the illusion that it has salvaged any of the wreck that Star Trek has become. This franchise is now merely a lesson in how to run a beloved, successful franchise into the ground.
You’re not going to like what I’m about to say. They didn’t turn back to him. Kurtzman got control over all Starfleet TV years ago when he signed a 5 year deal with ViacomCBS. Last year they extended that deal through 2026 and gave him a cool $160 million for the privilege. So he will be the grand overseer of most of the Star Trek shows created and ongoing for at least a few more years. Whether they decide to go another direction is anyone’s guess but unless something catastrophic happens, like their subscriber count suddenly drops to zero, they’ll probably stick with the devil they know. So it’s all Kurtzman all the time forever. He’s the new Rick Berman just running this thing into the ground.
Fair enough. If they’re smart, they will let Kurtzman “develop” this show until his contract expires, and hire Terry Metalas to create a new series that doesn’t use any Secret Hideout properties at the same time. I like some of the new Picard crew, but I’m not sure that they will he able to move forward. Just start with a new ship and a new crew after Kurtzman is out, and while not a reboot, it is also not beholden to Kurtzman. The fact that he holds so much power over a franchise that he didn’t start is embarrassing.
Sounds like it would be a great video game rather than a TV show. But I will wait to see the show before I condemn it.
Such negative comments before a show is even made. They’ve been talking about making a series like this forever. I’d give it a try.
Star Trek has been very hit or miss lately, mainly miss. And the Academy idea has always been met with skepticism, because it lends itself to being a CW teen angst show.
How about calming the nerdrage until it airs? I don’t see the issue anyway with it being a teen angst show as long as it’s done well.
The basic premise doesn’t interest me. However, if they bring back some veterans as instructors I’d probably give it a shot. Let’s see Miles teaching engineering, Janeway as the Admiral in charge, etc.
They need to have Colm Meaney return as O’Brien as the lead professor.
**For the first time in over a century***, our campus will be re-opened to admit individuals a minimum of 16 Earth years (or species equivalent) who dream of exceeding their physical, mental and spiritual limits, who value friendship, camaraderie, honor and devotion to a cause greater than themselves.
.
This show is in the 32nd century, after “The Burn”
This is definitely not what the fans are asking for. Where’s our Seven of Nine show to replace Picard?
“For the first time in over a hundred years.” So this will be set in the Discovery era? Oh no. No no no. I guess they want to reuse those sets / props / costumes, maybe. But fans REALLY don’t want that.
Fans don’t want people airing out their own comments and then claiming they are speaking “for the fans”. Trekkers have a poor reputation already, no need for you to add to it.
… Am I the only one reading this as a reality show?
Like a competition program where they get regular people/star trek fans to Is run star trek inspired tests and then get eliminated each week (Picard’s cadet run? The Psych test? Diplomatic relations timed event?)
… Eventually leading to a Kobyashi Maru finale?
I don’t know, the breakdown just reads that way to me.
Why make it live action if they’re asking for “above the age of 16.” ? Just me?
It’s a recruitment poster, that’s all.
I wanted to love Nancy Drew and barely got through 2 episodes of Tom Swift….I cant even imagine how bad this will be.
Nancy Drew was a bit average for the first part of season one, but then it became an amazing show. I’ll definitely give this a chance.
When?????
It says it won’t begin production until 2024, and Trek series have a lot of post-production too, so either late 2024 or first half of 2025 is my guess. It’ll be a while either way.
TYSVM
I’ll be dead .
Star Trek academy sounds interesting. Maybe will Wheaton would consider being one of the teachers and Chris pike a commander. And for good elder William shatner
So this is the show that Tilly was spun-off for? I was surprised when she basically quit Discovery to become a teacher when she’d never shown any interest in that before.
But if I remember correctly, Kirk and Spock were both supposed to have taught at the academy at various times.
I’d love to see it in the 25th century, but I’m not sure about the Disco era timeline.
Is it in the far far far Future like Discovery or in say Picard time? I’ll watch it.. I love every show..some more than others..just think I’d like to see 400 years in the future. Rebuilding star fleet..
Sounds interesting. I’ll give it a watch when it comes out to see if I like it. I was not a fan of Nancy Drew, though, so having that creator involved is not a plus for me.
I hope Cronenberg is attatched to the project. I love the idea of him basically becoming Space Dumbledore.
So is this set in Discovery’s time and featuring Mary Wiseman in the cast? In other words, was that episode of Discovery that felt like a backdoor spin-off exactly the backdoor spin-off it felt like?
That’s what I was thinking. Plus, the description says it’s the first time in a century they’ve enrolled a new class, so you’re probably right. And because they’re idiot students (I say, affectionately!) playing around with 31st century technology, there’s lots of room for fun sci-fi hijinks. Sounds pretty exciting to me!
I hope they use characters from the past shows as instructors. It would be interesting to see someone like Tom Paris, Chief O’Brien or Julian Bashir as academy teachers.
Everyone hated Strange New Worlds, then it came out and they loved it. Everyone hated Prodigy, then it came out and they loved it. I really enjoyed the backdoor pilot on Discovery and am looking forward to seeing more.
Who hated SNW before it came out? The three leads (Pike, Spock, Number One) were the bright spot in Disco S2, which is how they got a spinoff.
False. Most people said that Pike was a highlight of Discovery and there was a campaign to get him his own show. Once it was released, the reception was surprisingly “meh”… meaning, people don’t hate it as much as Discovery or the first two seasons of Picard, but they also don’t love it. Most people I’ve seen say that there are some not-horrible episodes, surrounded by some bad episodes.
As Kurtzmanverse Trek goes, that is not a bad reception. However, as Star Trek goes, it is pretty weak. Compare that to the amount of chatter surrounding season 3 of Picard, and it looks like a total failure.
Thats pretty inaccurate STSNW is considered the best new show by the fandom , it isn’t perfect but actually feels like a classic star trek series.
Some people will complain about everything but don’t reflect everybody , all the comments Ive seen even online love STSNW way more than those other shows.
SNW has definitely not gotten the extremely negative reaction that Discovery and the first two seasons of Picard (rightfully) got, so it’s been the best received until recently. The third season of Picard has won over a lot of people who hated all of the recent Trek shows, and that larger fanbase has meant a lot more positive buzz, and general enthusiasm in the fandom.
I count myself amongst those that S3 of Picard has won over. I’ve loved Trek all my life, but even SNW holds no appeal to me. I’m not a fan of prequels in general, and the whole vibe of the Kurtzman shows rubs me the wrong way. I was very surprised to find myself enjoying this season of Picard.
Completely false.
I’d rather have shows spin out of Picard. Like the Star Trek Legacy that’s been dreamed up by fans but my version would have Seven as Captain with both LaForge sisters, Worfs son and maybe Noq’s daughter fresh out of the academy as a nod to DS9 giving the show a connection to all three TNG series.
I would also love to see a Worf/Raffie series i love the chemistry and banter between the two.
I think they deserve the benefit of the doubt considering they’ve given us decent material the last few years. It might be interesting to see a new Red Squad group and what they get up to. I just don’t want them all to be geniuses ala Wesley Crusher. They need to struggle with grades at times and get help from their peers. They’re all about adding conflict along the crews to create drama now, but they can also add drama by making flawed characters that need support. But please, no dangerous flying maneuvers and then lying about it.
Disco is bad, Picard S1-2 bad, SNW good, Picard S3 good. Very mixed track record there, doesn’t inspire confidence. The whole 32nd C stuff is ridiculous, would rather it just be ignored.
AKA Star Trek: 90210
Watching Alex Kurtzman do to Star Treck what he did to The Mummy movie is honestly very sad. The Star Trek of my youth was hopeful, bright, and optimistic about the future. First JJ and now Curseman have turned it into a dark and ugly universe with a few token bits of nostalgia thrown in for OG Roddenberry Trek fans. This new Star Dreck series will be like all the rest of the shows on Paramount+, terrible and not Star Trek at all. Hard pass.
I just can’t take anyone seriously who needs to use “Star Dreck” to express his opinion.
This is just like Tiny Toon Adventures, where the veteran characters will instruct the youngsters. So Geordi can teach engineering, Kira can teach religious studies, Janeway can teach how to get promoted to Admiral after getting lost for seven years, etc.
They’ve been talking about a Star fleet academy show dating all the way to the DS9/Voyager days, that’s 30 year’s ago.
Yeah, I’m surprised to see all the hate for the idea. People have been wanting this for a long time.
Maybe it’s because in the past when we wanted it we hadn’t been scarred by the over excessively millennial Discovery.
And even before that. The producer of the Star Trek movies, Harve Bennett, wanted to do a Starfleet Academy movie instead of Star Trek V: The Search for God or whatever that was.
Sounds like a platform to bring back Discovery actors for weekly Cameos. Or Marry Wiessman Aka Tilly will be the lead instructor. I didn’t want an academy show in the miserable 32nd century “Burn” timeline but if it is of the same quality of Discovery let it stay there. Ugh.