Star Trek: Starfleet Academy Wraps Production

The second season of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy completed production today for what is looking to be its final season. Its first season is currently airing on Paramount+ with season 1 finale coming in a few weeks. It should be noted that Paul Giamatti did not return for season 2 but is open to returning if there is a season 3. As of now, there are no new plans for future shows or seasons of any show for Star Trek. Plenty of rumors but nothing concrete. With Paramount executives focused on acquiring Warner Bros., long term planning is pretty much impossible right now as planning requires a budget and budgets are in limbo right now. No acquistion and suddenly have to plan for the future and will have the money to do that. Acquire WB and money is extremely tight as the merged company will have a debt load nearly equal to its value. Star Trek could be put back in storage as ratings have been declining and the online trolls keep getting louder. The focus will shift to HBO streaming as its a greater profit center compared to Paramount+. Its a mess and a mess that may not be sorted out for weeks if not months as latest news is a $31 per share offer is seriously being considered for a company that hovered around $19 a share for years. Its the definition of overpayment. Congrats to the cast and crew of Starfleet Academy. It was nice meeting you this season and personally I am looking forward to season 2.

Star Trek: Khan Podcast on YouTube

For whatever reason, I thought the Star Trek: Khan podcast was behind a paywall but it turns out its available on YouTube. This is essentially an audio book based on a story by Nicolas Meyer (Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan) and written by long time Trek book writers Kirsten Beyer and David Mac. 

The core voice cast is Naveen Andrews (Lost) as Khan, Wrenn Schmidt (For All Mankind) as Marla McGivers, Sonya Cassidy (Reacher)  as Dr. Rosalind Lear, Tim Russ (Voyager) as Ensign Tuvok, and George Takei (Star Trek) as Captain Sulu.

The series is set between classic Star Trek episode Space Seed (1967)just after James T. Kirk left Khan Noonien Singh and his people on Ceti Alpha V to the beginning of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. It explores the events that occurred to turn Khan into such a wrathful person over the course of nine episodes.

Below is the playlist of the Khan but its in reverse order so might be easier if just click here with episode 9 here.

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy Streaming Now, First Episode On YouTube

The first two episodes of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy are now available on Paramount+. If don't have the streaming service but want to give the series a look, the entire first episode is now available on YouTube to watch for free. Below are also two clips, one for Holly Hunter and another for Robert Picardo, to check out via TrekMovie.

New Starfleet Academy Legacy Spot

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy will begin its season 1 run in just a little over a week on January 15. As part of that, here is a new tv spot called "Carry the Legacy and Create the Future" that uses voice over of excellent quotes from previous captains and characters from the franchise through the years.

Strange New Worlds Casts McCoy and Sulu

Production for Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is complete but seems the final season may have some fun with the transition to TOS crew in the final episode. Veteran actor Thomas Jane (The Expanse) has been cast as Bones while rookie actor Kai Murakami will play Sulu. 

The extent of the roles were not specified but the series showrunner have said they had planned to end the series by handing the bridge off to Kirk so makes sense to include other members of the bridge crew. As for Chekov, he didn't join the series until season 2. They might figure out a way to include him or just not since continuity wise no reason to. No reason date yet for season 4 or 5 of the series.