After the end of Star Trek: Discovery, which pushed Star Trek into the unknown again, the franchise desperately needs its latest upcoming TV show, Star Trek: Starfleet Academy. Since 2009, when JJ Abrams’ reboot Star Trek franchise reintroduced a new and younger audience to the final frontier, Star Trek has been focused on the past. With prequel films showing an alternative timeline of beloved characters, Star Trek: Discovery took a bold leap forward – literally. Jumping to the 32nd century allowed the show to take on fresh, new mysteries that no Star Trek TV show has ever encountered.
With Star Trek: Discovery taking its final bow in May 2024, Star Trek’s current timeline consists mostly of nostalgia-based narratives. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is arguably Star Trek’s most popular series at the moment, and it does include some exciting new storylines, but it nevertheless acts as a prequel to Star Trek: The Original Series. Even Star Trek: Prodigy, whose second season has been a huge fan success, features nostalgic legacy characters from Star Trek: Voyager. The franchise needs to once again journey into the unknown and focus on the future with Star Trek: Starfleet Academy.
Starfleet Academy Is The Only New Star Trek Project Not Based In The Franchise’s History
Focusing on the future is what Star Trek has always been about
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy promises to focus on a fresh new take on a franchise classic. Starfleet Academy has been featured in many projects over the years, such as Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Picard. It’s a well-known concept, but it hasn’t been overdone, and it brings with it endless potential. The Star Trek: Starfleet Academy cast boasts some big names, such as Academy Award winner Holly Hunter as the lead. Star Trek: Discovery’s Mary Wiseman, Oded Fehr, and Tig Notaro are also returning to space and reprising their previous Star Trek roles.
Despite how Star Trek: Starfleet Academy adds legacy actors to its ranks, the new show can still focus on its 32nd-century setting instead of relying on the nostalgia often provided by old characters being recast and rewritten for newer audiences. With the promise to be set both on Earth and in space, there are plenty of opportunities to steer the show away from revisiting old narratives. While Star Trek: Strange New Worlds thrives on bringing back narratives and characters from older Star Trek projects, the franchise needs to have an effective counterbalance to the past.
Star Trek Needs Fresh, Future-Looking Projects In Order To Stay Relevant
After Star Trek: Discovery’s finale, Star Trek needs to look ahead
With such a young cast – presumably playing students – along with some returning favorites, Star Trek: Starfleet Academy has everything it needs to look to the future while still tethering itself to established canon. Additionally, since Star Trek: Lower Decks has done its part in introducing a wide range of non-human species to Starfleet, Star Trek: Starfleet Academy can showcase a more diverse live-action group of students and narratives that speak to Starfleet’s inclusive purpose to boldly go where no one has gone before. By focusing on the future, Star Trek: Starfleet Academy can highlight the very best of Star Trek.
The 32nd century is the perfect playground for Star Trek to move the franchise into the future. By covering new ground, Star Trek: Starfleet Academy has the chance to be as groundbreaking as Star Trek: Discovery was during its acclaimed 5-season run. Without being tied down by established canon, Star Trek: Starfleet Academy can push through barriers that currently restrict every other upcoming Star Trek movie and TV show. Without these restrictions, Star Trek: Starfleet Academy could prove to be the perfect replacement for Star Trek: Discovery and take the franchise where no one has gone before.