Wikipedia

Draft:Star Trek: Starfleet Academy (TV series)

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy
Genre
Created byGaia Violo
Based onStar Trek
by Gene Roddenberry
Showrunners
  • Alex Kurtzman
  • Noga Landau
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
Executive producers
Production companies
Original release
NetworkParamount+
Related

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is an upcoming American television series created by Gaia Violo for the streaming service Paramount+. It is intended to be the 12th Star Trek series and part of executive producer Alex Kurtzman's expanded Star Trek Universe. Set in the 32nd century, it follows the first new class of Starfleet cadets in over a century as they come of age and train to be officers.

Versions of a Starfleet Academy-based series were in development for several years before it received an official series order in March 2023, with Kurtzman and Noga Landau as showrunners. Production is scheduled to being in late 2024.

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is expected to be released on the streaming service Paramount+ in 2025 or 2026 and consist of 10 episodes.

Premise edit

The series is set in the 32nd century, a time period in the far-future of the Star Trek franchise where Starfleet and the United Federation of Planets are recovering from a cataclysmic event, as depicted in Star Trek: Discovery.[1][2] Starfleet Academy follows the first new class of Starfleet cadets in over a century as they come of age and train to be officers.[3]

Production edit

Development edit

In June 2018, after becoming sole showrunner of the series Star Trek: Discovery, Alex Kurtzman signed a five-year overall deal with CBS Television Studios to expand the Star Trek franchise beyond Discovery to several new series, miniseries, and animated series. One series that was being planned as part of this deal was a "younger-skewing" project set at Starfleet Academy. It was being developed by Stephanie Savage and Josh Schwartz, who were known for creating other young adult-focused television series.[4][5] The project was still in development in January 2020, but production was not expected to begin until 2021 at the earliest.[6] In February 2021, Kurtzman said a new series was unlikely to be added to streaming service Paramount+'s slate of Star Trek Universe series until one of the existing five series came to an end,[7] but development on the Starfleet Academy series was re-confirmed in August,[8] and a month later Kurtzman gave it as a specific example of a future Star Trek series that he was excited to make and that he had seen "a lot of conversations" about.[9]

Kurtzman said in February 2022 that his team were planning Star Trek series that would be released two or three years later, including Star Trek: Section 31 and another series that he did not want to give details about.[10] Soon after, a new version of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy was reported to be in development with writer Gaia Violo. It was expected to be pitched to Paramount+ shortly, with production planned to begin within a year as the next Star Trek series after Section 31.[11] In May, Kurtzman confirmed that Section 31 and Starfleet Academy were the two series in development that he and his team were focusing on.[12] That December, Kevin and Dan Hageman said they changed plans for their animated series Star Trek: Prodigy, which would have originally shown its young protagonists joining Starfleet Academy, in part to avoid covering the same ground as this series.[13]

In March 2023, after revealing that Discovery would be ending with its fifth season in 2024, Paramount+ announced that Star Trek: Starfleet Academy had been ordered to series. Kurtzman and Noga Landau were set as showrunners and executive producers alongside Violo, Aaron Baiers, Jenny Lumet, Rod Roddenberry, Trevor Roth, Frank Siracusa, and John Weber.[3] The first season has 10 episodes.[14]

Writing edit

The series' writers' room was based at Kurtzman's Secret Hideout offices in Santa Monica.[1] By the series' official announcement, Violo had written the first episode,[3] and Tawny Newsome had been hired as a writer.[15] Newsome, who voices Beckett Mariner on the animated series Star Trek: Lower Decks, is the first Star Trek actor to be hired for a staff writing position on a Star Trek series.[16] Kurtzman approached Newsome about joining the series after being impressed with her improvisation skills during filming of the Star Trek: Strange New Worlds crossover episode "Those Old Scientists".[17] The writers were expected to finish work on the series by the end of 2023, but this was delayed by the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike.[18] They returned to work in mid-October after the strike ended in late September,[19] and were halfway through the first season by March 2024.[14]

The series is set in the 32nd century, the far-future era of the Star Trek franchise that was introduced in Discovery.[1] It follows the first new class of Starfleet cadets in over a century as they come of age and train to be officers.[3] Kurtzman felt the characters in the series, who are a new generation of Starfleet operatives that are inheriting "massive, massive challenges", were relatable to the "generation now" who would be watching the series.[19] Newsome also said the series was aimed at a younger generation than past live-action Star Trek series, but added that there were writers on staff who were "real canon hound dogs" and wanted to ensure that the series remain true to the franchise for long-time fans.[16] The 32nd century setting was chosen in part to give the writers some freedom from the confines of the Star Trek canon, and to help introduce new young fans to the franchise without them needing to know the details of past Star Trek series. Kurtzman encouraged the writers to ground the series in science and have the main characters use science to solve their problems.[1]

Casting edit

In the fourth season of Discovery, Mary Wiseman's Sylvia Tilly becomes a teacher at Starfleet Academy. This storyline led to speculation about whether Wiseman would be reprising her role in Starfleet Academy.[20][21][22] There was also speculation about other Discovery stars making guest appearances in the series.[23][24] In March 2024, Kurtzman said casting for the cadets was yet to begin but some of the series' adult roles had been filled already.[14] Later that month, Doug Jones expressed interest in reprising his Discovery role of Saru as a "guest speaker" at Starfleet Academy, but said he had not been contacted about the series.[24][25]

Design edit

Matthew Davies was working as production designer for the series by March 2024. The set for the atrium of Starfleet Academy is the largest ever built for a Star Trek series and fills the biggest soundstage in Canada, which is 45,900 square feet (4,260 m2). The atrium set is two stories and features a mess hall, amphitheater, multiple classrooms, catwalks, trees, and a view of San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge.[1]

Filming edit

Filming was expected to begin in early 2024,[26] before production on the series was delayed by the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike.[18] In March 2024, Kurtzman said filming would begin in late 2024,[14] at Pinewood Toronto Studios in Toronto, Canada.[1]

Release edit

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is expected to be released in 2025 or 2026 on the streaming service Paramount+ and consist of 10 episodes.[14]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f Vary, Adam B. (March 27, 2024). "The Future of 'Star Trek': From 'Starfleet Academy' to New Movies and Michelle Yeoh, How the 58-Year-Old Franchise Is Planning for the Next Generation of Fans". Variety. Archived from the original on March 27, 2024. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
  2. ^ Orquiola, John (November 12, 2020). "Star Trek Discovery: Every Starfleet & Federation Change In The 32nd Century". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on November 13, 2020. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d Petski, Denise (March 30, 2023). "'Star Trek: Starfleet Academy' Gets Series Greenlight At Paramount+". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on March 30, 2023. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  4. ^ Otterson, Joe (June 19, 2018). "Alex Kurtzman Sets Five-Year CBS TV Studios Pact, Will Oversee Expanded 'Star Trek' Universe". Variety. Archived from the original on July 21, 2018. Retrieved July 21, 2018.
  5. ^ Goldberg, Lesley (January 8, 2019). "'Star Trek': Second Animated Series, More 'Short Treks' Coming to CBS All Access (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on January 8, 2019. Retrieved March 23, 2019.
  6. ^ Kaya, Emre (January 7, 2020). "Exclusive: CBS TV Studios Renews Fleet of 'Star Trek' Shows, Including 'Discovery' & 'Short Treks'". Geeks WorldWide. Archived from the original on June 18, 2020. Retrieved July 4, 2020.
  7. ^ Vary, Adam B.; Vary, Adam B. (February 24, 2021). "Inside the 'Star Trek' Universe of New Shows and Kids' Fare on Paramount Plus". Variety. Archived from the original on February 25, 2021. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
  8. ^ Sperling, Nicole (August 1, 2021). "Can Paramount+ Succeed? One Producer Hopes to Make It So". The New York Times. Archived from the original on August 1, 2021. Retrieved August 7, 2021.
  9. ^ Pascale, Anthony (September 10, 2021). "Alex Kurtzman Talks 'Starfleet Academy' Series, "Very Excited" About Potential Future Star Trek Show". TrekMovie.com. Archived from the original on September 11, 2021. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
  10. ^ Maas, Jennifer (February 1, 2022). "Five 'Star Trek' Shows Aren't Yet Peak Trek, Says Paramount Plus Exec". Variety. Archived from the original on February 2, 2022. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  11. ^ White, Peter; Patten, Dominic; Andreeva, Nellie (February 2, 2022). "'Starfleet Academy' Series In Works As Paramount+ Looks To Further Expand 'Star Trek' Universe". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on February 2, 2022. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  12. ^ Ulster, Laurie (May 2, 2022). "Interview: Alex Kurtzman On 'Section 31,' 'Academy,' And Expanding His Star Trek Universe Beyond Television". TrekMovie.com. Archived from the original on May 2, 2022. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
  13. ^ Joest, Mick (December 29, 2022). "Star Trek: Prodigy's Showrunners Share The Original Plan For Season 1's Finale And Why It Didn't Happen". CinemaBlend. Archived from the original on January 11, 2023. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
  14. ^ a b c d e Coley, Samantha (March 11, 2024). "'Star Trek: Starfleet Academy' Sets Filming Window & Episode Count [Exclusive]". Collider. Archived from the original on March 12, 2024. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
  15. ^ Flook, Ray (March 30, 2023). "Star Trek: Tawny Newsome Joins "Starfleet Academy" Writers' Room". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on March 31, 2023. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  16. ^ a b Ulster, Laurie (November 22, 2023). "Tawny Newsome Says 'Starfleet Academy' Will Appeal To Star Trek Fans Thanks To "Canon Cops" In Writers' Room". TrekMovie.com. Archived from the original on November 23, 2023. Retrieved November 26, 2023.
  17. ^ "Jack Quaid And Tawny Newsome Talk Crossover, Tease 'Star Trek: Lower Decks' Season 4 & 'Starfleet Academy'". TrekMovie.com. July 23, 2023. Archived from the original on July 24, 2023. Retrieved November 26, 2023.
  18. ^ a b "'Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' Showrunner Confirms WGA Strike Has Delayed Season 3 Production Start". TrekMovie.com. May 25, 2023. Archived from the original on May 26, 2023. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
  19. ^ a b Ulster, Laurie (October 14, 2023). "Alex Kurtzman Gives 'Section 31' And 'Academy' Updates, Teases "Exciting" New Star Trek Projects". TrekMovie.com. Archived from the original on October 14, 2023. Retrieved November 26, 2023.
  20. ^ Patches, Matt (March 30, 2023). "Star Trek: Starfleet Academy officially a go at Paramount Plus". Polygon. Archived from the original on March 30, 2023. Retrieved March 30, 2024.
  21. ^ Blauvelt, Christian (March 30, 2023). "'Star Trek: Starfleet Academy,' a Likely 'Discovery' Spinoff with 32nd-Century Setting, Gets Paramount+ Series Order". IndieWire. Archived from the original on May 30, 2023. Retrieved March 30, 2024.
  22. ^ Lovett, Jamie (December 12, 2021). "Did Star Trek: Discovery Just Set Up a Starfleet Academy Spinoff?". ComicBook.com. Archived from the original on December 12, 2021. Retrieved March 30, 2024.
  23. ^ Donaldson, Mark (April 5, 2023). "7 Best Discovery Guest Stars In Starfleet Academy". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on April 6, 2023. Retrieved March 30, 2024.
  24. ^ a b Orquiola, John (March 19, 2024). ""No One's Called" Discovery Actor For Next Star Trek Series Appearance". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on March 19, 2024. Retrieved March 30, 2024.
  25. ^ Armstrong, Vanessa (March 28, 2024). "Star Trek: Discovery's Doug Jones Hints Saru Might Make Appearance in Starfleet Academy". Reactor. Archived from the original on March 28, 2024. Retrieved March 30, 2024.
  26. ^ Goldberg, Lesley (April 18, 2023). "Michelle Yeoh's 'Section 31' Is the Start of 'Star Trek' Phase 2 at Paramount+". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on April 18, 2023. Retrieved April 18, 2023.

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