Why we need Kate Mulgrew back in live action as Admiral Kathryn Janeway

Back in 2022, at New York Comic-Con [via CinemaBlend], Alex Kurtzman was asked when Admiral Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) would be returning to live action. He gave a what was then promising response, saying basically there had been discussions.

"Here’s what I’m going to say. Things have been talked about. That’s all I’m going to say. But nothing would make me happier than to bring Janeway back. I think it would be an incredible, incredible thing to do. There might be an idea in play. Who knows? But I would love it to happen."

- Alex Kurtzman

Kate Mulgrew followed that up the same year when she appeared in Bloomington, IN to visit the Janeway Memorial. [via Trekmovie] She expressed that she adored the character and there really wasn't a reason why she wouldn't bring her back to live-action. She did have some specifications as to what she wanted if she were to return, and she had already relayed those to Kurtzman.

"I said this to Kurtzman. The writing is going to have to be absolutely exquisite and as tight—I mean so tight. I want that language to just burst! And I want the story to be so tenuous and taut. I said, “No languishing.” I don’t want peaks and valleys. I want a Janeway that everybody can say, “That’s what she’s become. I’m with her! This is great!” Right? And I think some sort of extraordinary adventure. Even greater than Voyager. Even greater than the Delta Quadrant."

- Kate Mulgrew

That said, we know Paramount+ is struggling right now financially, having recently cancelled both Star Trek: Lower Decks and Star Trek: Discovery, and that was after cancelling Star Trek: Prodigy last year. But Starfleet Academy is on the way as is Section 31, and supposedly, two other Star Trek movies that will come to the big screen. So there is some money already tied up.

However, when thinking about bringing in more money and more viewers, it seems like it would be just plain common sense to return to what works. And there are a lot of people besides Mulgrew who want to see Admiral Janeway in live-action. Yes, we hear her voice on Prodigy, but we want more, and we know Mulgrew can bring it.

Paramount+ is taking a chance that Starfleet Academy will bring in the viewers, but, as of right now, none of the actors of the new show have been revealed, though there is some speculation that Mary Wiseman's Sylvia Tilly from Discovery will be one of the stars. That said, a brand new show is always a guessing game. Will it find its audience? Will the Star Trek fans love it as much as they've loved the other series in the franchise? And how much time will Paramount+ give it to bring in the viewers?

These questions would not be needed with a series based on Admiral Kathryn Janeway as Star Trek: Voyager remains as popular today as it did back when it first aired. And Janeway has always been one of the beloved captains of the franchise. Her popularity was one of the reasons why fans mounted a campaign to save Prodigy when it was cancelled.

We don't know if discussions are still underway about this possible scenario, but we do know that Paramount+ needs to reconnect with a character that is guaranteed to draw in the fans. And that is something that Kate Mulgrew's Admiral Janeway can do.