Trekkies who are concerned about Star Trek: Starfleet Academy being a compelling series, given that the show is set within the confines of a school environment, had every right to be worried. However, Starfleet Academy showrunners Noga Landau and Alex Kurtzman attempted to alleviate those fears prior to the Star Trek universe’s highly anticipated panel at this year’s New York Comic Con. Landau said in an interview (per Entertainment Weekly):
"It's hard to come up with a circumstance and a buy-in where you can still have Star Trek adventures with real stakes and real peril, but it's also a school. It's really important that viewers know that these kids actually go on real Star Trek missions and there is real Star Trek peril and complex situations that they have to navigate."
As it turns out, the new cadets under the leadership of Starfleet Academy's chancellor, Nahla Ake (Hunter) won’t be landlocked on Earth. Fans can relax because the USS Athena, which is also under the command of Captain Ake, serves as the campus for Starfleet when it docks on Earth.
Whether the series' core-five students (Caleb Mir, Jay-Den Kraag, SAM, Darem Reymi, Genesis Lythe) ever explore strange new worlds or not during the show remains to be seen. However, co-showrunner Alex Kurtzman kind of made Starfleet Academy sound like an ER or Grey's Anatomy drama set in the confines of space when he told EW during the same sit-down:
"We really did liken it to a teaching hospital. You can only learn by getting thrown into the fire."
So, how effective will Hunter’s Nahla Ake be when it comes to managing her responsibilities as both the captain of the Athena and the chancellor of Starfleet Academy? Well, Ake might have her hands full, but Kurtzman likens her to a “cool mom,” presumably with ALL of the new Starfleet cadets. Trekkies will have to wait until Jan. 15, 2026, though, to see if there is a rebel or bad seed among the bunch. Kurtzman said of Hunter's presence as the captain and chancellor in Starfleet Academy:
"You're sort of talking about 'the cool mom.’ It's a very specific voice that you need. She has to have the authority of the captain, but also she needs to be the head of a school and be nurturing in that way, but also be tough. She really is in her own category as a captain."
Are you sold on Starfleet Academy being a compelling Star Trek series, despite the fact that the show is set in a school environment? What do you think about Holly Hunter’s Nahla Ake being “the cool mom” and still having to emulate the authority exibited by former, beloved Trek starships captains like Kirk, Picard, and Janeway?
Share your thoughts and comments with us on the Redshirts Always Die Facebook and X pages. And be sure to watch the official trailer for Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, which debuted at the 2025 NYCC.
Live long and prosper, Trekkies!