In a recent interview on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Tig Notaro discussed reprising the role of Jett Reno (Star Trek: Discovery) in 2026's Star Trek: Starfleet Academy. It's only natural that the topic came up since both Notaro and Colbert are a part of the upcoming series.
Colbert then casually said he too would be joining the cast of Starfleet Academy: "I'm the digital dean. I'm the voice of the ship." Notaro then made fun of Colbert about whether he even knew what role he was playing, which is hilarious because the actor/comedian wasn't far off.
Yes, Colbert will portray the Digital Dean of Students, which handles daily announcements. However, the voice of the USS Athena — the starship doubles as Starfleet Academy's primary campus — is played by Brit Marling.
Nevertheless, Colbert seems genuinely excited to join Starfleet Academy after having announced his involvement on Oct. 11, as a part of Trek's New York Comic Con celebration. Notaro was confirmed as a cast member of Starfleet Academy much earlier (July 26, 2024) at San Diego Comic-Con.
Colbert's role sounds similar to The Doctor, or EMH, from Star Trek: Voyager, in that he will be playing an artificial intelligence. It also brings to mind Majel Barrett, who voiced starships in the franchise for 43 years, as well as portraying Christine Chapel and Lwaxana Troi.
As a young man, Colbert was a fan of table top games such as Dungeons & Dragons, which he gives credit to for beginning his improvisational skills. He began his comedy career in earnest when he joined the players at The Second City, an improvisational comedy theatre in Chicago.
From there he would go on to become an actor, producer, writer, comedian, and a political commentator. He was a cast member of The Daily Show, before going on to host The Colbert Report, and then The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.
The choice of Colbert as Digital Dean in Starfleet Academy is a brilliant one. Colbert has strong acting and comedic skills, as well as acting experience, and a distinct voice. He is a passionate and intelligent fan, who enjoys delving into the nuance of story, theme, and character.
The response to this announcement has been overwhelmingly favorable from fans. Colbert is known for using any opportunity to bring up his deep love for The Lord of the Rings. While fans of his will be very aware this, slightly less known is his appreciation for science fiction.
Colbert is a long time fan of Star Trek, and other sci-fi stories. He has spoken many times of his long lasting appreciation for sci-fi literature. In several interviews, especially those with Paul Giamatti, he discusses how he started reading sci-fi as a young man and has continued to love the genre throughout his lifetime.
It's always a joy to see nerdy actors, presenters, or politicians join the Star Trek story. Stephen Colbert is no exception. Fans have high hopes for Starfleet Academy and the addition of Colbert has only brought additional positive attention to the franchise and the upcoming show.
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Star Trek: Starfleet Academy debuts on Jan. 15, 2026.