Star Trek: Starfleet Academy just finished its first season, and a second is on its way. However, after that, there will be no more stories coming from this Star Trek: Discovery era series. Variety broke the news that this series would not be moving forward after its second season earlier today.
“We’re incredibly proud of the ambition, passion, and creativity that went into bringing ‘Star Trek: Starfleet Academy’ to life,” CBS Studios and Paramount+ shared in a joint statement. “The series introduced audiences to a bold new group of characters, welcomed familiar faces, and expanded the ‘Star Trek’ universe in exciting new ways. We’re grateful to Alex Kurtzman, Noga Landau, Gaia Violo, and the entire cast and crew who pushed storytelling boundaries in the spirit of Gene Roddenberry’s vision. We look forward to sharing the upcoming second and final season with everyone, and continuing to celebrate the cast, crew, and all that was accomplished with this series.”
The choice not to move forward with more Star Trek: Starfleet Academy comes after the first season received an 87% critical approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Unfortunately, throughout its 10-episode season, it never could break into the Nielsen Top 10 streaming viewership charts.
This series takes place after the events of Star Trek: Discovery. It follows a group of cadets from a variety of backgrounds who have entered the Starfleet Academy, which has been reestablished as Starfleet and the United Federation of Planets recover after “The Burn.” It takes place on the USS Athena, which is where the Stafleet Academy is found in the 32nd century. The Athena is commanded by the Starfleet Academy commandant, Captain Nahla Ake.
Co-showrunners and executive producers Alex Kurtzman and Noga Landau wrote a letter regarding the end of Starfleet Academy, saying that “We will finish strong.” They also thanked the “hundreds of hardworking humans who pour every ounce of their talents into the work daily with imagination and reverence.”
The letter also defines what they think Star Trek is about. They say in it, “Star Trek places its bet on the best in human nature. It dares to imagine a society of “infinite diversity in infinite combinations,” free of war, hate, poverty, disease, and repression, and dedicated to the spirit of scientific inquiry and respect for all life, whether carbon or silicon-based, green-skinned or blue.”
The cancellation of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy marks the end of an era for Star Trek. Many Star Trek fans had hoped that there would be hope for more seasons, and the show could keep production of a Star Trek series moving forward. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds has two more seasons to be released before it ends its run. This will mark the end of all current Star Trek series productions, with no more announced at this time. This will hopefully change sometime in the near future.
Alex Kurtzman and Noga Landau Letter
It’s been my and Noga’s joy and privilege to help carry Gene Roddenberry’s extraordinary vision forward with Starfleet Academy, thanks to the hundreds of hardworking humans who pour every ounce of their talents into the work daily with imagination and reverence. We are in post-production now on what will be the second and final season. We’re so proud of what we’ve accomplished together on this show, and the world will get to see the work of these extraordinary artists when season two airs. We will finish strong.
Whether you’re working on Star Trek or part of the marvel that is Star Trek fandom — its very heart, soul, and conscience —the joy comes from adventuring across boundaries of time, space, and the humanly possible in service to Roddenberry’s transformative vision of the future. That incomparable vision was fueled by an inexhaustible optimism. Star Trek places its bet on the best in human nature. It dares to imagine a society of “infinite diversity in infinite combinations,” free of war, hate, poverty, disease, and repression, and dedicated to the spirit of scientific inquiry and respect for all life, whether carbon or silicon-based, green-skinned or blue.
But make no mistake: Gene Roddenberry wasn’t some starry-eyed dreamer. He was a decorated Army bomber pilot in the Pacific Theater. He had seen first-hand the grim consequences of the worst of human nature. And his vision of the future wasn’t just a promise of hope. It was also a warning. In a fraught, frightening time of intolerance and violence, Star Trek said: Look! We made it! But just barely. First, we had to put all those ancient scourges behind us. It said that what makes us glorious as a species, and gives us hope for the future and the galaxy is inextricably linked to what makes us dangerous to each other, to this one world we presently inhabit, and to ourselves. That dual message—of hope and of warning—isn’t just a pretty dream but a call to action, to think about who we are in a different way.
Please don’t take our word for it. Take Gene’s:
“Star Trek was an attempt to say that humanity will reach maturity and wisdom on the day that it begins not just to tolerate, but take a special delight in differences in ideas and differences in life forms. […] If we cannot learn to actually enjoy those small differences, to take a positive delight in those small differences between our own kind, here on this planet, then we do not deserve to go out into space and meet the diversity that is almost certainly out there.”
With enduring hope that his vision of the future is possible, for our children, their children, and every future cadet in Starfleet Academy:
Live Long and Prosper.
The first season of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy can be watched in its entirety on Paramount+. What do you think of the cancellation of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy? Did you like this series? Are you looking forward to the second season? Share your thoughts and opinions in the comments below!
