Just when fans thought Paramount might leave Khan alone after the Star Trek Into Darkness disaster, the studio revealed at Comic-Con that they’re bringing him back, this time as a scripted podcast.
Titled Star Trek: Khan, the audio series launches September 8, 2025, on Star Trek Day, and promises to explore Khan’s descent into madness on Ceti Alpha V.
But considering how badly the franchise already fumbled the character with Benedict Cumberbatch’s whitewashed reboot, fans aren’t exactly thrilled.
Khan Is Back—But Not Onscreen
Voiced by Naveen Andrews (Lost), the new Star Trek: Khan podcast is being sold as a deep character study of Trek’s most iconic villain. The show will follow the events between the Original Series and The Wrath of Khan, digging into how Khan went from genetically engineered superman to full-blown space tyrant.
Joining Andrews is Wrenn Schmidt (For All Mankind) as Marla McGivers and Sonya Cassidy (Reacher) as Dr. Rosalind Lear. Trek legends Tim Russ and George Takei also return to voice Tuvok and Captain Sulu, respectively.
The podcast will drop weekly episodes through November 3.
Backlash Already Brewing
Fans online have already questioned why this even exists. Nicholas Meyer—writer/director of Wrath of Khan—may be involved, but that hasn’t eased concerns. The JJ Abrams reboot already tarnished the Khan legacy for many, and instead of moving forward with new stories or characters, Paramount is once again going back to a well that many feel should’ve been left alone.
And with Alex Kurtzman attached as executive producer, the skepticism only grows.
Another Side Project in a Franchise Losing Direction
Star Trek: Khan joins a long list of side projects from the current Trek team, including the heavily disliked Starfleet Academy trailer and the recently mocked Strange New Worlds puppet episode. It seems like Paramount is throwing every format at the wall—TV, animation, musical episodes, puppets, and now audio drama—in hopes something sticks.
Whether Khan will redeem itself in podcast form or become yet another footnote in the franchise’s uneven modern run remains to be seen.
Watch the official teaser:
