Paramount+ dropped the first teaser trailer for Star Trek: Starfleet Academy — and the reaction has not been kind.
On YouTube, the trailer has already racked up 21,000 dislikes compared to just 6,200 likes, indicating that a large portion of the fanbase isn’t on board.
Worth mentioning is that Skydance is acquiring Paramount and has recently announced it will discontinue all of Paramount’s DEI initiatives. Rumors offer the Paramount Star Trek will all be canceled and Skydance will do some sort of reboot.
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy will reportedly get two seasons before its canceled. By the looks of the trailer, it looks like they knew the cancellation was coming and doubled down on all the wokeness before the axe hits. Watch the trailer below.
Series Info and Cast
Set to stream in early 2026, Starfleet Academy introduces a new generation of cadets training to become Starfleet officers. The show is part of Paramount’s celebration of Star Trek’s 60th anniversary and is produced by CBS Studios.
The series stars Academy Award-winner Holly Hunter as Chancellor Nahla Ake, captain of the U.S.S. Athena and a half-Lanthanite. She leads a diverse cast of new characters including:
- Sandro Rosta as Caleb Mir, a troubled orphan cadet
- Karim Diané as Jay-Den Kraag, a Klingon hopeful in the medical track
- Kerrice Brooks as Sam, a first-of-her-kind alien cadet
- George Hawkins as Darem Reymi, a wealthy aspiring captain
- Bella Shepard as Genesis Lythe, daughter of an admiral
- Zoë Steiner as Tarima Sadal, a Betazoid with political ties
Returning Trek characters include Tig Notaro (Jett Reno) and Robert Picardo (The Doctor), with Oded Fehr, Mary Wiseman, Gina Yashere, and Paul Giamatti joining in recurring or guest roles.
Why Fans Are Rejecting It
While Paramount is billing Starfleet Academy as “electrifying,” fans seem skeptical. Much of the backlash points to the trailer’s tone, which focuses heavily on YA-style themes like “first loves” and “blossoming friendships” — something longtime fans feel is a mismatch for the franchise’s legacy.
Adding to the skepticism is executive producer Alex Kurtzman, whose previous Trek entries (Discovery, Strange New Worlds) have split the fanbase.
“Why does this trailer give off a teen drama vibe?” says one comment with over 400 likes on YouTube.
Another with over 500 adds, “They took everything [former] fans hated about new trek and doubled down on it. Bold move.”
The Setup
The show takes place at the iconic Starfleet Academy campus in San Francisco and introduces a new Federation starship, the U.S.S. Athena. The main threat comes from Nus Braka, a villain played by Paul Giamatti, who has ties to one of the cadets and threatens both the Academy and the Federation.
