The 'Star Trek: Starfleet Academy' Series Has Officially Been Ordered By Paramount+
Chillin' out with the crew in the schoolyard...
Well, one of the impending vacancies on Paramount+'s platter of original new Star Trek series has officially been filled, but it's going to be a while before it will be served. The streamer has officially ordered Star Trek: Starfleet Academy.
This series has been in development for nearly five years, as it was originally revealed when modern Star Trek steward Alex Kurtzman signed his overall deal with CBS Studios to foster the franchise's television regrowth in June 2018. At the time, the project was being creatively driven by Stephanie Savage and Josh Schwartz, co-showrunners for the Hulu Marvel series The Runaways and creators of Gossip Girl and the Dynasty reboot that ran on The CW until 2022. This time, Kurtzman will be co-showrunner with Noga Landau, previously of Nancy Drew. All those CW credits must be why The Hollywood Reporter is getting a soapy YA feel. Kurtzman will of course continue to executive produce, along with Rod Roddenberry, Aaron Baiers, Jenny Lumet, and several others. Gaia Volo is writing the first episode.
According to the logline, Starfleet Academy will introduce “a young group of cadets who come together to pursue a common dream of hope and optimism. Under the watchful and demanding eyes of their instructors, they will discover what it takes to become Starfleet officers as they navigate blossoming friendships, explosive rivalries, first loves and a new enemy that threatens both the Academy and the Federation itself.”
The series order also came with showrunners’ statements framed as a recruitment letter. “Admission is now open to Starfleet Academy! Explore the galaxy! Captain your destiny! For the first time in over a century, our campus will be re-opened to admit individuals a minimum of 16 Earth years (or species equivalent) who dream of exceeding their physical, mental and spiritual limits, who value friendship, camaraderie, honor and devotion to a cause greater than themselves. The coursework will be rigorous, the instructors among the brightest lights in their respective fields, and those accepted will live and study side-by-side with the most diverse population of students ever admitted. Today we encourage all who share our dreams, goals and values to join a new generation of visionary cadets as they take their first steps toward creating a bright future for us all. Apply today! Ex Astris, Scientia!”
The main characters, while not disclosed, are described as "a whole new generation of Starfleet officers in training as they navigate the rigors of the Academy and the brink of adulthood." Production won’t get started until 2024, so the active Star Trek series might be down to 3 for a good period of that year, as Discovery’s final season is set to wrap up then, while Picard’s will do so on April 20. Strange New Worlds and Lower Decks were just renewed for their next seasons, while Prodigy still has much of 2023 before it premieres its second season.
Source: Star Trek