In an exclusive interview with AMFM Magazine’s Paul Salfen, Star Trek legends Robert Picardo and Gina Yashere shared their excitement about joining the highly anticipated new series Star Trek: Starfleet Academy. Set in the hopeful 32nd century, the show follows a fresh class of cadets training to become Starfleet officers amid friendships, rivalries, first loves, and a looming threat to the Academy and the Federation.
Picardo reprises his iconic role as The Doctor, the Emergency Medical Hologram from Star Trek: Voyager, now a 900-year-old holographic instructor at the Academy. Yashere plays Lura Thok, a fierce Klingon/Jem’Hadar hybrid serving as cadet master and first officer of the U.S.S. Athena.
The conversation captured the duo’s enthusiasm for the project. Yashere reflected on receiving the script for a major episode: “Oh my gosh… this is a big episode. I’m going to be going through all the pain and the emotions.” Picardo praised the writers for capturing his character’s voice from 30 years ago while updating it with contemporary flair. “They did their homework… although I now have contemporary expressions, which is a new adjustment for the Doctor.”
Yashere highlighted the challenge and fun of her warrior-like role: “I’m embodying a lot of the warrior instincts of the Jem’Hadar and the Klingon, but also adding a new twist… because she’s teaching kids, so she can’t actually kill them. Not recommended.” She added humor to the demanding character, noting the young cast’s impressive maturity.
Both actors expressed admiration for the new generation of performers. Picardo, at 72, described it as a “great circle of life experience,” recalling his own early days while now serving as the “wise old man.” He commended the cadets’ dedication: “They’re all unique and different, but they’re all really dedicated and hardworking… They’ve explored the backgrounds of their characters.”
Yashere echoed this, marveling at the young adults’ knowledge and poise: “These kids nowadays… have a level of maturity and knowledge that I did not have at 22 years old… The performances they’re giving are so seasoned and so good. There’s not much I can tell them, really. I’m glad I’m watching them.”
Picardo shared what he loves most about the set: “I just love the fact that I can come in and… it feels like a fantasy that I get to come and play for a living… dress up in crazy prosthetics and costumes, and I’m being paid to play.” He emphasized Star Trek’s enduring optimism: “Star Trek’s hopefulness and optimism… It’s great to be back in this world. There’s a lot of apocalyptic science fiction… Star Trek isn’t like that. It’s really about a hopeful future.”
He also marveled at the production scale: “The sets are magnificent. The whole look of the show is unlike anything I’ve ever seen in the Star Trek world… All of the Voyager sets would fit in one big set for Starfleet Academy.”
The series stars Academy Award winner Holly Hunter as Chancellor Nahla Ake and Captain of the U.S.S. Athena, alongside cadets portrayed by Sandro Rosta, Karim Diané, Kerrice Brooks, George Hawkins, and Bella Shepard. Additional cast includes Zoë Steiner, Tig Notaro, Oded Fehr, and Academy Award nominee Paul Giamatti as the season’s villain.
Co-showrunners Alex Kurtzman and Noga Landau executive produce alongside Gaia Violo, Aaron Baiers, Olatunde Osunsanmi, Jenny Lumet, Rod Roddenberry, Trevor Roth, Frank Siracusa, and John Weber. The premiere episode is written by Gaia Violo and directed by Alex Kurtzman. Produced by CBS Studios in association with Secret Hideout and Roddenberry Entertainment.
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy premieres with two episodes on Thursday, January 15 on Paramount+ in the U.S., with new episodes dropping weekly on Thursdays. The 10-episode first season concludes on Thursday, March 12.
Fans won’t want to miss this fresh, optimistic chapter in the Star Trek saga—boldly going where no cadet has gone before!
