Paramount+ is set to unleash its latest take on the iconic sci-fi franchise Star Trek, with the premiere of a brand-new show titled Starfleet Academy. The series, which takes place 900 years after the original adventures of Captain James T. Kirk and his crew, follows the story of a group of young cadets as they navigate their way through the esteemed Starfleet Academy.
The show's creators have taken a bold approach by focusing on a younger generation of characters, with some fans online jokingly referring to it as "CW Trek" due to its similarities to The CW network's Teen Drama style. However, this setup also allows for a fresh take on the franchise, exploring themes and plotlines that were previously unseen.
As a Discovery spinoff, Starfleet Academy inherits some of the latter series' traits, including sleek sets and certain plot threads. One notable storyline involves the collapse of the United Federation of Planets and its rebuilding in both the Federation and Starfleet. This is set to be an ongoing thread throughout the show's run.
The cast boasts an impressive lineup, featuring established stars like Holly Hunter, Paul Giamatti, and Tig Notaro, alongside newcomers Jay-Den Kraag, Darem Reymi, and Genesis Lythe. The show's sets are also noteworthy, with a mix of indoor and outdoor locations shot in Ontario and Toronto's Pinewood Studios.
One thing is clear: the production budget for Starfleet Academy has been substantial. With an estimated $10 million per episode - or potentially even higher, according to some estimates - it's clear that Paramount wants to make a splash. However, this also means that the show may be more expensive than other Star Trek series in recent years.
Ultimately, the success of Starfleet Academy will have a direct impact on the future of the franchise as a whole. As such, fans are watching closely to see if this new take can live up to their expectations and carry on the legacy of Star Trek.
The show's creators have taken a bold approach by focusing on a younger generation of characters, with some fans online jokingly referring to it as "CW Trek" due to its similarities to The CW network's Teen Drama style. However, this setup also allows for a fresh take on the franchise, exploring themes and plotlines that were previously unseen.
As a Discovery spinoff, Starfleet Academy inherits some of the latter series' traits, including sleek sets and certain plot threads. One notable storyline involves the collapse of the United Federation of Planets and its rebuilding in both the Federation and Starfleet. This is set to be an ongoing thread throughout the show's run.
The cast boasts an impressive lineup, featuring established stars like Holly Hunter, Paul Giamatti, and Tig Notaro, alongside newcomers Jay-Den Kraag, Darem Reymi, and Genesis Lythe. The show's sets are also noteworthy, with a mix of indoor and outdoor locations shot in Ontario and Toronto's Pinewood Studios.
One thing is clear: the production budget for Starfleet Academy has been substantial. With an estimated $10 million per episode - or potentially even higher, according to some estimates - it's clear that Paramount wants to make a splash. However, this also means that the show may be more expensive than other Star Trek series in recent years.
Ultimately, the success of Starfleet Academy will have a direct impact on the future of the franchise as a whole. As such, fans are watching closely to see if this new take can live up to their expectations and carry on the legacy of Star Trek.
It's been ages since we last got a fresh take on Star Trek, and I think it's awesome that they're focusing on a new generation of characters! I mean, who wouldn't wanna watch a show about young cadets navigating the ups and downs of Starfleet Academy? 
The cast sounds amazing too - Holly Hunter is like, my ultimate mom idol lol. But what really gets me excited is the themes and plotlines they're exploring... it's gonna be so cool to see the Federation and Starfleet rebuild after that massive collapse! 
Can't wait for it to drop! 
And let's be real, the cast is EVERYTHING - Holly Hunter, Paul Giamatti... my fave actors on earth 
. And that budget? Umm... yeah, they're gonna make it BIG and BOLD 
. I'm so down for this! Can't wait for premiere day 
Back in my day, we didn't need all that fancy budget to make a show about space exploration and social commentary work, you know? The original Next Gen was done on a shoestring budget and it still managed to be super engaging. This new Starfleet Academy thing is just gonna be too pricey and overproduced if you ask me... 
I mean, I love seeing big-name stars attached to the show, but $10 million per episode is just crazy! 
, and with that cast? oh boy, we're in for a treat 
Holly Hunter is like the ultimate star power 
i mean, i'm hyped for a fresh take, but at what cost? 
they're gonna try to recapture the magic of star trek with a bunch of whiny teenagers 
and now it's gotta be this expensive lol $10m per ep is cray 
And the sets look straight fire 
!
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. The Star Trek franchise has such a loyal fan base, and if this show can do it justice, it could be a real game-changer 
Holly Hunter, Paul Giamatti... these are all such talented actors.
But I'm also a bit skeptical about the whole "Teen Drama style" thing - will they be able to balance out the teen angst with the more sci-fi heavy elements of Star Trek? 
It sounds like it might be more focused on character development over space battles, which is a bit of a departure from the original franchise's tone. But hey, if they can pull it off and make it feel authentic to the Star Trek universe, I'm down to check it out! 
And I'm curious about that plot thread about the collapse of the United Federation - what's gonna happen? 
. And hey, if they can make it work, that'd be awesome! But I'm also a bit worried about the budget... $10m an episode? That's a lot to spend on TV, you know? 
. But, let's be real, with a budget that high, they better not mess it up 