The Oscar Winner Playing Star Trek’s New Captain Is “Unlike Any You’ve Seen Before,” Says Starfleet Academy Showrunner

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy co-showrunner Noga Landau gushes about Oscar winner Holly Hunter and the unconventional Starfleet captain she'll be portraying in the upcoming Paramount+ series at San Diego Comic-Con. As a spin-off of Star Trek: Discovery, Starfleet Academy takes place in the far future of the 32nd century and follows a diverse group of new Starfleet cadets.

At San Diego Comic-Con, ScreenRant's Joe Deckelmeier sat down with Noga Landau, as well as some of the show's stars, including Robert Picardo, George Hawkins, and Kerrice Brooks. When asked about the experience of working with Holly Hunter, Landau revealed that the creative team always had her in mind for the role. Read Landau and Robert Picardo's quotes below:

ScreenRant: I want to talk about Holly Hunter for a second, because she's amazing. She's incredible. Tell me about her character, and then for you guys, tell me about what it's like working with her.

Noga Landau: Holly Hunter, oh my God. So, when this role was written for The Captain and the Chancellor of Starfleet Academy, the one person we had in our heads, the one voice we had in our heads, was Holly Hunter. But we were like, "Oh, we'll never get Holly Hunter to play a captain on Star Trek." And then, she said yes, I still can't believe she said yes, but she did. She came to do it, and the first time I saw her sitting in the captain's chair, I was like, "This is a whole new age that we're about to witness with this particular captain." I will let her tell you about it, but she's a captain unlike any you've seen before.

Robert Picardo: I echo what Noga said. She's unlike any other Starfleet captain you have ever seen before, and has a unique way, I think, of relating to the younger characters, and me, as well. She has a terrific way of communicating with the younger characters that is unique.

 

What This Means For Star Trek: Starfleet Academy

Starfleet Academy Has Already Been Renewed For A Second Season

The Star Trek: Starfleet Academy teaser trailer released at San Diego Comic-Con features a voiceover from Holly Hunter's Captain Nahla Ake, as she addresses a group of new Starfleet cadets. Even in the brief teaser, Hunter's character radiates a certain warmth, confirming Picardo's words that she "has a terrific way of communicating with the younger characters."

With Hunter's distinct voice and striking presence, Captain Ake already feels like her own character. Ake will be unique in that she not only commands a Starship but also acts as Chancellor of Starfleet Academy. It's a combination never seen before in a Star Trek series, and it will be interesting to see where Starfleet Academy takes the character.

Hunter has enjoyed a prolific career filled with major Hollywood films and beloved television series, and she earned an Oscar for her performance in 1993's The Piano. As Landau expressed, the team behind Star Trek: Starfleet Academy doubted that they would be able to get Hunter to join the show's cast, but it sounds like she more than lived up to their expectations.

Our Take On Landau & Picardo's Comments About Holly Hunter's Starfleet Academy Captain

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy Has A Stellar Cast

As the first Star Trek series to focus on Starfleet cadets, Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is set up to be a different kind of Star Trek. Still, the show already seems to be embracing Gene Roddenberry's original view for the franchise that emphasized "infinite diversity in infinite combinations."

In the teaser trailer, Captain Ake refers to "A tapestry that is Starfleet," which feels like a perfect way to describe the organization, and sets Ake up to be a great captain for modern Trek. Noga Landau and Robert Picardo both emphasize Holly Hunter's "unique" character, classifying her as a different kind of captain.

From Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) to Captain Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green), Star Trek has seen many different kinds of captains come and go, so the idea of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy featuring "a captain unlike any [we've] seen before" is an exciting one.