Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is the perfect show to bring back Wil Wheaton's Wesley Crusher. As a spinoff of Star Trek: Discovery, Starfleet Academy takes place in the 32nd century, much further into the future than any other previous Trek show. After the USS Discovery traveled to the far future just before Discovery season 3, Captain Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) and her crew found that Starfleet and the Federation had been decimated by a devastating galactic event known as the Burn.
Starfleet Academy was shut down in the wake of the Burn, but reopened in 3190 thanks to the efforts of Captain Burnham and her crew. Lt. Sylvia Tilly (Mary Wiseman) accepted a position to teach at the Academy, and has already been confirmed to appear in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy. Tig Notaro's Commander Jett Reno, Oded Fehr's Admiral Charles Vance, and Robert Picardo's Emergency Medical Hologram from Star Trek: Voyager have also joined Starfleet Academy's cast. As a Traveler and a former Starfleet cadet, Star Trek: The Next Generation's Wesley Crusher would be another great guest star for the show.
Why Wesley Crusher Is The Perfect Guest Star For Star Trek: Starfleet Academy
Wesley's Traveler Abilities Allow Him To Pop In In Any Star Trek Era
On Star Trek: The Next Generation, Wesley Crusher spent many of his teenage years aboard the USS Enterprise-D preparing to attend Starfleet Academy. While at the Academy, Wesley lost a member of his flight squad to a terrible accident and was caught up in a deception to conceal the truth. Wes ultimately made the right call, and his experience could help future cadets work through their own problems. Wesley later realized that he was destined for a different future than following in his parent's footsteps by joining Starfleet.
In TNG season 7, Wesley decided to leave Starfleet and join the Traveler (Eric Menyuk) on his journeys throughout time and space. Although Travelers generally do not interfere in the events they bear witness to, Wesley refused to abandon Star Trek's Prime Universe in Star Trek: Prodigy. Wes clearly loves being a Traveler and exploring the multiverse, and his infectious enthusiasm would be a wonderful addition to a show about bright-eyed Starfleet cadets. Wesley's previous experience at Starfleet Academy also makes him uniquely qualified to act as a mentor, especially considering the difficulties he experienced as a cadet.
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy Has Great Possibilities For A Wesley Crusher Appearance
Starfleet Academy Could Bring Back Wesley Crusher In Some Cool Ways
As a concept, Starfleet Academy has been a part of Star Trek since the early days of Star Trek: The Original Series, but no show has truly explored life at the Academy. The Academy of the 32nd century undoubtedly differs greatly from the Academy James T. Kirk (William Shatner) and Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) attended. Still, it will be fascinating to follow a group of cadets as they navigate the Academy, and an appearance by Wesley Crusher would be a nice shout-out to Star Trek: The Next Generation.
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy's cadets will reportedly be facing an enemy that threatens the entire Federation. If the universe were to be threatened again in Starfleet Academy, it's possible Wes could pop up in the 32nd century to set things right. Wesley's own Academy experiences could act as a cautionary tale for the new cadets, while his status as a Traveler could open their eyes to the infinite possibilities that exist for them in the universe. With his Traveler abilities and personal history with Starfleet Academy, Wesley Crusher would be the perfect legacy guest star for Star Trek: Starfleet Academy.
