Six New Promos Introduce The Cadets of STAR TREK: STARFLEET ACADEMY
With the premiere date closing in, Paramount+ is introducing us to the next generation of Starfleet. A new batch of short character promos has dropped, putting the spotlight on the cadets who will anchor Star Trek: Starfleet Academy when the series launches with a two-episode premiere on January 15, 2026.
Executive produced by Alex Kurtzman and Noga Landau, the show is set deep in the franchise’s future and these quick-hit videos do a solid job of establishing who these characters are before the semester officially begins.
Set in the late 32nd century following the events of Star Trek: Discovery, the series follows the first class of cadets to return to Starfleet Academy’s historic San Francisco campus in more than a century.
The United Federation of Planets is still rebuilding after The Burn, and the Academy has become a symbol of hope and renewal. That optimism is quickly tested by a looming threat in Nus Braka, a half-Klingon, half-Tellarite hybrid played by Paul Giamatti.
The new Instagram promos break down the core cast one by one, offering dialogue snippets and fresh footage that give each cadet a clear identity. It’s a diverse group, blending familiar species with brand-new races, and each character feels designed to explore a different corner of Star Trek’s future.
Caleb Mir, played by Sandro Rosta, is a human cadet with unfinished business. Separated from his mother as a child, Caleb enters Starfleet Academy with the promise that he might finally learn what happened to her. That motivation clashes with his rebellious instincts, forcing him to figure out how to survive within Starfleet’s rules without losing himself.
Jay-Den Kraag, portrayed by Karim Diané, ia a Klingon who’s drawn to Sciences and Medicine instead of the battlefield, Jay-Den is charting a path rarely seen for his species. He’s also the first full Klingon to be a main character in a Star Trek series since Worf, originally played by Michael Dorn, which makes his presence feel long overdue.
Then there’s SAM, short for Series Acclimation Mil, played by Kerrice Brooks. SAM is the first Kasquian to enter Starfleet and also the first holographic lifeform cadet. Programmed as a teenage girl, she has to navigate friendships, emotions, and expectations while learning what it means to exist among organic classmates.
Darem Reymi, played by George Hawkins, is the first Khionian admitted to the Academy. Coming from wealth and privilege, Darem is laser-focused on achievement. His goal is simple and relentless: become a Captain and prove himself worthy of his family’s expectations.
Genesis Lythe, played by Bella Shepard, brings a different kind of pressure. As the daughter of a Starfleet Admiral, she’s determined to earn her place on her own terms. Genesis is the first Dar-Sha cadet and has her sights firmly set on command, pushing herself toward a Captain’s chair from day one.
Rounding out the younger cast is Tarima Sadal, portrayed by Zoë Steiner. She’s the daughter of the President of Betazed and possesses psychic abilities that may be more than she can fully control. Interestingly, Tarima doesn’t appear to be an official Starfleet cadet, but she plays a key role through a developing love story with Caleb Mir.
Watching over this new generation are Captain Nahla Ake, played by Holly Hunter. As Chancellor of Starfleet Academy, Ake brings centuries of experience to the role, literally. She’s a 420-year-old half-Lanthanite whose perspective on leadership is shaped by a very long life.
Keeping the cadets in line is Commander Lura Thok, played by Gina Yashere. The half-Klingon, half-Jem’Hadar serves as Cadet Master and doesn’t waste time asserting authority. She also happens to be Captain Ake’s First Officer aboard the USS Athena, pulling double duty as mentor and enforcer.
Then there’s The Doctor, played once again by Robert Picardo. The same Emergency Medical Hologram from Star Trek: Voyager, he’s now more than 800 years old and splits his time between teaching at the Academy and serving as Chief Medical Officer aboard the USS Athena.
Additional connections to Star Trek: Discovery include Commander Jett Reno, portrayed by Tig Notaro, and Lieutenant Sylvia Tilly, played by Mary Wiseman, both of whom are instructors. Overseeing the entire operation is Admiral Charles Vance, portrayed by Oded Fehr, keeping an eye on the Academy’s progress.
The series also introduces us to the USS Athena, which dubbles as the Academy’s mobile campus when docked in San Francisco. Its bridge crew even includes a Starfleet officer played by Rebecca Quin, better known to many fans as WWE Superstar Becky Lynch.
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy will debut on Paramount+ in early 2026, and the series is already renewed for a second season.