Class Is In Session: Starfleet Academy Wows Hall H with First Trailer, New Details, and That Starship Reveal

Star Trek  fans packed into Hall H today got their first glimpse at the next generation of bold explorers when Paramount+ dropped the Starfleet Academy teaser trailer.

And yes, we were there. Myself and Girafe were in the room as the lights dimmed and the crowd erupted, and let me tell you, it did not disappoint.

The teaser opens on sweeping shots of the legendary Starfleet Academy campus nestled beside the Golden Gate Bridge, then pans to a sleek new ship, the U.S.S. Athena, revealed to be a fully integrated part of the Academy experience. Executive Producer Alex Kurtzman confirmed the Athena doesn’t just visit the Academy, it docks with it. Yes, the Academy is a ship. Welcome to the future.

We also got our first real introduction to the cadets — and we’ll be adding their photos right here soon so you can start getting to know this crew.

Here’s who’s enrolling in 2026:

Sandro Rosta as Caleb Mir, an orphan with a checkered past trying to forge a new path.

Karim Diané as Jay-Den Kraag, a Klingon cadet with dreams of healing, not hurting.

Kerrice Brooks as Series Acclimation Mil aka Sam, a photonic being attending the Academy for the very first time.

George Hawkins as Darem Reymi, a privileged but ambitious cadet eyeing the captain’s chair.

Bella Shepard as Genesis Lythe, the daughter of an admiral determined to carve her own name into history.

And those aren’t the only familiar names. The cast includes Holly Hunter as Chancellor Nahla Ake — a half-Lanthanite commanding both the Academy and the Athena, plus returning favorites Robert Picardo (The Doctor), Tig Notaro (Jett Reno), Oded Fehr (Admiral Vance), and Gina Yashere as Commander Lura Thok, a badass Klingon/Jem’Hadar hybrid with a commanding presence.

Oh — and did we mention Paul Giamatti as the villain? A part-Klingon, part-Tellarite named Nus Braka with a mysterious connection to one of the cadets. Intrigued yet?

The panel itself was just as electric as the teaser, filled with big energy, heartfelt emotion, and behind-the-scenes insights.

“That was FIRE 🔥,” said Kerrice Brooks, tearing up during the panel. Their character, Sam, is a hologram learning everything for the first time: “She’s like a newborn, everything is so new to her.”

“Challenging, but we have the most incredible prosthetic team!” shared Karim Diané when discussing his role as Klingon cadet Jay-Den. He also revealed he got to speak with both Michael Dorn and Doug Jones before filming began. Talk about elite coaching.

And Holly Hunter summed up the series beautifully: “Massive scale of the show and massive intimacy we have with each other.” That balance is exactly what makes Star Trek work, and exactly why this show has fans buzzing.

Class begins early 2026 on Paramount+, as part of the Star Trek 60th anniversary celebration. And if today’s teaser is any indication, Starfleet Academy is ready to school us in hope, heart, and high-stakes adventure.