Stephen Colbert is going where no late-night talk show host has gone before.
Colbert has been cast in Paramount Plus’s upcoming Star Trek series, Starfleet Academy, in the recurring voiceover role of the digital Dean of Students. The announcement came at the end of the hour-long “Star Trek Universe” panel at this year’s New York Comic Con earlier today.
In a short video Colbert stated that he was “thrilled to join this universe that I’ve loved for so long.” And in reference to his role being just a voiceover part and not being on camera, he quipped that it saved him from having to endure “four hours in hair and makeup every day.”
UPDATE: Paramount Plus has released the full video announcement as was played at NYCC.
Starfleet Academy is a follow-up series to the recently wrapped Star Trek: Discovery, the initial Trek show that launched Paramount Plus’s streaming arm of the franchise. Set in the 32nd Century, the show will follow a group of Starfleet cadets learning what they will need to know if they are to go onto careers exploring strange new worlds. Academy Award-winner Holly Hunter stars as the captain of the starship training vessel that serves as the Academy. Academy Award-nominee Paul Giamatti also stars in a role that has been described as the villain of the show’s first season.
Also joining the cast are Tig Notaro reprising her Discovery role of engineer Jett Reno and Robert Picardo returning to his Star Trek: Voyager role of the Doctor. Discovery actors Oded Fehr and Mary Wiseman, who played Admiral Vance and Sylvia Tilly on Discovery, are also slated to make crossover appearances.
Starfleet Academy is set to premiere of January 15, 2026. Paramount Plus has already ordered a second season.
