Divisive Star Trek spin-off confirms role for British film legend in season 2 with first look pictures

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is officially coming back for more, with season 2 being confirmed for release in March 2027.

The latest Star Trek spin-off is set in the far future of the franchise, and follows a new group of Starfleet Cadets, trained by Holly Hunter's Captain Nahla Ake.

The release window for the second and final season was announced at New York Comic Con, with two stellar guest stars also being unveiled: Bill Nighy will play Nyk, Nahla's estranged father, and Rosemarie DeWitt will play Laytha Sadal, the First Lady of Betazed, Tarima's (Zoe Steiner) mother.

First-look photos of the pair in their new roles have also been released - check them out below!

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Starfleet Academy also stars Sandro Rosta, Karim Diané, Kerrice Brooks, George Hawkins, and Bella Shepard as cadets, while Tig Notaro and Oded Fehr reprised their roles from Discovery. Meanwhile, Robert Picardo returned to his role as the Doctor after last appearing in Voyager.

While many fans have embraced the Starfleet Academy, others have been less impressed with the series, making it one of the more divisive entries in the franchise.

It was also announced earlier this year that Paramount+ had cancelled the show after its second season.

Announcing the show's cancellation, CBS Studios and Paramount+ said in a joint statement: "We’re incredibly proud of the ambition, passion, and creativity that went into bringing 'Star Trek: Starfleet Academy' to life.

"The series introduced audiences to a bold new group of characters, welcomed familiar faces, and expanded the ‘Star Trek’ universe in exciting new ways.

"We’re grateful to Alex Kurtzman, Noga Landau, Gaia Violo, and the entire cast and crew who pushed storytelling boundaries in the spirit of Gene Roddenberry’s vision. We look forward to sharing the upcoming second and final season with everyone, and continuing to celebrate the cast, crew, and all that was accomplished with this series."

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy season 2 will arrive on Paramount+ in March 2027.

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Authors

Louise Griffin is the Sci-Fi & Fantasy Editor for Radio Times, covering everything from Doctor Who, Star Wars and Marvel to House of the Dragon and Good Omens. She previously worked at Metro as a Senior Entertainment Reporter and has a degree in English Literature.