16 Is Now The Saddest Number For Star Trek Fans
John Orquiola is a New & Classic TV Editor, Senior Writer, and Interviewer with a special focus on Star Trek. John has over 5,000 published articles at SR, and he has interviewed the biggest names in Star Trek on the red carpet and VIP events, among other beloved shows, movies, and franchises.
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Now that Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 4 is over, 16 becomes the saddest number for Star Trek fans. 2026 is the 60th anniversary of Star Trek, but it started horribly: Two weeks after Paramount+'s newest Star Trek series, Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, aired its season 1 finale, it was canceled by the streamer.
Skydance Media's purchase of Paramount Global, which was completed in 2025, resulted in the gradual cancellation of every Star Trek series on Paramount+ that began with Star Trek: Discovery in 2017. When 2026 began, only Star Trek: Strange New Worlds and the yet-to-premiere Starfleet Academy were left on Paramount+, and Strange New Worlds was nearly canceled after season 4 before the prequel was granted a 6-episode fifth and final season.
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy hoped to run at least four seasons to reflect the full college experience of the show's cadets. Instead, Starfleet Academy will end with its second season, which had already wrapped filming when Paramount+'s axe fell.
Cumulatively, every Star Trek series since 1966 totals over a thousand episodes of TV, but the number of new episodes Star Trek fans have left to look forward to has been whittled down to double digits.
There Are Only 16 Episodes Of Star Trek Left
Between Star Trek: Starfleet Academy's second and final season and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' fifth and final season, there are only 16 new episodes of Star Trek left. Both series also set unwanted records: Starfleet Academy is the first live-action Star Trek series to only run 2 seasons, while Strange New Worlds now has the shortest season of live-action Star Trek.
When Paramount+ wanted to cancel Star Trek: Strange New Worlds after season 4, the streamer reportedly offered executive producers and co-showrunners Akiva Goldsman and Henry Alonso Myers a two-hour movie to wrap up the series. Instead, Goldsman negotiated a six-episode season 5 to properly bring Strange New Worlds' 'five-year mission' to a close and complete the story of the USS Enterprise passing from Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount) to Captain James T. Kirk (Paul Wesley).
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy's executive producers and co-showrunners Alex Kurtzman and Noga Landau hoped Paramount+ would renew the show for season 3 (at least). To wit, Starfleet Academy season 2's finale reportedly ends with a cliffhanger that may not be resolved. However, there is hope that Starfleet Academy will be able to end with some sort of coda that can give the cadets closure, the way Star Trek: Discovery season 5 ended with a special epilogue.
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy's final 10 episodes are expected to premiere on Paramount+ first, at some point in early 2027. This will be followed by Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' final six episodes, likely arriving in summer 2027, the same timeframe as prior seasons. After those 16 episodes, that's all she wrote for new episodes of Star Trek until . . . who knows?
What Happens To Star Trek After 2027?
Since 2017, Alex Kurtzman has been the executive producer of Star Trek, with Secret Hideout overseeing all new Star Trek streaming TV series and original movies on Paramount+. Kurtzman's contract reportedly ends in 2026, and all signs point to Paramount Skydance searching for a new executive producer to develop a new direction for Star Trek that will hopefully appeal to wider audiences.
Stardate 47988.1 · Crew Assessment
The Final Frontier
Trivia Challenge
🚀ShipsEnterprise!
⭐CrewMake it so
☠EnemiesResistance is…
⚡TechWarp speed!
📖LoreLive long…
01
The USS Enterprise is the most iconic starship in science fiction. What is the registry number of Captain Kirk’s original Enterprise from The Original Series?
✓ Correct! NCC-1701 is the registry of Kirk’s original Constitution-class Enterprise. The “-D” suffix belongs to Picard’s Galaxy-class ship, NX-01 is Archer’s Enterprise, and NCC-74656 is Voyager.
✗ Red alert! The answer is NCC-1701. Kirk’s original Constitution-class Enterprise carried this now-legendary registry. NCC-1701-D is Picard’s Enterprise from TNG, NX-01 is Captain Archer’s, and NCC-74656 belongs to Voyager.
02
Kirk’s most trusted officer is a half-human, half-Vulcan science officer famous for his logic and iconic salute. Who is this legendary character?
✓ Correct! Mr. Spock, played by Leonard Nimoy, is the half-Vulcan science officer whose “Live long and prosper” salute became a cultural icon. His struggle between logic and emotion defines the heart of the Original Series.
✗ Red alert! The answer is Spock. Data is an android from TNG, Tuvok is Voyager’s Vulcan tactical officer, and Sarek is Spock’s Vulcan father. Only Spock is the half-human, half-Vulcan first officer of Kirk’s Enterprise.
03
Starfleet’s most important regulation forbids interference with the natural development of alien civilizations. What is this guiding principle called?
✓ Correct! The Prime Directive (also known as General Order 1) is Starfleet’s most sacred law. It prohibits interfering with less-developed civilizations — though Kirk, Picard, and Janeway have all famously bent or broken it when lives were at stake.
✗ Red alert! The answer is the Prime Directive. While “General Order One” is technically another name for it, the Prime Directive is the universally known term. The Omega Directive and Temporal Accord are separate, more specialized Starfleet protocols.
04
“Resistance is futile.” This chilling declaration belongs to a cybernetic collective that assimilates entire civilizations into its hive mind. What is this fearsome species called?
✓ Correct! The Borg are Star Trek’s most terrifying villains — a hive-mind collective that forcibly assimilates species and technology. Captain Picard was famously assimilated and transformed into Locutus in the landmark TNG episode “The Best of Both Worlds.”
✗ Red alert! The answer is the Borg. The Dominion is the Gamma Quadrant empire from DS9, the Romulans are a rival empire, and Species 8472 is actually one of the few species that the Borg themselves fear. Only the Borg declare “Resistance is futile.”
05
Captain Jean-Luc Picard commands the Enterprise-D in The Next Generation and later received his own series, Star Trek: Picard. Which acclaimed actor portrays him?
✓ Correct! Sir Patrick Stewart brought gravitas, Shakespeare, and Earl Grey tea to the captain’s chair for seven seasons of TNG, four films, and three seasons of Star Trek: Picard. His “Make it so” is one of TV’s most iconic catchphrases.
✗ Red alert! The answer is Patrick Stewart. William Shatner plays Captain Kirk, Avery Brooks is Captain Sisko on Deep Space Nine, and Scott Bakula captains the NX-01 Enterprise. Only Sir Patrick Stewart portrays the legendary Jean-Luc Picard.
06
Starfleet vessels travel faster than light by bending space around them using a matter-antimatter reaction. What is this propulsion system called?
✓ Correct! Warp Drive is the standard faster-than-light propulsion in Star Trek, powered by dilithium-regulated matter-antimatter reactions. Zefram Cochrane invented it in 2063, which led to humanity’s first contact with the Vulcans.
✗ Red alert! The answer is Warp Drive. Transwarp is an advanced Borg technology, Slipstream is an experimental quantum drive, and the Spore Drive uses mycelial network navigation (from Discovery). Standard Starfleet vessels use Warp Drive.
07
At Starfleet Academy, cadets face a notorious no-win scenario designed to test their character under impossible circumstances. James Kirk is the only cadet who ever beat it — by cheating. What is this test called?
✓ Correct! The Kobayashi Maru is an unwinnable rescue simulation that tests how cadets handle certain death. Kirk reprogrammed it so he could win — earning a commendation for original thinking. It was memorably featured in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.
✗ Red alert! The answer is the Kobayashi Maru. The Corbomite Maneuver is a TOS episode, not an Academy test. The Kobayashi Maru is the famous no-win scenario that Kirk defeated by reprogramming the simulation — because he doesn’t believe in the no-win scenario.
08
In the widely regarded greatest Star Trek film, a genetically enhanced superhuman from Earth’s past seeks revenge against Captain Kirk. “KHAAAAN!” Who is this iconic villain?
✓ Correct! Khan Noonien Singh, played by Ricardo Montalbán, is Star Trek’s greatest villain. First appearing in the TOS episode “Space Seed,” he returned in The Wrath of Khan (1982) for a devastating revenge plot that cost Spock his life.
✗ Red alert! The answer is Khan Noonien Singh. General Chang is a Klingon from Star Trek VI, Q is TNG’s omnipotent trickster, and Gul Dukat is DS9’s Cardassian antagonist. Only Khan inspired Kirk’s legendary scream across the cosmos.
Mission Complete Your Starfleet Record
/ 8
Are you an Admiral — or still a cadet on deck-scrubbing duty?
For the first time in a decade, there is no new Star Trek in production for streaming or theatrical release. Paramount Skydance seems more focused on launching a new Star Trek movie into theaters, although the known project by filmmakers Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley is only in development. Paramount's plan seems to be for new Star Trek TV content to follow feature films, but, if so, that's dependent on the new Star Trek movie both being made and becoming a box office hit.
Paramount's powers-that-be are reportedly speaking to writers and considering new plans for Star Trek. It's possible that before the end of 2026, but more likely at some point in 2027, Paramount Skydance could announce a new executive producer, a plan, and firm direction for Star Trek. Realistically, however, given the long development period for a sci-fi series like Star Trek, it would be years until fans see a new Star Trek show, possibly in 2028 or 2029, and that's if something goes into development soon.
All of this makes the number 16 that much more depressing for Star Trek fans. Even if fans are thrilled by Star Trek: Starfleet Academy season 2 and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 5, the countdown is on, and each new episode ticks away toward the end of new Star Trek episodes for an unknown amount of time.
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Star Trek: Strange New Worlds
9/10
- Release Date
- 2022 - 2027-00-00
- Network
- Paramount+
-
Captain Christopher Pike
-
Spock
A spin-off of Star Trek: Discovery, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is a television series that takes place before the events of the original series and follows Captain Christopher Pike as he mans the helm of the U.S.S. Enterprise. The show focuses on this previous crew of the Enterprise as they explore the galaxy with returning characters from Discovery.
- Showrunner
- Henry Alonso Myers, Akiva Goldsman
- Main Genre
- Sci-Fi
- Creator(s)
- Akiva Goldsman, Alex Kurtzman, Jenny Lumet
- Executive Producer(s)
- Alex Kurtzman, Aaron Baiers, Akiva Goldsman, Henry Alonso Myers, Rod Roddenberry, Trevor Roth, Frank Siracusa, John Weber, Heather Kadin, Jenny Lumet
- Seasons
- 4
- Streaming Service(s)
- Paramount Plus
- Where To Watch
- Paramount Plus
-
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy
- Release Date
- 2026 - 2027-00-00
- Network
- Paramount+
-
Holly Hunter
Nahla Ake
-
Sandro Rosta
Caleb Mir
After being closed for over a hundred years, Starfleet Academy is reopening its doors to those who wish to pursue a career as Starfleet Officers. Star Trek: Starfleet Academy follows a new group of cadets as they come of age and build friendships, rivalries, and romantic relationships while being threatened by a new adversary that could destroy the Academy and the Federation itself.
- Showrunner
- Alex Kurtzman, Noga Landau
- Main Genre
- Sci-Fi
- Creator(s)
- Gaia Violo, Alex Kurtzman, Noga Landau
- Executive Producer(s)
- Alex Kurtzman, Frank Siracusa, Jenny Lumet, Olatunde Osunsanmi, John Weber, Rod Roddenberry, Aaron Baiers, Gaia Violo, Noga Landau, Trevor Roth
- Seasons
- 1
- Streaming Service(s)
- Paramount Plus
- Where To Watch
- Paramount Plus
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