Saturday afternoon saw the release of a new trailer for Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, an upcoming series that takes place in showrunner Alex Kurtzman’s expanded universe. In the SDCC exclusive trailer, the academy’s captain, played by Holly Hunter, addresses her students at a San Francisco base, denoting that they are the first class in more than 120 years after “The Burn”, an in-universe cataclysm audiences saw directly in Star Trek: Discovery. Various new cadets don the iconic uniforms while audiences are treated to a montage of them training, studying, loving, and more. Their goal, as always, is “to boldly go where no one has gone before.” View the trailer below. 

Paul Giamatti will also make an appearance in some kind of unspecified alien role, which was teased in a post-credits stinger of him whistling ominously while being trailed by two lackies.

The SDCC appearance marked the first time anyone had seen Starfleet Academy‘s trailer, including the actors. Afterwards, the main cast beamed onto stage to unpack their own reactions to the trailer. Bella Shepard, who plays Genesis, the first of a species new to the Star Trek universe known as the Darsha, recalled her familial connections to the long-running utopian sci-fi franchise. “Growing up, my grandfather was actually my prominent father figure, and of course, he always liked to watch old Westerns or Star Trek. I feel so incredibly honored to be part of something I hold closely to the people in my heart.”

Kurtzman, who was also present, had one more tease, though. “You probably have a lot of questions about the trailer,” Kurtzman said. “You’re probably wondering where is there a ship landing in San Francisco? The answer is that the school is a ship. Spoiler alert.”

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy will debut in early 2026 exclusively on Paramount+.