Stephen Colbert Beams Into Star Trek's 12th Series With a Role Fans Didn't See Coming
Stephen Colbert is beaming into Starfleet Academy, the 32nd-century-set 12th Star Trek series slated for 2026—marking his first Trek role after the abrupt cancellation of his previous project.
Stephen Colbert is officially beaming into Star Trek, and yes, he picked a role that lets him keep the suit and avoid the prosthetics chair. The comedian is joining Paramount+'s Star Trek: Starfleet Academy as a voice-only character, and the timing lines up with the show's long runway to launch.
So what is he playing?
Colbert will voice the Digital Dean of Students in Starfleet Academy, the franchise's 12th series, which is set in the 32nd century. Translation: he is essentially the school's always-on administrative brain, which is a smart way to deploy a famous voice without burying him under Klingon ridges.
He announced the gig during the Star Trek Universe panel at New York Comic Con, appearing virtually and leaning into a very deep-cut joke about not having enough bunting for his Mugato cosplay. He also teased a line from the show and made it clear he is thrilled to join the franchise without the daily four-hour hair-and-makeup marathon.
"I am honored to announce that my beautiful voice will be joining Star Trek: Starfleet Academy as the Digital Dean of Students... Live long... and do your thing."
When and where to watch
Paramount+ is giving Starfleet Academy a classic event-style launch: the first two episodes drop Thursday, January 15, 2026, followed by weekly episodes every Thursday through the season finale on March 12, 2026. The first trailer premiered alongside Colbert's announcement at NYCC, so this train is very much in motion.
- Series: Star Trek: Starfleet Academy (the 12th Star Trek series)
- Setting: 32nd century
- Stephen Colbert's role: Digital Dean of Students (voice)
- Announcement: Virtual appearance during the Star Trek Universe panel at New York Comic Con, complete with a Mugato cosplay joke and a brief line reading
- Premiere: Thursday, January 15, 2026 on Paramount+ with a two-episode launch
- Release cadence: New episodes Thursdays weekly
- Season finale: Thursday, March 12, 2026
- Trailer: Debuted at the NYCC panel
Colbert sliding into Trek as a sardonic digital administrator feels right. It's a fan-forward cameo that also fits the 32nd-century sandbox the show is playing in. Now we just need to see what kind of trouble the cadets get into that requires a dean with a punchline for a subroutine.