I’m so happy that Paul Giamatti gets to live his dream inStar Trek: Starfleet Academy. A lifelongStar Trekfan, Giamatti is an Emmy winner and one-half of the Academy Award-caliber duo toplining Starfleet Academy, the other beingOscar-winner Holly Hunter, who plays Starfleet Academy’s unnamed Chancellor and Captain.Star Trek: Starfleet Academyis the next Star Trek on Paramount+ series, executive produced by co-showrunners Alex Kurtzman and Noga Landau. It’s a credit to the level of quality seen in Star Trek on Paramount+’s shows that actors like Holly Hunter and Paul Giamatti chose to be part ofStar Trek.
I’ve been a fan of Paul Giamatti since he played Pig Vomit, Howard Stern’s foil, inPrivate Parts. No one could have played HBO’sJohn Adamsbetter, and Emmy voters agreed. Of course, Giamatti was sensational inSideways,and in his role opposite Russell Crowe inCinderella Man,for which Paul received a Best Supporting Actor Academy Award nomination. I also love Paul Giamatti’s work inDownton Abbey, and I’m thrilled he is returning for theDownton Abbey 3movie.The Holdoverswas another winner and an Academy Award-nominated role for Giamatti. But, like Paul himself,I never expected Paul Giamatti would be cast inStar Trekuntil he was announced as the recurring villain inStar Trek: Starfleet Academy.
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Exploring another corner of the Star Trek universe, the upcoming series Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is a brand-new take on the classic franchise.
Paul Giamatti Loves Star Trek And Wanted To Play A Klingon
Starfleet Academy cast Paul Giamatti after learning he loves Star Trek
I didn’t know until Paul Giamatti was on his promotional tour ofThe Holdoversthat his lifelong dream was to play a Klingon on Star Trek. Giamatti’sStar Trekfandom was brought to my attention when I was contacted by Johan Albrechtsen, who interviewed Paul forMoovyTVin Denmark. Johan sent me his interview where he got Paul to recite hisdialogue fromSidewaysin Klingon, whichScreen Rantran an article about. It turns outPaul Giamatti also toldThe Late Showwith Stephen Colbertabout his Klingon dreamsin 2019:
My dearest wish in the world as a child until this moment is to play a Klingon, basically. Or to be something. I sort of play a Klingon on Billions. But I would love to play a Klingon, or something. I’ve never – for some reason, those jobs don’t come to me.
Paul Giamatti toldPortland Mercuryof his desire to play a Klingon in 2011, saying,“It’s always been frustrating to me. Because really, I just want to be, like, a Klingon or something. I really would love to play a Klingon. It’s like, goddammit, will I ever get to play a Klingon?“Portland Mercuryeven began its article scolding J.J. Abrams, who directedStar Trek(2009),“ATTENTION J.J. ABRAMS: You’d be stupid not to put Paul Giamatti in the nextStar Trek.“Abrams did have Klingons in 2013’sStar Trek Into Darkness, but Paul Giamatti didn’t play any of them.
AtSan Diego Comic-Con,Star Trek: Starfleet Academy’s executive producers Alex Kurtzman and Noga Landau told the audience in Hall H that they cast Paul Giamatti after seeing an article about how badly he wants to play a Klingon. Thanks toStarfleet Academy, Paul Giamatti’s dream has come true - at least partially.Giamatti may or may not be playing a Klingon inStar Trek: Starfleet Academy, but he has finally entered the final frontier.
What To Expect From Paul Giamatti In Star Trek: Starfleet Academy
Giamatti plays the show’s main villain
Paul Giamatti’s character, name, and even whether he plays a human or one ofStar Trek’s aliens is beingkept under wraps. This goes for the identities and backstories of most of thecast ofStar Trek: Starfleet Academy.There are, however, four announcedStar Treklegacy characters and actors cast in Starfleet Academy: Oded Fehr reprises Admiral Charles Vance, Mary Wiseman is back as Lt. Sylvia Tilly, and Tig Notaro returns as Commander Jett Reno, all fromStar Trek: Discovery. In addition, Robert Picardo reprises The Doctor fromStar Trek: Voyager.
Paul Giamatti will tear up the screen and make the most of his Star Trek dream come true.
But even with all of thatStar Treklegacy star power, a cast of talented young actors, and the casting coup of Holly Hunter leading Starfleet Academy,it’s Paul Giamatti I’m most excited for.Giamatti’s role is recurring, but he playsStarfleet Academy’s main villain.Star Trek: Starfleet Academyjust began filming, with a targeted 2026 premiere on Paramount+, but I’m glad to see Paul Giamatti not only present on the first day of production, but also how thrilled he is to be there and to be part ofStar Trek, at last. There’s no doubt in my mind that Paul Giamatti will tear up the screen and make the most of hisStar Trekdream come true.
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What Other Star Trek Actors Are Lifelong Fans?
Other actors' Star Trek dreams came true
Star Trekhas been around for nearly 60 years, and generations of actors have grown up asStar Trekfans. Some, like Paul Giamatti, have been able to live their dream and become part ofStar Trek.In the 1980s, Whoopi Goldberg was an Academy Award winner and one of the biggest movie stars in Hollywood.Goldberg asked to joinStar Trek: The Next Generation, which castWhoopi as Guinan, an iconic role Goldberg played as recently asStar Trek: Picardseason 2 in 2022.
Star Trek attracts the cream of the crop when it comes to actors who love the franchise.
Tawny Newsome, who playsStar Trek: Lower Decks’Lt. Beckett Mariner, and is one ofStar Trek: Starfleet Academy’s writers, grew up a diehard fan ofStar Trek: Deep Space Nine.Meanwhile, Sam Richardson, an Emmy winner fromVeepandTed Lasso, is also a lifelong fan, and is part of thecast ofStar Trek: Section 31,along with anotherStar Trekdevotee and Academy Award winner, Michelle Yeoh. OtherStar Trekfans like Adam Scott and Christian Slater got to be part of the franchise.Star Trekattracts the cream of the crop when it comes to actors who love the franchise, andPaul Giamatti is one of the best. I can’t wait to see Paul Giamatti make his mark inStar Trek: Starfleet Academy.
