The new trailer for the upcoming animated series Star Trek: Prodigy, the first Star Trek series aimed at youngsters, has offered the first footage of a familiar face's return, Star Trek: Voyager's Captain Kathryn Janeway. Helmed by Kevin and Dan Hageman, the Emmy Award-winning duo behind Trollhunters and Ninjago, the series will follow a motley crew of young aliens who commandeer a ship and must learn to work together as they navigate the wider galaxy in search of a better future. In another first for the Star Trek franchise, the six youngsters have no idea about the ship they have commandeered, but over the course of the show, they will each be introduced to Starfleet and its ideals.
Portrayed by Kate Mulgrew, Janeway was the captain of the USS Voyager who, over the course of Voyager, became the first starship captain to successfully traverse the Delta Quadrant. Over the course of the seven-year voyage, she is estimated to have made first contact with the most new species since Captain Kirk in the original series. Mulgrew would go on to reprise the role of Janeway for a cameo in the 2002 feature film Star Trek: Nemesis, and last year it was announced that she would be portraying Janeway once again in Prodigy.
Revealed as part of the Star Trek Day 2021 event, the new trailer shared by Paramount+ for Prodigy was virtually introduced by Mulgrew herself. Key art for the series was also unveiled by Kevin and Dan Hageman. The trailer shows Janeway as an emergency hologram on board the ship, welcoming the new crew aboard and offering them advice on their journey. You can check out the full trailer below:
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While it is clear that it won't be the true Janeway that the characters interact with, there remains the possibility that the real, in-the-flesh character could make an appearance. It is possible that the crew may encounter the Starfleet proper at some point later down the line. Until then, this holographic version of Janeway will play a key part of the series, serving as the youngsters' guide on their journey to explore the galaxy and seek their future within it.
Since Janeway is such a celebrated starship captain, she is perfectly placed to serve as the Prodigy crew's introduction to Starfleet and the wider Star Trek universe. And while long-time fans of Voyager and Janeway will undoubtedly be excited to see the character return, hopefully her presence alongside the new characters will also help to inspire a new generation of fans and encourage them to dive deeper into the iconic Star Trek catalog. Fortunately, both loyal, long-time fans and newcomers won't have long to wait. Star Trek: Prodigy will premiere on Nickelodeon on October 28 with a one-hour premiere episode.
Source: Paramount+