kate mulgrew star trek return

Star Trek: Voyager ’s Most Famous AI Says AI Can’t Ever Really Replace Humans

Robert Picardo gets real about the unreal.

Nearly 30 years ago, in 1995, the USS Voyager ’s chief medical officer was slain, so a backup was brought online in the form of a sentient AI hologram, formally known as the EMH — emergency medical hologram. But because the ship was stranded on the far end of the galaxy in the very first episode of Star Trek: Voyager , the EMH, later just known as “the Doctor,” became the full-time physician for the crew, despite being an AI that merely projected a physical body.

Played with epic sass by the legendary Robert Picardo, the Doctor wasn’t Star Trek’s first regular AI character. In fact, he wasn’t even Star Trek’s first self-aware hologram. The Voyager writers were inspired by the self-aware holographic version of the Sherlock Holmes villain Professor Moriarty (Daniel Davis) who had previously appeared in The Next Generation . “I think they sort of got the idea from developing his character,” Picardo tells Inverse . And now, almost three decades later, many wonder which kind of AI are we going to end up with — Moriarty or the Doctor?

“The Doctor’s growing sense of entitlement was always a positive thing on Voyager, ” Picardo says . “ But, obviously with artificial intelligence, their growing sense of entitlement can also represent something very dark and terrifying.”

As he makes his triumphant return to Star Trek, once again playing the Doctor in Star Trek: Prodigy , we caught up with Robert Picardo to get his take on coming back to Starfleet after all these years, and what real-world changes his famous character actually inspired.

Mild spoilers ahead for Star Trek: Prodigy Season 2.

The Return of the Doctor

The Doctor (Robert Picardo) talks with a hologram version of Janeway (Kate Mulgrew).

Because Star Trek: Prodigy Season 2 takes place in 2384 and 2385 , the series is contemporaneous with both Lower Decks and the backstory of Picard Season 1. This is why Prodigy Season 2 ends with the events that essentially began Picard Season 1, but it’s also why the Doctor mentions having dealt with the dysfunctional Lower Decks crew of the “Cerritos” in Prodigy . As the unofficial guide for the Prodigy kids on the USS Voyager-A , Picardo plays the Doctor basically exactly as he was on Voyager , which makes sense because this is technically only a few years after Voyager returned to the Alpha Quadrant. But Picardo admits that finding the literal voice of the Doctor was a little difficult. At first.

“It was mostly pitching up what I believe is my now-an-octave-lower voice in the same zone that the Doctor usually worked in,” Picardo says. “As we all know, holograms don’t age. So that was my main concern — not sounding older.”

Longtime Voyager fans will probably agree that Prodigy ’s version of the Doctor sounds straight out of the 1990s and that the character both aesthetically, and at his core, hasn’t changed at all. “I retained all of his foibles over the years,” Picardo says. “The character’s self-opinion, his desire to always increase his usefulness to the crew, all of that stayed pretty fresh in my mind.”

Robert Picardo’s Prescription for the Future

The Doctor (Robert Picardo) with a patient, B’Elanna Torres (Roxann Dawson), in Star Trek: Voyager .

At the time Star Trek: Voyager aired, the idea of a virtual physician, rather than a real human doctor, seemed like a leap centuries away, rather than decades. But now, of course, the ethics of actual AI doctors is an emergent issue, one that Picardo is very aware of.

“Certainly the boom in public discussion about artificial intelligence, it’s really started, it seems to me, in the last two years,” Picardo says. “I remember about a year and a half ago being interviewed by a Harvard medical doctor researcher who was writing a book on artificial intelligence in medicine. He wrote a whole chapter about me simply because his personal journey as a young man was watching Voyager and thinking that the perfect doctor was an artificial intelligence doctor, simply because you could program him with everything that every culture knew about medicine at that moment in time.”

But after this real-life Harvard doctor actually started studying medicine, he realized something that Picardo himself agreed with. “The journey of the Doctor on Voyager is that the doctor-patient relationship evolved,” Picardo explains. “It was the necessity for that connection and trust between the medical provider and the patient. It’s not just information or how to communicate it. It was the human aspect.”

On top of all of this, Picardo also suggests that outside of the fact that AIs tend to have bad bedside manners (just as the Doctor did at the start of Voyager ), the real concern is one of security. “I have great respect for medicine and for doctors, but a lot of the key issues that we’re all grappling with now with artificial intelligence we dealt with on Voyager 25 years ago,” he says. “If you design an AI to serve mankind, but someone can hijack the core programming and flip a switch. Well, then all bets are off.”

Star Trek: Prodigy streams on Netflix.

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‘Star Trek: Prodigy’ Is the Perfect Show for Trekkies — Now They Need to Watch It 

By Joe Otterson

Joe Otterson

TV Reporter

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When it was announced in 2019 that Nickelodeon would be getting its own animated “Star Trek” series, I must admit I was skeptical.

After all, “Star Trek: Discovery” was already airing its second season (which clearly set up the phenomenal spinoff “Strange New Worlds), and “Picard” had already been announced, as had the adult animated series “Lower Decks.” How could a show clearly intended for kids measure up against all of that?

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Not only did this show grab me right away, but my wife, who is by no means a Trekkie, found herself sucked into it as well. I do have to explain things to her from time to time, like what exactly a Ferengi is, but we are both completely hooked. Even friends who have happened to stop by while we’re watching it get into it. As one of them put it midway through an episode, “Why the hell am I so invested in this already?”

It could be because of the well-written characters: The cocky Dal, the wayward Gwyn, the surly Jankom, the noncorporeal Zero, the child-like Rok-Tahk, and the seemingly indestructible Murf.

It could be because the show is able to blaze its own path while also incorporating memorable parts of “Trek’s” past into the storytelling: The return of Kate Mulgrew as Janeway, the use of archival voice recordings to bring back characters like Odo and Spock in the Season 1 episode “Kobayashi,” or even a little encounter with the Borg.

Or maybe it’s the absolutely stunning visuals. I have almost never seen an animated series with more stunning imagery than what I see in nearly every episode of “Prodigy.”

Yet that’s where the problem is.

“Prodigy” aired its first season on Nickelodeon and Paramount+, and was renewed for a second season not long after it launched. But then, Paramount announced it was canceling the show , and pulling Season 1 off of its streaming service despite the fact that production on Season 2 was already underway.

Thankfully, CBS Studios was able to strike a deal with Netflix that saw the streaming giant pick up both seasons. Season 2 officially debuted on July 1, and it is a remarkable feat of storytelling. Despite being a “kid’s show,” Season 2 builds on the momentum of Season 1 and then some, weaving a complex time travel storyline that is among the finest seasons since the relaunch of the “Star Trek” TV franchise.

Now, “Trek” fans need to watch it.

It is no secret that shows’ renewals depend on viewership. Netflix doesn’t release much viewer data, beyond its weekly Top 10 lists, so it’s hard to gauge how well “Prodigy” Season 2 is doing. Thus far, though, it has not appeared on the Global Top 10 list, nor the U.S. Top 10 list.

It would be a grave disservice to “Star Trek” as a whole to let a show as wonderful as this one go when it is just finding its legs. So this is me sending out a distress call on all channels: Watch “Star Trek: Prodigy.” To not do so would be highly illogical.

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Kate Mulgrew Knows What She'd Like Her Bridge Crew to Look Like if a Captain Janeway Spin-Off Happens

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Star Trek had a strong presence at New York Comic Con this weekend, with cast members from Star Trek: Picard , Star Trek: Discovery , and Star Trek: Prodigy beaming down to share what fans can come to expect from the upcoming seasons of each series. During the Star Trek: Prodigy portion of the panel, a fan asked Kate Mulgrew about the potential of seeing her character, Captain Janeway, in live-action in the future. She indicated that it would be up to Alex Kurtzman , the architect behind this new era of Star Trek , to make the decision, but she hoped they would act on the idea while Janeway was still ambulatory. This isn't the first time a live-action Janeway conversation has come up with Mulgrew, which is why we spoke with her during a roundtable discussion before the panel. While Kurtzman revealed that there have been conversations, Mulgrew was a little more tight-lipped when the topic was broached with Collider.

In Star Trek: Prodigy , Mulgrew reprises her role as Star Trek: Voyager 's Captain Janeway two-fold, playing a hologram version of Janeway aboard the U.S.S. Protostar and Vice Admiral Janeway who is tracking down the Protostar to uncover what happened to Captain Chakotay ( Robert Beltran ). The series is set to return in October with the second half of Season 1, which will see Dal ( Brett Gray ), Gwyn ( Ella Purnell ), Rok-Tahk ( Rylee Alazraqui ), Jankom Pog ( Jason Mantazoukas ), Zero ( Angus Imrie ), and Murf ( Dee Bradley Baker ) continuing their misadventures aboard the Protostar .

When the topic of her being interested in a Janeway live-action was brought up during the roundtable, Mulgrew was quick to explain, "I haven't been saying that. Other people have been saying that." But she has been talking about the prospect of reprising the role outside of animation since at least June when Comicbook spoke with her about the Paramount+ series, and during Mission Star Trek in Las Vegas last month she indicated that there had been " conversations ," and even earlier this month she encouraged fans to make their interest in a live-action series known , which led to a fan petition to get the studio's attention.

RELATED: 'Star Trek: Prodigy' Midseason Trailer: Admiral Janeway Closes in on the Crew of the Protostar

While Mulgrew remains tight-lipped and hesitant to fully comment on a live-action Janeway series, she did share what her ideal bridge crew would look like, and it should be music to the ears of Star Trek fans everywhere. She said:

I'll tell you one thing: every color, every gender, [and] every disposition will be represented on that bridge if I'm the Captain again. And really representative, so that we know their backstory, so that their backstories of who they are enriches what's going on the bridge. A real deep dive into all the changes that our society has made. That's what I'd like. And if each and every one of them can be a brilliant actor, I just win, don't I?

With Kurtzman indicating that there have been conversations about the live-action, hopefully, we're one day closer to the reality of this series. Once Star Trek: Picard comes to an end next year, fans will likely be clamoring to see another one of their beloved Captains get their own solo series.

Star Trek: Prodigy returns on October 27th, check out the trailer below:

Kate Mulgrew reveals what it would take to get her back in a live action Star Trek series

By chad porto | oct 30, 2022.

Star Trek execs are seemingly pushing for Kate Mulgrew to return to live action.

Kate Mulgrew returned to Star Trek recently, reprising her role as Kathryn Janeway on Star Trek: Prodigy and Star Trek Online. On prodigy, she places Vice-Admiral Kathryn Janeway and the Emergency Command Hologram that is designed to look like Janeway. In Online, she did the voice of the video game character of Mirror Universe Janeway.

It seems, however, that many are pushing for her to return to the series in a live-action format. Mulgrew revealed at the Janeway Memorial in Bloomington, Indiana, that Trek’s head honcho Alex Kurtzman hinted at an idea for Janeway to return in live-action.

When asked (via TrekMovie.com ) if she had any ideas for Janeway’s return to the modern continuity (as Prodigy is set before the events of Picard), Mulgrew said she didn’t but did say she would need the writing on the show to be fantastic.

"I said this to Kurtzman. The writing is going to have to be absolutely exquisite and as tight—I mean so tight. I want that language to just burst! And I want the story to be so tenuous and taut. I said, “No languishing.” I don’t want peaks and valleys. I want a Janeway that everybody can say, “That’s what she’s become. I’m with her! This is great!” Right? And I think some sort of extraordinary adventure. Even greater than Voyager. Even greater than the Delta Quadrant."

Star Trek: Picard has made fans weary of seeing any more characters return

I would love to see Mulgrew return but after watching Star Trek: Picard and seeing how poorly that whole deal went, I, and many other fans would rather not see more stories involving this legendary cast and characters. It’s hard to say that Kurtzman will pay respect to these iconic characters in the way they deserve, as he and his writers have already done so much harm to these characters.

Now, they’ve found some success, so it’s always possible we get the next Strange New Worlds as opposed to a second Picard, but considering how important Janeway is to so many fans, it’s best to just stick to her role on Prodigy, where writers are forced to not be so dark and depressing like we saw on Picard.

Next. The Top 100 episodes in Star Trek franchise history according to metrics. dark

Star Trek's Kate Mulgrew Shared Her Thoughts About A Voyager Movie With Us Just Before Alex Kurtzman Teased Her Live-Action Return

The actress had an interesting response.

Star Trek: Voyager is a beloved show for franchise fans, but it never had the chance to shine as brightly back in its day. While The Next Generation had a handful of movies with Patrick Stewart and his crew, actress Kate Mulgrew had to settle for a cameo in Star Trek: Nemesis , and only recently had the chance to reprise her role as Kathryn Janeway on television in the animated series Prodigy . It sounds like more could be in the works, however, following Trek head Alex Kurtzman’s comments at New York Comic-Con. His comments have me really excited about what’s coming for her character, especially considering what Mulgrew said to CinemaBlend about a Voyager movie only hours before.  

I had the honor of speaking to Kate Mulgrew ahead of Star Trek: Prodigy ’s panel at New York Comic-Con, and while we discussed a lot about what’s to come in the Paramount+ and Nickelodeon series, we also briefly got on the topic of a Voyager movie. I noted that I’m a big advocate for a Voyager film being made in this streaming era, and Mulgrew agreed that the idea sounded fun: 

I think a Voyager movie would be fun, and I think you’re not alone in wanting to see that. I mean, this group, this crew was of terrific significance to thousands of people. So, I think to bring them together again, a little older, a little wiser, and a little saucier? That could be nothing short of very fun.

Hours later, Alex Kurtzman revealed that the franchise is looking into ways to bring Kate Mulgrew back as Janeway in a live-action project and that they have some ideas in the works. Now, I’m not saying that one of those ideas is a Voyager movie, but I am saying that Mulgrew had some personal thoughts to share on the idea pretty quickly. If Paramount+ is kicking around the idea of finally making a Voyager movie, there is no denying the timing is kind of perfect for this to be a “very fun” thing for fans. 

Kate Mulgrew is back in Star Trek as the Hologram Janeway and Vice Admiral Janeway in Prodigy , and her Voyager co-stars are also working in the franchise. Robert Beltran's Chakotay is also featured in the animated Prodigy series, and Jeri Ryan is currently a part of the cast of Picard as Seven of Nine. 

Beyond that, Star Trek 4 doesn’t seem like it’ll release anytime soon, and Paramount+ is a perfect place to release a more niche fan-interest project that may not appeal to a mainstream audience. Hey, they could even get Robert Duncan McNeill to direct it, and maybe even butter him up with a Captain Proton miniseries . 

Of course, there are plenty of options for Kate Mulgrew to return to Star Trek in live-action without it happening with a Star Trek: Voyager movie. Star Trek: Picard recently revealed Seven of Nine is officially a Starfleet officer, which opens the avenue for the franchise to do a Voyager continuation through her. There could also be a Janeway miniseries, though if there are still multiple ideas floating around out there, I’d prefer to stick with the “fun” idea of a Voyager movie (preferably one with redemption for Harry Kim ). 

Star Trek: Voyager doesn’t have a movie, but anyone with a Paramount+ subscription can stream the entire series right now. Here’s hoping that more Voyager content is headed there in the future, provided it doesn’t involve them getting lost in the Delta Quadrant yet again. 

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Mick Joest is a Content Producer for CinemaBlend with his hand in an eclectic mix of television goodness. Star Trek is his main jam, but he also regularly reports on happenings in the world of Star Trek, WWE, Doctor Who, 90 Day Fiancé, Quantum Leap, and Big Brother. He graduated from the University of Southern Indiana with a degree in Journalism and a minor in Radio and Television. He's great at hosting panels and appearing on podcasts if given the chance as well.

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Kate Mulgrew Wanted to Return to Star Trek to Bring in the Next Generation of Fans

She wants to take them on a voyage , of course.

Kate Mulgrew’s surprising return to Trek is coming in the form of a major appearance on the upcoming Star Trek: Prodigy . Unlike her predecessor in the captain’s chair, Sir Patrick Stewart, whose return for Star Trek: Picard was billed as a darker, mature drama beyond its nostalgic indulgence— jury’s out on whether or not that was the case!—Mulgrew’s return to Starfleet is aimed at a much different audience than Voyager fans.

https://gizmodo.com/say-hello-to-star-trek-prodigys-all-new-all-alien-kid-1846349367

Prodigy is Star Trek’s third animated series, and its first foray into explicitly targeting younger audiences since the classic The Animated Series—and that was the reason Mulgrew was so willing to make a comeback. That said, it wasn’t without a moment of confusion, at first. “She’s always present in my life. Not a day goes by where I don’t have some reminder or request about Janeway or something to do with the future of Janeway,” Mulgrew recently told CBR . “And when [executive producer] Alex Kurtzman approached me—when I was doing Mr. Mercedes, that’s when he called me—I was curious about it; slightly bewildered about it being an animated series, I didn’t quite understand it.”

But according to the actress, it didn’t take long for her to find the spark of intrigue that drew her back like the promise of coffee in a nebula. “It was explained to me in detail and I thought to myself ‘Wow, this will be terrific to bring this to young people who may be watching this with their mothers who watched me as Captain Janeway in live-action,’” the actor continued, “and it will bring the entire family into the orbit of Star Trek and this is something that I very much want to do.”

There’s already been much said by fans of the necessity of giving young audiences their own “in” on Star Trek. After all, why can’t they get into it like we did, watching the classic shows, intended for older and family audiences—but watching anyway because that’s what Trek was? In part, there’s an element of gatekeeping, in that Prodigy is not necessarily strictly for people who are already fans of Star Trek, and therefore those people aren’t being catered to like they have been with literally every other iteration of the franchise. Or the idea that, if you ignore the ongoing children’s animation renaissance and simply believe all cartoons are inherently “dumbed down” for those gosh darn stupid babies, you won’t get something in Prodigy that speaks to Trek’s moralistic, scientific, and progressive cultural ideals.

But it’s clear to the people making Prodigy, Mulgrew included, that making a space that is specifically for young audiences to find a potential in-road to Star Trek is one of the most exciting things about the entire endeavor. After all, we’re living in an age of all-Trek, all the time right now. Why not let the kids meet the Delta Quadrant’s finest captain on their own terms?

Star Trek: Prodigy is set to launch on Paramount+ later this year, before airing on Nickelodeon.

https://gizmodo.com/the-nickelodeon-star-trek-show-wont-talk-down-to-its-yo-1838873110

For more, make sure you’re following us on our new Instagram @ io9dotcom .

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Published Oct 8, 2020

Kate Mulgrew Returns to the Star Trek Universe

Captain Janeway joins Nickelodeon's Prodigy.

StarTrek.com

Nickelodeon and CBS Studios today announced that Kate Mulgrew ( Star Trek: Voyager ) will reprise her role as Captain Kathryn Janeway in Nickelodeon’s all-new animated series Star Trek: Prodigy. The news was revealed today as a surprise announcement during the Star Trek Universe virtual panel at New York Comic Con. Additional casting news will be announced in the coming months.

Star Trek: Prodigy Beams Down to NYCC

Kate Mulgrew stated, “I have invested every scintilla of my being in Captain Janeway, and I can’t wait to endow her with nuance that I never did before in Star Trek: Prodigy . How thrilling to be able to introduce to these young minds an idea that has elevated the world for decades. To be at the helm again is going to be deeply gratifying in a new way for me.”

Executive Producer Alex Kurtzman said, “Captain Janeway was held to a different standard than her predecessors. She was asked to embody an inhuman level of perfection in order to be accepted as ‘good enough’ by the doubters, but showed them all what it means to be truly outstanding. We can think of no better captain to inspire the next generation of dreamers on Nickelodeon, than she.”

“Kate’s portrayal of Captain Janeway is truly iconic, and has resonated with a global audience for many years,” said Ramsey Naito, President, Nickelodeon Animation. “We can’t wait to see her bring this character to life in a whole new way, while continuing to be an inspiration for both new and loyal fans.”

Into the #Starchive with Captain Janeway's OG Uniform

Developed by Emmy® Award winners Kevin and Dan Hageman (Trollhunters and Ninjago) and overseen for Nickelodeon by Naito, Star Trek: Prodigy follows a group of lawless teens who discover a derelict Starfleet ship and use it to search for adventure, meaning and salvation. The CG-animated series will debut exclusively on Nickelodeon in 2021 for a new generation of fans.

Star Trek: Prodigy is from CBS’ Eye Animation Productions, CBS Studios’ new animation arm; Secret Hideout; and Roddenberry Entertainment. Alex Kurtzman, Heather Kadin, Katie Krentz, Rod Roddenberry and Trevor Roth will serve as executive producers alongside co-showrunners Kevin and Dan Hageman. Ben Hibon will direct, co-executive produce and serve as the creative lead of the all-new animated series. Aaron Baiers will also serve as co-executive producer with Mac Middleton as a producer. Production of Star Trek: Prodigy is overseen for Nickelodeon by Claudia Spinelli, Senior Vice President, Animation Development and Kelley Gardner, Vice President, Current Series Animation.

Get Updates By Email

Star Trek: Prodigy will stream on Netflix globally (excluding Canada, Nordics, CEE, Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, Poland, Russia, Belarus and Mainland China) and Season 1 is currently available on SkyShowtime in the Nordics, the Netherlands, Spain, Portugal and Central and Eastern Europe with Season 2 coming soon. Season two has launched in France on France Televisions channels and Okoo.

Star Trek: Voyager's Kate Mulgrew is Open to Live-Action Return of Janeway

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Perhaps the live-action return of Janeway in the Star Trek universe is something that could become a reality. Previously, Kate Mulgrew starred as Captain Kathryn Janeway in Star Trek: Voyager from 1995 to 2001. More recently, Mulgrew reprised the role by voicing an animated Janeway, now a Starfleet Admiral, in the Nickelodeon cartoon series Star Trek: Prodigy .

Meanwhile, the Paramount+ series Star Trek: Picard has brought back many original cast members from The Next Generation to join lead star Patrick Stewart. It has also been confirmed that the rest of the cast are all coming back for a special reunion in the third and final season of Picard . That's in addition to Voyager star Jeri Ryan returning as Seven of Nine in Picard and even mentioning Admiral Janeway by name.

Seeing Trek alumni from the past reprising their roles, coupled with the mention by Seven of Nine in Picard , led to Mulgrew getting asked about a possible return for the live-action Janeway in a new interview with ComicBook.com . While she says it's too late to get involved with Picard , she admits she's been thinking about physically reprising her Voyager role.

"Well, I think Picard is done, unless I'm quite mistaken. I think they've finished, but it's not likely that Janeway will show up on Picard . But who knows what will happen to her in the future? There seems to be, as I said to you earlier, a tremendous resurgence here, a rather vital one. So for the first time, I'm actually looking at it with new eyes. I wonder what would happen if Janeway were to come back to live-action."

Related: LeVar Burton Opens Up on Reprising Geordi LaForge Role for Star Trek: Picard

Star Trek: Prodigy Features the Voice of Kate Mulgrew as Janeway

It remains to be seen if Admiral Janeway appears in any new Star Trek television shows or movies. For now, Trekkies can check back in with the character by watching the animated Janeway on Star Trek: Prodigy . The series, which follows a group of young aliens using an abandoned starship to explore the galaxy, first debuted in 2021 and has since put a second season into production. Mulgrew voices the real Janeway as well as a holographic advisor that uses her likeness. In her new interview, Janeway teased what fans can expect from Admiral Janeway(s) in season 2.

"There are many more surprises in store, so I have to be careful. She is an admiral, but she is capable of surprising even herself, and what is coming will be entirely unexpected and will then turn into something pretty wonderful, taking this into an altogether new season for Janeway in her several incarnations."

In any case, there's plenty more of Janeway to come. You can stream Star Trek: Prodigy on Paramount+. To revisit the live-action Kathryn Janeway, you can also stream the original Star Trek: Voyager series on Paramount+. The first two seasons of Picard are also available on the streaming service and a third season is currently in the works.

• Kate Mulgrew

We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article.

Star Trek's Kate Mulgrew addresses return in spin-off series

"She has never left me."

The animated series will see the Orange is the New Black star voice a holographic version of her iconic Star Trek: Voyager and Star Trek: Nemesis character.

Speaking about her return to Star Trek ahead of the show's premiere this autumn, Mulgrew told Den of Gee k : " Star Trek is never far from me.

Related: Star Trek: Prodigy 's first trailer sees the return of Captain Janeway and reveals release date

"Janeway defined an era for me, and as it turns out, the rest of my life... I love her. When a character defines a part of her life, you are in turn greatly deeply, which I am. She has never left me and I am thrilled to be back and to be introducing this to children."

Mulgrew also spoke about how the Hologram version of Janeway will be different from her live-action incarnations in Star Trek: Voyager and Star Trek: Nemesis , admitting that this version will be much like her previous incarnation and will be "full of her humanity and full of her levity."

Mulgrew added that the character will have the "same deep sense of self-command, but great fun," also teasing that Janeway is delighted to be helping the Prodigy characters in their journey.

"She's going to love them, whether they like it or not," she added.

Star Trek: Prodigy follows a group of teenage rebels who, upon discovering a broken down Federation ship, commandeer it for their own adventures.

Alongside Mulgrew, the series stars Army of the Dead actress Ella Purnell and Brooklyn Nine-Nine 's Jason Mantzoukas (Pimento). The Crown actor Angus Imrie (Prince Edward), On My Block 's Brett Gray, Star Wars: The Bad Batch 's Dee Bradley Baker and Rylee Alazraqui round out the cast.

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Star Trek: Kate Mulgrew Addresses Possible Live-Action Janeway Return

Kate Mulgrew says she is considering Kathryn Janeway's return in a live-action Star Trek project

Published: Jun 12, 2022, 4:55 Updated: Jun 12, 2022, 5:50

There are a lot of reasons why Trekkies have been loving Star Trek Prodigy . In addition to introducing awesome new characters, the animated series has also brought back Kathryn Janeway, or at least a hologram version of the USS Voyager captain. But is there a chance we'll get to see Janeway return for a live-action project? Kate Mulgrew has addressed the possibility of reprising her role and it sounds like she's open to the idea!

Kate Mulgrew recently spoke to Comicbook.com while promoting her new project The Man Who Fell to Earth . Not surprisingly, Mulgrew was asked if there is any chance she will show up in the final season of Star Trek: Picard .

"Well, I think Picard is done, unless I'm quite mistaken," Mulgrew said before adding, "I think they've finished, but it's not likely that Janeway will show up on Picard . But who knows what will happen to her in the future?"

She then pointed out that Star Trek is going through a revival and anything is possible.

"There seems to be, as I said to you earlier, a tremendous resurgence here, a rather vital one. So for the first time, I'm actually looking at it with new eyes. I wonder what would happen if Janeway were to come back to live-action," Mulgrew said.

It's a hopeful response and a welcome one for fans who have always admired the character. For now, it is unclear whether Janeway is actually showing up in the final season of Star Trek: Picard but Trekkies are keeping their fingers crossed. Additionally, there are other shows where the character could return in in the future.

Kate Mulgrew appears in The Man Who Fell to Earth , which airs on Showtime every Sunday. The eighth episode will premiere on June 19, 2022.

Related: Star Trek: Picard Showrunner Teases Season 3 Villain

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Mulgrew’s return to  Star Trek was first announced last October , and just last month we got our first look at the intrepid captain’s new animated look as part of the April  First Contact Day news tsunami.

Beyond that, however, no details on the show’s additional voice talent — or a release date — has been announced by Paramount+, where the show will initially debut before later re-airing on Nickelodeon.

Keep your sensors locked on TrekCore for all the latest  Star Trek: Prodigy news as it breaks — and let us know what you think about this new bit of info about the show’s storyline in the comments below!

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Star Trek: TNG Actor Reveals How Long He Kept His Prodigy Return a Secret

The following contains spoilers for Star Trek: Prodigy season 2, now streaming on Netflix.

Will Wheaton had to keep a lot of people in the dark about his surprise Star Trek: Prodigy return.

In a conversation with Screen Rant , Wheaton talked about his return as Starfleet prodigy-turned-Traveler Wesley Crusher and maintaining secrecy about Wesley's season 2 role over the past few years. "Not a lot of people [knew]. I mean, the folks who worked on the show, obviously. Most of my [ Star Trek: The Next Generation ] cast didn't know . My space mom [Gates McFadden] knows. [Jonathan] Frakes knew. Kate [Mulgrew] knew because we had scenes together. But nobody else knew. It was a gigantic secret ," he said.

Star Trek: Voyager's Robert Picardo Reveals the Challenges of Prodigy Return

Robert Picardo discusses the challenges he faced playing his live-action Star Trek: Voyager character in the animated Star Trek: Prodigy.

This secrecy extended to Wheaton's brief Star Trek: Picard season 2 cameo, noting how "for years - years! - people have been saying to me, 'Man, I want to see Wesley again. Do you think he'll be in Strange New Worlds ? Do you think you'll be in Prodigy ? Do you think he'll be in –?' And every time I was like, 'I'm going to tell you a big old lie right now because that's what I have to do. I don't know.' So sorry, everybody. SURPRISE!"

"So sorry, everybody. SURPRISE!"

Season 2 revolved around the USS Protostar crew's attempt to rescue Star Trek: Voyager 's Chakotay (Robert Beltran) and restore their timeline, ultimately discovering Wesley as a temporal aid in their quest. Through Wesley, it's revealed that the kids' actions -- sending Chakotay back in time with the Protostar, sparking a time paradox -- opened dimensional rifts across time and space, inadvertently making the cadets targets of a transdimensional species known as the Loom. On why they brought back Wheaton , showrunners Kevin and Dan Hageman revealed that, given Wesley's controversial status amongst Trek fans, "Everyone seemed afraid to touch him, and to bring that character back. I'm like, 'Let's do something great with him. Let's make him a wonderful mentor, but a little scatterbrained and a little untrustworthy.'"

Star Trek V's Sybok Actor Addresses Longstanding Spock Rumor

Laurence Luckinbill believes that rumors led him to land the role of Spock's half-brother.

Wheaton wasn't the only Trek actor to return for Prodigy . Along with Mulgrew as Admiral Janeway and the Protostar's hologram Janeway, season 2 featured cameos by Gates McFadden as Wesley's mother Beverly Crusher, as well as a recurring role by Voyager 's Robert Picardo as the Emergency Medical Hologram Doctor aboard Prodigy 's new USS Voyager. McFadden previously returned alongside the entire Next Generation cast in Picard season 3, revealing her and Jean-Luc Picard's son -- and, by extension, Wesley's half-brother -- Jack Crusher as a major character across the season's events.

Star Trek: Prodigy Found a New Home on Paramount+

Initially canceled by Paramount+ mid-development, Star Trek: Prodigy found a new home on Netflix following an online fan campaign for the show's renewal. The other animated Trek show, Star Trek: Lower Decks , will release its final season later this year.

Star Trek: Prodigy seasons 1 and 2 are available to stream on Netflix .

Source: Screen Rant

Star Trek: Prodigy

A group of enslaved teenagers steal a derelict Starfleet vessel to escape and explore the galaxy.

Release Date October 28, 2021

Cast Kate Mulgrew, John Noble, Jason Mantzoukas, Brett Gray, Angus Imrie, Jimmi Simpson, Ella Purnell, Dee Bradley Baker

Main Genre Science Fiction

Genres Animation, Sci-Fi, Action, Adventure

Rating TV-Y7

Creator Dan Hageman and Kevin Hageman

Franchise(s) Star Trek

Main Cast Kate Mulgrew, Rylee Alazraqui, Dee Bradley Baker, Brett Gray, Angus Imrie, Ella Purnell, Jason Mantzoukas and John Noble

• July 24, 2024 | Interview: Wil Wheaton On Fans Celebrating Wesley “Coming Home,” Sweaters, And More ‘Star Trek: Prodigy’
• July 23, 2024 | Michelle Yeoh’s ‘Section 31’ Looms Over San Diego As Star Trek Heads To Comic-Con 2024
• July 23, 2024 | Recap/Review: ‘Star Trek: Prodigy’ Takes On An Impossible Mission In “Brink” [Ep. 217]
• July 23, 2024 | See Worf’s Crew Thrust Into Romulan Intrigue In Preview Of ‘Star Trek: Defiant’ #17
• July 22, 2024 | Recap/Review: ‘Star Trek: Prodigy’ Gets Back Into The Fight In “Ascension, Part I & II” [Ep. 215/216]

Interview: Kate Mulgrew On Janeway’s “Harrowing” Journey In Upcoming Return On ‘Star Trek: Prodigy’

| October 13, 2022 | By: Michael A. Nguyen 6 comments so far

At New York Comic Con TrekMovie joined a group press interview with members of the cast and producers from Star Trek: Prodigy . This included Kate Mulgrew who talks about what we can expect from both Hologram Janeway and Vice Admiral Janeway in the upcoming second half of season one.

Note: The interview contains some minor spoilers and has been edited for brevity and clarity.  

Is there a moment coming in the second half of the season that was really gratifying to voice act? Something that you’re really proud of?

Well, that’s a spoiler if I just say it. Let me just suggest this: there are several iterations of Janeway. And some of them are shocking, and dark, and unexpected. And then the journey takes a harrowing turn. And that was really fun.

So Janeway has experience dealing with an evolving holographic program. But what’s the dynamic going to be like when she deals with a hologram of herself?

Vice Admiral Janeway has matured deeply and she’s very seasoned at this stage of the game. She would be slightly dismissive of a hologram, wouldn’t she? Until that hologram convinces you that it should be otherwise.

Janeway has always had a strong commitment to personal relationships and also to the mission and it’s hard to tell which one is stronger. In Admiral Janeway’s search for Chakotay, how much of it is personal? Or is there a bigger mission?

Well, that’s already very astute of you. Because this is the essence of Janeway. They’re inseparable. Her investment is always personal, even if it’s Species 8472 whom she loathed. In the end, she sort of felt sorry for them. Look at Seven of Nine, how deeply personal that became in short order. So if I’m trying to find Chakotay, you better believe that the investment is going to be huge. And the payoff is going to be – after many bumps and many twists, and many very difficult turns – rewarding.

Admiral Janeway from Star Trek Day clip

Did you get to work with Robert Beltran and if so/what was that like?

I didn’t work with him.  I don’t even hear his voice. No, it’s just lines and then I do mine. I haven’t seen him. And one can only hope that those old days – that’s like old Hollywood, the golden days when they’d go into recording booths and there’d be two or three of us – those days are over. COVID made sure of that. Maybe there will be an opportunity when Robert and I can get together which I’d love because I love him. But that’s the way it is now. And it’s enough to remember. It’s certainly enough. It’s all in the writing. And the writing is exquisite. Thank God for the Hageman brothers.

Do you record on your own at home or at a studio?

I have to go into a studio. I demand it, and they do too. The quality on this show is so high. I don’t do any of that home stuff.  That’s for the birds. I want the exquisite calibration of the engineer in the other room. I want to know that every pitch that I’m striving for, every note, every intention is perfectly recorded. And I just don’t believe that in my bathroom with cardboards up on the wall and taped to the windows it’s going to have the same effect. I don’t like any of this stuff at home. I think we need to go to work. You know what I mean? Go to work! Alright, now that I got that out. [laughs]

How do you approach voice acting as opposed to your time in film and television?

Oh it’s much easier. Much, much easier. It’s very freeing, very liberating. And I’m collaborating with Kevin and Dan Hageman, who are not only genius-level creators and writers. But they’re so kind. They’re such decent men that when I’m working with them I just feel that I can do anything, and that we’re in it together. And I’ve seldom felt this level of collaboration. Because in live-action, it’s very intense. Even in Orange is the New Black where there was a lot of stuff going on, it was hit your mark, cut, print, moving on. We would get a take, at most two takes. Here we work, we play, “Can I get another one? I’d like to try this.”  They never say no. And they always say, “Try this, let’s go here.” And it just makes it a great session.

You embody Janeway so during the process were there any things you changed or tweaked for Janeway on Prodigy ?

Of course. The Hagemans are completely collaborative. They know that I created Kathryn Janeway, so they’re not going to tell me how to bring this hologram to life. But I think after I finished tweaking the animatics – here physical being, and I did play a big part of that. The humor. Not softness, not tenderness, but empathy. This hologram has empathy for these kids. I mean, they’re all in trouble, especially Dal, who has suffered, arguably more than all of them put together. Hologram Janeway is going to have to really exercise her diplomacy and her wisdom when it comes to dealing with a guy like Dal, who is so sure he’s going to die, that he does everything to upend it. Again, it’s the personal investment. But it has to be always grounded in the fact that I’m there to teach them Starfleet skills. The Prime Directive. Take each other’s hands and let’s get going. I can’t do this alone. If only we knew that as a species, but we don’t know it do we? We cannot do this alone.

Hologram Janeway with Dal in Star Trek Day clip

What are your thoughts on being the character that’s meant to help introduce a new generation of fans to the Star Trek universe?

But of course, who else could it be? She’s a great choice. They were smart. Alex Kurtzman was smart to ask me. Because I think he understood something that even I could not see, which is why he is the visionary now and has assumed the mantle of all the franchise. I think he knew that the mother would say to the child, “We’re going to watch Star Trek Prodigy and I’m going to tell you who that person is. The child’s going to understand it as Hologram Janeway but the mother is going to support it with her knowledge of who Captain Janeway is. I think that was the intention, to make it a cross-generational passionate conversation. And that will be an extraordinary accomplishment, won’t it?

How did you approach Janeway’s transition from being a captain mentor to a mentor for kids?

It took some adjusting, of course. It’s a hologram we’re talking about so the challenge was how do I endow this hologram with interesting traits without making her a cardboard copy of what once was. So I very slowly, but subtly tried to place humor, warmth, and even some degree of discernment. She likes some, she doesn’t really trust others’ opinions. And I’ve developed that, slowly. But I’ve tried to ground her. She gets this barometer, Hologram Janeway. Vice Admiral gets this. So I’ve just run the gamut when I’m given that shot. And often I have scenes where they’re back-to-back. So I get to switch on and switch off which is really challenging and really fun. Hologram Janeway is a little lighter in tone so that the children are listening to me with a certain degree of comfort. Because I think if you deepen it and you go to the admiral, you’re going to turn them off. But if you lighten it, even in your command, and say “You do that again, you’re going to pay a price for that.” So I have to do according to what’s going on in my imagination but it’s fun. You’d be surprised at the freedom in the booth. A lot of freedom.

Prodigy has already been picked up for another season of twenty more episodes. What do you credit the success of Prodigy to be?

The philosophy. We’re living in very strange times. Have you been watching the news? This is the first time since the Cold War that the President has said, we’re really in peril. The whole thing could go up. I said at a dinner party in Prague last week, next to a renowned Czech physicist. And you know what he said to me? “Any moment and it will happen.” I said, “Oh now you’ve had too much whiskey.” He said, “I haven’t had enough, and neither have you.” So what was your question? [laughs]

More Star Trek from NYCC

We have some more interviews from New York Comic Con to come so keep coming back to TrekMovie.com for all the latest from NYCC 2022. See more of our NYCC coverage here .

Prodigy mid-season trailer

In case you missed it, here again, is the mid-season trailer released at NYCC. [international version at startrek.com ]

Prodigy will return on Thursday, Oct. 27 exclusively for Paramount+ subscribers in the U.S., and on Friday, Oct. 28 in Latin America, Australia, Italy and the U.K. Following the premiere, new episodes of the 10-episode-long second half will be available to stream weekly on Thursdays. The series will air later in the year in South Korea, Germany, Italy, France, Austria and Switzerland.

Keep up with news for the Star Trek Universe at TrekMovie.com .

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Star Trek: Prodigy

‘Star Trek: Prodigy’ Season 2 Launching On SkyShowtime In Europe In August; Canada Still Waiting

I have a special place in my heart for Voyager. It happened during a difficult time in my teens and the premise was so intriguing. I just wanted to be far away from everything. 40 episodes with Janeway is a gift even if it’s not quite the same as live action.

This sounds great. I don’t really get why she needs another series besides this one other than for the $.

Let’s get some other great Trek characters, like one or two of the DS9 cast, their series next. Mulgrew doesn’t need to get two series — that seems rather greedy given other major and beloved characters like Kira don’t even have one series yet.

‘Fairness’ ha nothing to do with this.

As much as I like Kira as a character, and no matter how groundbreaking for the time, Janeway is – as an established fact – the character that has had greater impact in terms of inspiring young people.

She wasn’t my ideal of a female captain nor my spouse’s, but our kids definitely looked up to her in their middle grades.

One even (to our surprise) wrote a school essay about her as the hero that inspired them. This really surprised us so I did some research only to find that this wasn’t at all unique, and that the stats on streaming viewership in Netflix put Voyager at the top of the classic Trek shows.

So, why is it that when a female character is popular and inspirational, people come out with comments like ‘she shouldn’t be greedy.’ I can’t recall anyone saying that about Shatner making return trips to the Trek well, or Patrick Stewart.

It’s about passing on the values of IDIC to the next generation.

Love Kate Mulgrew! I’m always so impressed how she speaks on everything so thoughtfully just as Janeway does. This was a great interview as usual. Loving Lower Decks but can’t wait for Prodigy to come back. That show is also amazing and looks like it’s going to get crazier based on the trailer. And yes, I hope we see Chakotay sooner than later! Can’t wait to see both of them reunited. This Voyager fanboy heart will melt the day that happens! :)

Mulgrew/Janeway= ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️

Screen Rant

Why star trek: prodigy was canceled & what happens next on netflix.

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Star Trek: Prodigy Season 3 - Everything We Know

Kate mulgrew urges fans to watch star trek: prodigy season 2, hopes for more seasons, star trek: prodigy co-ep aaron j. waltke deep dives into season 2's star trek lore.

• Star Trek: Prodigy was canceled by Paramount+ but found new life on Netflix, where both seasons are now streaming.
• The animated show introduced a new generation to Star Trek and its characters, earning critical acclaim on Netflix.
• While a third season is uncertain, the creators are open to continuing the series or exploring a Star Trek animated movie.

Star Trek: Prodigy was unexpectedly canceled by Paramount+, but found new life on Netflix. On Friday, June 23, 2023, Paramount+ announced the cancelation of four shows: Star Trek: Prodigy, Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies, The Game , and Queen of the Universe . A Paramount+ spokesman said those series, "have completed their runs on Paramount + and will not be returning to the service. We want to extend our thanks to our tremendously talented cast and crew and our producing partners for their passionate work and dedication on these programs, and we wish them all the best on their future endeavors.”

Created by Kevin and Dan Hageman, Star Trek: Prodigy was the first Star Trek animated show aimed at younger viewers, and it can take immense pride in introducing a new generation to Star Trek and its lofty ideals. Prodigy featured the return of Kate Mulgrew as the iconic Admiral Kathryn Janeway , as well as a Hologram of Janeway. Prodigy's talented voice cast includes Brett Gray, Ella Purnell, Rylee Alazraqui, and Angus Imrie, along with Dee Bradley Baker, Jason Mantzoukas, Jimmi Simpson, Jameela Jamil, and John Noble. Prodigy was a joint venture of Paramount+/CBS Studios and Nickelodeon Studios.

Star Trek: Prodigy seasons 1 and 2 are now streaming on Netflix.

Netflix has the option to order Star Trek: Prodigy season 3. Here's what we know about the young Starfleet crew of the USS Protostar's return.

Star Trek: Prodigy Season 2 Is Now Streaming On Netflix

Prodigy season 2 sends the protostar kids on another twisty, high-stakes adventure..

After its sudden cancellation by Paramount+, Star Trek: Prodigy eventually found a new streaming home on Netflix. All 20 episodes of both seasons are available to stream, and there is no indication that they will disappear anytime soon. With its massive, global subscriber count, Netflix brought in new viewers for Star Trek: Prodigy season 1, and Prodigy season 2 landed in the Netflix top 10 in various countries around the world. Star Trek: Prodigy season 2 currently sits at 100% on Rotten Tomatoes (with 6 reviews), raising the question of whether the show will get a third season.

Following the adventures of Dal R'El (Brett Gray) and his misfit crew on the USS Protostar, Star Trek: Prodigy has something for everyone. The charming young characters and their adventures appeal to younger audiences, while the many connections and shout-outs to previous Star Trek series appeal to longtime fans. Not only does Prodigy serve as a good entry point to the Star Trek franchise, but it also looks beautiful and tells a compelling story on its own. Star Trek: Prodigy season 2 picks up where the first left off, with the Protostar kids accompanying Admiral Janeway on a dangerous mission to rescue Captain Chakotay (Robert Beltran).

In a surprising and welcome return as The Traveler, Wesley Crusher (Wil Wheaton) plays a major role in Star Trek: Prodigy season 2, helping the Protostar kids fix the timeline and restore the proper future.

Why Star Trek: Prodigy Was Canceled By Paramount Plus

Paramount+ canceled several shows and removed them from the platform..

Star Trek: Prodigy was canceled as part of Paramount+'s merger with Showtime in June 2023. To add insult to injury, Prodigy and the other canceled series were removed from Paramount+ entirely. Star Trek: Prodigy season 2 still completed its post-production in December 2023, but the new episodes did not stream on Paramount+. In spite of being a joint production with Nickelodeon, Star Trek: Prodigy season 2 did not air on Nickelodeon either. CBS Studios shopped Star Trek: Prodigy to other streaming services and found a new home for both seasons on Netflix.

On Twitter, Star Trek: Prodigy 's executive producers Kevin and Dan Hageman confirmed the news:

Executive producer Aaron J. Waltke also Tweeted to clarify that Star Trek: Prodigy will complete production of season 2:

According to Variety, the decision to cancel Star Trek: Prodigy was "data-driven, though Paramount did not share any specific data that highlighted why these shows are being canceled and removed." The move, however, reflects the deleterious changes across the streaming industry, as services like Max, Netflix, Disney+, and Hulu have deleted existing shows and content as cost-cutting measures and for tax write-offs. Months ago, Paramount+ purged other titles from its service such as Coyote, The Real World, and The Twilight Zone.

How Star Trek: Prodigy Landed On Netflix

Passionate fan support likely helped prodigy find a new home at netflix..

Star Trek: Prodigy found a home on Netflix thanks in large part to the show's fans, who launched a GoFundMe campaign that led to an airplane flying over the Netflix offices. Prodigy then became the first Star Trek series not streamed on Paramount+ since the television franchise was resurrected in 2017 with Star Trek: Discovery . ( Star Trek: Discovery came to an end on Paramount+ in May 2024.) In many ways, Netflix was the perfect home for Star Trek: Prodigy. Not only is Netflix the industry leading streaming service, but it also produces many great animated projects that do well on the platform.

Regarding Netflix's decision to pick up Star Trek: Prodigy, Kate Mulgrew said the following:

“I've always held that the Star Trek fan base is among the strongest and most intelligent in the world. They have shown their collective passion, and we’re happy to be able to celebrate Prodigy once again."

When the release date for Star Trek: Prodigy season 2 was announced, Mulgrew took to social media to urge fans to watch the new season. On July 1st, Netflix released all 20 episodes of Star Trek: Prodigy season 2 on the same day, a first for any Star Trek show, and it remains to be seen how this strategy will affect the viewing numbers. With its stunning visuals and compelling storyline, Star Trek : Prodigy is not only excellent Star Trek , but also great television. Hopefully, new fans will discover the show on Netflix and realize that Dal and his friends have many more stories to tell.

With Star Trek: Prodigy season 2 premiering on Netflix on July 1st, Kate Mulgrew urges fans to watch so that Netflix orders more seasons.

Will There Be A Star Trek: Prodigy Season 3?

The door remains open for prodigy season 3 or a prodigy film..

Although Star Trek: Prodigy season 2 has received widespread praise from fans and critics, the show's future remains unknown. There is a very real possibility that Netflix could decide they want more Prodigy, which could come in the form of another season or Star Trek's first animated movie . Star Trek: Prodigy creators Kevin and Dan Hageman have expressed their interest in continuing the series and suggested they have ideas for more adventures with the young heroes of the USS Protostar.

Whether or not Star Trek: Prodigy gets season 3, season 2 completes the saga that began with the series premiere.

Although Star Trek: Prodigy's season 2 finale leaves the door open for more adventures with Dal R'El and his friends, it also serves as a nice send-off, leaving the viewer to imagine the characters' futures. Still, Prodigy introduced some wonderful new characters to the Trek universe, and it would be a shame for their stories to be over. Time will tell whether audiences will ever see more Star Trek: Prodigy, but for now, both seasons will remain available to stream on Netflix.

'35 Years Overdue': Wil Wheaton Reacts to Star Trek Fans Finally Embracing Wesley Crusher

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Many fans were not quick to accept Wil Wheaton's Wesley Crusher after the character was introduced in Star Trek: The Next Generation . Nowadays, Wesley seems to be much better accepted by the fan base, and Wheaton is happy to see the character get his long-overdue love.

In an interview with Collider , Wheaton discussed returning as the voice of Wesley Crusher in Season 2 of the animated series Star Trek: Prodigy . He was asked about how fans have had a positive response to Wesley appearing prominently in Prodigy , and the actor expressed how wonderful it feels to have such a strong response. Observing how times have changed, Wheaton reflected on how difficult it was back during the days of The Next Generation when so many fans weren't taking well to his character.

Star Trek: TNG Actor Reveals How Long He Kept His Prodigy Return a Secret

A notable Star Trek: The Next Generation star calls his Star Trek: Prodigy appearance "a gigantic secret" that he hid from everyone "for years."

"It's 35 years overdue ," Wheaton said. "When I was a kid, and I was 14, 15, 16 years old, my home life was terrible. I was really sad and abused and having a terrible time at home, and the only place I was happy and felt safe was at work. I went to work and I loved my Star Trek family , and they loved me and I loved being there. And then the work we did, people were mean to me about it . People who didn't know me, who I didn't know, got on what was Usenet at the time, and they were awful. They wrote angry letters to Starlog, and they were really mean to me . They were cruel to this child at conventions and stuff in ways that would never fly today."

"They were cruel to this child at conventions and stuff in ways that would never fly today."

Wheaton added, "I think that a narrative took hold — 'Nobody likes Wesley.' That is empirically false. That is completely unsupported by decades of data. The truth is the kids who Wesley was meant to bring into Star Trek loved him! A lot of them grew up to work on Star Trek , right? [Laughs] What happened is, at that time, the kids who loved it weren't writing letters, they were not using Usenet. They didn't even have modems!"

Star Trek: Voyager's Robert Picardo Reveals the Challenges of Prodigy Return

Robert Picardo discusses the challenges he faced playing his live-action Star Trek: Voyager character in the animated Star Trek: Prodigy.

The former child star further explained how younger Star Trek fans were appreciating his work, they just weren't able to let him know it for a few decades. Wheaton shared how some of these fans even pointed out to him how Wesley's reputation was not accurate, as the character was much more inspirational than he was given credit for. While that makes Wheaton happy to hear, he only wishes he was able to let his younger self know at the time that Wesley was more popular than he realized.

Wil Wheaton Didn't Know for Decades How Many Fans Wesley Has

"They were just loving the show," Wheaton said. " It took me 30 fucking years to hear them and meet them and know , 'Hey, buddy, you're not the person your dad said you were. You're not the person that those fans made you believe you were. You're that guy, and he is you, and there's a bunch of you together. You inspired a generation of kids.' I am so relieved and happy for my younger self . I wish I could just, like, pop through time real quick and just whisper in my ear, 'Buddy, I know how much it hurts right now, but I promise you there's a day coming where it's really okay. You're not even gonna remember this.'”

Star Trek: Prodigy is streaming on Netflix .

Source: Collider

Star Trek: Prodigy

A group of enslaved teenagers steal a derelict Starfleet vessel to escape and explore the galaxy.