Toronto’s theatre district felt a little more like San Francisco’s Presidio last night as fans gathered for the exclusive screening of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy at the TIFF Lightbox.
It’s been years since we’ve seen the hallowed halls of the Academy and decades of clamouring to have it as the central focus of a series.
Following the high-stakes first episode, moderator Teddy Wilson sat down with Executive Producer and Co-Showrunner Alex Kurtzman and the show’s vibrant cast – including a familiar face – to discuss why this “first generation” of the 32nd century is exactly what the world needs right now.
A New Kind of Hero: Klingon Healers and Privileged Pioneers
One of the most striking reveals of the night came from Karim Diané, who plays Klingon cadet Jay-Den Kraag. But don’t expect the standard “Today is a good day to die” warrior tropes.
“He’s very, very different,” Diané shared. “He’s sweet, kind, and loving. We’re getting a different perspective on the species… he’s more about the healing tradition.”
While Diané explores new depths of a classic race, George Hawkins is treading entirely new ground as an Ionian. Unlike the Klingons, who have decades of lore, Hawkins’ Darem Reymi is the “pioneer” for his species. He described his character as coming from a high-status, “silver spoon” background – an aggressive, privileged energy that creates immediate friction within the egalitarian walls of Starfleet.
The Mystery of the Underground
Fans of Orphan Black’s Tatiana Maslany (who plays Anisha, the mother of new cadet Caleb Mir) will be thrilled to know her character’s influence looms large. Sandro Rosta (who plays Calem), touched on the “push and pull” of a character who spent 15 years living in the underground before joining the most optimistic organization in the galaxy.
“To put him in a situation surrounded by so much joy and optimism – the opposite of what he’s used to – was a really interesting dynamic,” Rosta noted.
The Doctor is IN (and feeling “Super Cool”)
The biggest roar of the night was reserved for Star Trek: Voyager legend Robert Picardo. Returning as The Doctor, Picardo reflected on how natural it felt to step back into the holographic skin, even if the dialogue has changed.
“We spoke this strange, futuristic mid-galactic speech on Voyager,” Picardo joked. “Now the Doctor says things are ‘super cool.’ That took some getting used to!”
Picardo also teased a fascinating bond with a 420-year-old character (Holly Hunter’s Chancellor and Captain Nahla Ake), noting that while everyone else is worried about their careers, his character is “thinking about infinity all the time.”
Why Toronto is the Heart of Modern Trek
Alex Kurtzman didn’t hold back his praise for the 416. Having filmed in Toronto for nearly a decade across various Trek series, he compared the local artistry to that of England’s storied theatre scene.
“The crews are incredible… the artistry is phenomenal,” Kurtzman said, before adding with a laugh, “I don’t like your traffic, though. It’s globally bad.” (Don’t worry, Alex, we agree!)
The Verdict: A “Safe Place” for Everyone
Heading towards the end of the panel, Kurtzman addressed the “controversy” that follows modern Star Trek (“Woke Trek”). He shared stories of fans who told him the show gave them the courage to come out or literally saved their lives during dark times.
“The hate doesn’t matter,” Kurtzman said. “Our goal is to be the safe place for people who don’t necessarily feel like they belong… because they do. We all do.”
With Zoë Steiner joining the fray in Episode 2 (titled “Beta Tests”) as a high-status Betazoid, it’s clear that Starfleet Academy is leaning hard into the franchise’s core values: diversity, empathy, and a relentless hope for the future.
A Vision Worth Chasing
As the night wrapped up, the conversation turned to why we keep coming back to this universe after sixty years. While other sci-fi franchises lean into the “gritty” and the “broken,” Robert Picardo reminded the audience that Star Trek serves a much higher purpose. It isn’t just entertainment; it’s a blueprint for a world we should actually want to build.
“You don’t want to live in the future of Mad Max. You don’t want to live in The Last of Us. You want to live in Star Trek’s future.”
With a new class of cadets officially taking flight, that future has never looked more inviting.
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is streaming on Paramount+.
