Kate Mulgrew is returning to the Star Trek universe. The actress who played Captain Kathryn Janeway for seven seasons from 1995 to 2001 on Star Trek: Voyager has been cast as the lead in Nickelodeon’s upcoming Star Trek: Prodigy series, an animated show that hopes to bring more kids into the world of Trek.
“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,” said Mulgrew during today’s “Star Trek Universe” panel at virtual NYCC. “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.”
Mulgrew said that, at first, she wasn’t sure about bringing Janeway back in animated form, but “long-dormant longings to restore her started to stir” almost immediately.
Janeway was the first woman captain to lead a Star Trek TV show, and has meant a lot to girls, women, and others since she first stepped onto the bridge of the USS Voyager in 1995.
“Captain Janeway was held to a different standard than her predecessors,” noted executive producer Alex Kurtzman during the casting announcement. “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.”
Star Trek: Prodigy will be showrun by Kevin and Dan Hageman, who have previously worked on Trollhunters and Ninjago. Ben Hibon (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1) will direct, co-executive produce, and serve as the creative lead. The series will follow a group of “lawless teens” who discover a derelict Starfleet ship and use it to search for adventure, meaning and salvation. Now we know they will get some help from one of the most celebrated captains in Starfleet history.
“Kate’s portrayal of Captain Janeway is truly iconic, and has resonated with a global audience for many years,” said Ramsey Naito, President of Nickelodeon Animation, in a press release. “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.”
The CG-animated serieswill debut exclusively on Nickelodeon in 2021 for a new generation of fans. In the mean time, you can watch the Mulgrew casting announcement for yourself below…