Star Trek Academy Cast Becomes True Fans Through the Show

The newest generation of Star Trek actors didn't grow up watching the show, but that hasn't stopped them from falling deeply in love with the franchise's 60-year legacy of hope.

Sandro Rosta, Kerrice Brooks, and George Hawkins star as officer cadets in "Star Trek: Starfleet Academy," which premiered on Paramount+ in January. When they were cast, none of them had explored the vast Star Trek universe beyond the 2009 film reboot.

Rosta's journey began with the Chris Pine movies, which sparked his curiosity about the deeper mythology. "I went back, and that's when my eyes were opened, not just the wealth of content, but how it makes people feel and how it makes the world around us better," he shared in a recent interview with Space.com.

Brooks came to Star Trek with hesitation rooted in her family upbringing. She wasn't sure she'd see herself reflected in the classic science fiction franchise.

When she finally watched the show after being cast, everything changed. "I saw that everyone could exist in this world," she revealed. "That makes me feel safe enough to let down whatever wall I had up and fall into it."

Hawkins took perhaps the most unique path, discovering Star Trek's magic through the production itself. He watched crew members commit 16-hour days to keeping the franchise alive and meaningful.

Why This Inspires

These three actors prove that Star Trek's message of inclusion and progress isn't just for lifelong fans. The franchise continues to welcome new voices and perspectives, even among the people bringing it to life.

Their stories reflect what makes Star Trek enduring: it creates space for everyone to belong. Brooks' initial uncertainty about seeing herself in the show transformed into genuine connection once she experienced the franchise's inclusive vision.

The cast now works alongside Chancellor Nahla Ake, played by Oscar winner Holly Hunter, in a 32nd-century setting where Starfleet Academy has been resurrected. The show explores the lives and relationships of young cadets learning to become officers.

New episodes of "Star Trek: Starfleet Academy" continue to stream weekly on Paramount+, introducing both longtime fans and newcomers to Star Trek's hopeful vision of humanity's future.