'Star Trek' Fans Hit With Surprise Cancellation of New Series

For fans of the Paramount+ series Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, the fun will end almost as quickly as it began. Variety reports that the show, which just finished airing its first season, will end after its next season.

Starfleet Academy's Season 1 finale just aired on March 12, but it was renewed for a second season before it even premiered in January. Season 2 has already been filmed and presumably will be released early next year.

The show's cast was largely comprised of unknown actors alongside Holly Hunter, Paul Giamatti, Gina Yashere, Robert Picardo, and Tig Notaro.

In a statement, CBS Studios and Paramount+ said, “We’re incredibly proud of the ambition, passion, and creativity that went into bringing ‘Star Trek: Starfleet Academy’ to life. The series introduced audiences to a bold new group of characters, welcomed familiar faces, and expanded the ‘Star Trek’ universe in exciting new ways."

William Shatner Responds to 'Starfleet Academy' Cancelation

Star Trek legend William Shatner reacted to the surprise cancelation in a lengthy post on X. "It’s with sorrow that I hear about the cancellation of the new Star Trek series," he wrote.

After people slid into his replies claiming the series failed to catch on because it was "too woke," Shatner responded with another post, arguing that the original series would be considered "woke" today. "During the first airing of my Star Trek series where a kiss was objectionable; many southern stations pulled the episode & condemned the show," he wrote. "Using today’s vernacular it would absolutely be called 'woke DEI crap' because it went against 'norms' of society for its time. Not a lot seems to have changed."

While not part of the new series, 95-year-old Shatner remains active with entertainment pursuits. He recently announced he will be releasing a heavy metal album.