Iowa-born actor Kate Mulgrew is set to reprise her Star Trek: Voyager character Captain Janeway in Nickelodeon and Paramount+'s upcoming CG-animated Star Trek series, Star Trek: Prodigy.
In an exclusive interview with Forbes, Mulgrew, who is currently in London shooting the Alex Kurtzman sci-fi series The Man Who Fell To Earth, talked about returning to the Star Trek universe and reprising her iconic role that influenced multitudes of S.T.E.M. students to pursue careers in science and aerospace, and how she hopes that the new series will inspire more girls to pursue careers in those subjects.
Frobes: You’ve got Star Trek: Prodigy coming up where you get to reprise your Janeway character. How did you feel about returning to that role and did you have any concerns about how she would be written?
Mulgrew: At first I was a little uncertain. That was a huge chapter in my life and it changed my life. The character of Kathryn Janeway on Star Trek: Voyager made television history and had quite an impact on women, particularly women in S.T.E.M. When the (Prodigy series) was brought to my attention by the aforementioned Alex Kurtzman, I hesitated for a second because I’d already done it. And then I thought about it over a number of weeks. I asked him to indulge me and he did. I thought, “If I can bring that feeling to young girls, to children, how gratifying would that be?” It’s the only demographic that’s missing, that we haven’t yet reached. So, the best way of doing that, of course, is in animated form.
(Brothers) Kevin and Dan Hageman are the creators and the writers under Kurtzman. They’ve done such a magnificent job; the animatics have blown me away. Kids are going to be enchanted and captivated. They’re going to see this animated Kathryn Janeway and they’re going to love her, just as they’re going to love all the other characters which are so brilliantly depicted. I’ve been working on it now for over a year and I’m having a ball. Suffice it to say, when there’s joy, there is usually goodness. Therefore, I’m hoping there will be success because it’s been a very joyful experience.
Elsewhere in the interview, Mulgrew talked about how kids have found it hard to get into the franchise: "Children have never really understood Star Trek because it’s never been written to be understood by children. So, the best way of doing that, of course, is in animated form."
You can read Mulgrew's full interview with Forbes on forbes.com.
Developed by Emmy® Award winners Kevin and Dan Hageman (Trollhunters and Ninjago) the CG-animated series STAR TREK: PRODIGY is the first Star Trek series aimed at younger audiences and will follow a motley crew of young aliens who must figure out how to work together while navigating a greater galaxy, in search for a better future. These six young outcasts know nothing about the ship they have commandeered – a first in the history of the Star Trek franchise – but over the course of their adventures together, they will each be introduced to Starfleet and the ideals it represents.
Star Trek: Prodigy was first announced in July of 2020, with Kate Mulgrew’s involvement being revealed in October. The series will star Brett Gray as Dal, Angus Imrie as Zero, Jason Mantzoukas as Jankom Pog, Ella Purnell as Gwyn, Dee Bradley Baker as Murf, Rylee Alazraqui as Tok-Tahk and Kate Mulgrew as she returns as a holographic Kathryn Janeway, serving as the starship’s (U.S.S. Protostar NX-76884) built-in emergency training hologram.
The 10-episode first season of the series is expected to premiere later this year on the Paramount+ streaming service, and will air on Nickelodeon soon after. It will be broadcast on the CTV Sci-Fi Channel in Canada and will be available on a delay through Sky TV and Paramount+ in Europe in 2022.
STAR TREK: PRODIGY is from CBS’ Eye Animation Productions, CBS Studios’ new animation arm; Nickelodeon Animation Studio, led by President of Animation, Ramsey Naito; Secret Hideout; and Roddenberry Entertainment. Alex Kurtzman, Heather Kadin, Katie Krentz, Rod Roddenberry and Trevor Roth serve as executive producers alongside co-showrunners Kevin and Dan Hageman. Ben Hibon directs, co-executive produces and serves as the creative lead of the all-new animated series. Aaron Baiers also serves as co-executive producer.
Originally published: August 20, 2021.
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