Star Trek boss Alex Kurztman revealed in a New York Comic Con digital panel that actress Kate Mulgrew will return to the role of Captain Janeway in the upcoming Nickelodeon animated series Star Trek: Prodigy.
As seen in the video above, Kurtzman began the panel saying, “In August of 2018, I will never forget the magic of standing on stage in Las Vegas and seeing everyone’s smiling faces when we announced Patrick’s return as Captain Picard.”
He added, “Now, even though we can’t all celebrate in the same space today, we do have another big announcement for you.”
Kurtzman then introduces Dan and Kevin Hageman, the showrunners for Star Trek: Prodigy.
Before revealing Mulgrew’s return as Janeway, Dan Hageman provides a brief overview of what Star Trek: Prodigy is. He explains, “Star Trek: Prodigy follows a group of kids who discover a derelict Starfleet ship and use it to search for adventure, meaning, and salvation.”
Kevin Hageman then adds, “Now these kids are going to get some much needed help from someone who has experience navigating through uncharted territory. Someone who inspired a recent generation of real life kids to become extraordinary adult leaders in the world of politics, music, science, astronomy, just to name a few.”
Kurtzman then stated, “This Captain was asked to embody an inhuman level of perfection in order to be accepted as good enough to the doubters, but showed them all waht it means to be truly outstanding.”
He continued, “We can think of no better Captain to inspire the next generation of dreamers than this one.” Kurtzman then finally introduces Mulgrew, “Ladies and gentleman, the star of Star Trek: Prodigy, Kate Mulgrew as Captain Kathryn Janeway.”
Mulgrew then revealed when she received the call to reprise her role as Janeway, “When Alex Kurtzman called me over a year ago to propose this idea I have to tell you at first I was a little bit uncertain.”
She added, “After all I had played her for seven years in four-and-a-half-inch heels. I had invested every scintilla of my being in that woman. And I thought, ‘An animated version of Janeway? I don’t know.’”
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“But even as I was talking to Kurtzman on the phone, long dormant longings to restore her started to stir and I thought, ‘This will be heavenly,’ she said.
Mulgrew elaborated, “I can go into a recording booth, which I love to do. I can now endow her with nuances that I didn’t do before because I will have the privacy and freedom of a recorded booth and we can take it to eliminated places.”
She then detailed, “And then I thought I was the first female Captain and now I’m going to be the first’s children Captain, and what on Earth could be better than that.”
Mulgrew went on to detail that she was “dazzled” by the scripts and animatics and they convinced her to join the show. She stated, “I thought to myself this is going to be an extraordinary adventure. How thrilling to be able to introduce to these young minds an idea that has elevated the world for decades. And to be at the helm again in that way is going to be deeply gratifying in a brand new way for me.”
“So I’m ready to go guys. This is going to be a wonderful adventure and I’m so glad you are on board with me and I hope you are equally excited,” Mulgrew added.
She would later state how excited she is to see young children watch the show, “But I think those little sponges, those little mind are going to go ‘Qwip! We love this!’ And to be able to do that again anew is absolutely delightful. So I’m not only excited. I’m completely committed.”
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Mulgrew then detailed that she has already started recording and has received at least four scripts. She describes them as “increasingly better.”
On Twitter, Dan and Kevin Hageman revealed that Janeway was the only Captain they had in mind when conceiving the show.
Mulgrew would also add on Twitter that she’s thrilled and that she “can’t wait to bring her to a whole new generation of fans.”
What do you make of Mulgrew’s return as Janeway in Star Trek” Prodigy? Do you plan on checking out the show?