When <em>Star Trek: Starfleet Academy</em> debuts on Paramount+ in 2026, it will introduce a character reminiscent of Star Wars‘ iconic Yoda (voiced by Frank Oz). Star Trek: Starfleet Academy serves as a thrilling Star Trek: Discovery spinoff, taking place in the 32nd century, a full century after the catastrophic event known as The Burn rendered warp travel impossible and severely impacted Starfleet’s operations. With renewed vigor, Starfleet Academy is ready to welcome a fresh wave of cadets, guided by beloved legacy characters from the Star Trek universe. Notable figures include Discovery‘s Lieutenant Sylvia Tilly (played by Mary Wiseman), Admiral Charles Vance (Oded Fehr), Commander Jett Reno (Tig Notaro), and the beloved Doctor from Star Trek: Voyager (Robert Picardo).

Throughout his journey in Star Trek: Voyager, the USS Voyager’s Emergency Medical Hologram (EMH) evolved into a guiding figure for aspiring cadets in Star Trek: Prodigy. Starfleet Academy producer Alex Kurtzman drew inspiration from Picardo’s portrayal in Star Trek: Prodigy, integrating the Doctor into the new Star Trek series as a mentor at Starfleet Academy. By the time Star Trek: Starfleet Academy unfolds in the 32nd century, the Doctor will have accumulated an impressive lifespan, having been operational for nearly 800 to 900 years. This remarkable longevity places the Doctor among the oldest characters in the Star Trek franchise, elevating him to a status comparable to Star Wars‘ wise Yoda.

Robert Picardo Draws Parallels Between The Doctor In Star Trek: Starfleet Academy And Yoda

The Doctor Serves As A 900-Year-Old Mentor & Connective Tissue Of The Franchise

During TrekTalks 4, a charity event benefiting the Hollywood Food Coalition, Robert Picardo shared insights about his role in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy alongside fellow Star Trek: Voyager actress Kate Mulgrew. He likened the EMH’s role in Starfleet Academy to Yoda’s mentorship in the original Star Wars trilogy, and it’s a fitting comparison. Just like Yoda, who was 900 years old when he passed on his wisdom, the Doctor will embody the role of a seasoned mentor, guiding new recruits in a hopeful and revitalized organization. Following the devastating Burn that crippled Starfleet’s warp capabilities, Starfleet’s members withdrew, much like the Jedi who went into hiding after Darth Sidious’ (Ian McDiarmid) infamous Order 66. For additional context, here’s a quote from Picardo, as captured by TrekMovie:

“You know, Yoda, I think, was 900 when he finally died. So I do think of myself as the Yoda of the Star Trek franchise. And look, it could be worse, I could be short and green and made out of rubber. So I think I do look pretty good.”

Thanks to their extensive ages, both the Doctor and Yoda can seamlessly appear in new narratives despite their origins in earlier eras. Initially, both Yoda and the Doctor were perceived as solitary figures who ultimately evolved into invaluable mentors to pivotal characters like Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) and Seven of Nine (Jeri Ryan). Yoda took on the role of a teacher for young Jedi in the prequel trilogy and in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, while the Doctor served as a guiding figure in Star Trek: Prodigy, assisting its youthful ensemble. Moreover, the Doctor’s status as a virtually immortal hologram in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy aligns well with Yoda’s return as a Force Ghost in Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi.

Reasons Why The Doctor Is The Ideal Yoda That Star Trek Has Always Required

Centuries Of Experience Position The Doctor As An Ideal Mentor

In Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, the character of the Doctor from Star Trek: Voyager will fulfill the role of the Yoda-like figure that Star Trek has long sought. Yoda’s presence during the Star Wars High Republic era, a time when the Jedi Order was less tainted by corruption, made him an exceptional mentor for Luke—not just during the Original Trilogy, but also in the Sequel Trilogy, where Luke faces the consequences of his attempts to establish the New Jedi Order. With his unparalleled digital recall of the Star Trek timeline from the 24th to 32nd centuries, the Doctor is perfectly equipped to guide Starfleet Academy‘s incoming class, helping them steer clear of the missteps of the past.

Due to the events of Star Trek: Discovery, specifically The Burn that occurred a century ago, the cadets at Starfleet Academy will lack firsthand knowledge of what Starfleet was like at its height. While characters from the 22nd century aboard the USS Discovery have experienced a functional Starfleet, the path to success in the 32nd century will not lie in attempting to recreate an idealized version of the past. Instead, the Doctor can impart the essential lesson that Starfleet must embrace the future to flourish. By integrating Star Trek: Voyager‘s Doctor into the narrative as its Yoda, Star Trek: Starfleet Academy effectively intertwines every era of the Star Trek franchise, establishing continuity and paving the way for a bright future.

Source: TrekMovie, TrekTalks 4