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Star Trek: United – Fans Eager for Scott Bakula’s Return


Twenty years after Star Trek: Enterprise concluded, fans are eagerly anticipating Star Trek: United, a proposed TV series featuring Scott Bakula as President Jonathan Archer that has yet to be produced. Developed by Star Trek: Enterprise writer-producer Michael Sussman, with Bakula’s involvement and approval, Star Trek: United is shaping up to be one of the most surprising announcements of 2025.

Star Trek enthusiasts were certainly caught off guard by the revelation that Michael Sussman and Scott Bakula had been working on a President Archer series for several years. Following the unexpected announcement at STLV: Trek to Vegas in August, Star Trek: United has gained significant traction.

Michael Sussman envisions Star Trek: United as a political thriller and family drama, aiming to create a prestige series that could rival Star Trek‘s equivalent of Star Wars: Andor. Departing from the traditional motif of exploring strange new worlds, Star Trek: United introduces a fresh and compelling premise for the 60-year-old franchise.

The excitement surrounding Star Trek: United has extended beyond dedicated Star Trek websites and YouTubers. Mainstream media outlets like TV Insider, along with ScreenRant, have reported on the enthusiasm for Star Trek: United and the intriguing details shared by Mike Sussman. It is evident that fans are just as eager for Star Trek: United to materialize as its creators are.

Star Trek: United Has Captured Fans’ Imaginations

Captain Archer wincing in Star Trek Enterprose

The primary reason fans are eager for Star Trek: United is the overwhelming desire to see Scott Bakula reprise his role as President Jonathan Archer. Bakula’s popularity has remained strong since Star Trek: Enterprise end in 2005, and admiration for his portrayal of Captain Archer has only increased over the past two decades.

Following Patrick Stewart’s return as Admiral Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: Picard (which led Michael Sussman to consider Scott Bakula’s return as Archer) and Kate Mulgrew’s reprisal as Admiral Kathryn Janeway in Star Trek: Prodigy, fans believe it is ‘Scott Bakula’s turn’ to portray Jonathan Archer once more, marking a new chapter in the life of the former Captain of the NX-01 Enterprise.

As Michael Sussman discloses more about Star Trek: United’s narrative, characters, and setting, the idea of delving into late 22nd-century galactic politics that could threaten the still-nascent United Federation of Planets becomes increasingly intriguing. Additionally, Sussman’s intention to depict President Archer as a family man aims to bring Jonathan closer to the real-life Scott Bakula.

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A number of Star Trek‘s legacy characters have made appearances in various Paramount+ series, but only Jolene Blalock from Star Trek: Enterprise has returned canonically as T’Pol. (Connor Trinneer previously voiced Trip Tucker in a non-canonical Star Trek: Very Short Treks episode). Fans feel that Star Trek: Enterprise warrants its long-awaited comeback moment.

The prevailing sentiment is that Scott Bakula’s return to Star Trek is an idea whose time has come. Bakula has embraced his connection with Star Trek, and fans have warmly welcomed him back at STLV: Trek to Vegas. Michael Sussman and Bakula have also crafted an exciting vision for Star Trek: United , making a compelling case for the show’s production.

Star Trek Enterprise cast

A significant factor contributing to the rising interest in Star Trek: United is that Star Trek: Enterprise‘s popularity has only increased over the two decades since its cancellation by United Paramount Network, coupled with fans’ collective sentiment that they and Enterprise were shortchanged by the prequel lasting only four seasons.

Enterprise witnessed only four years of airtime under executive producer Rick Berman’s tenure, unlike its predecessors such as Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, and Star Trek: Voyager , which enjoyed seven seasons each. Adding insult to injury, Enterprise‘s quality improved significantly during its third and fourth seasons before it was abruptly canceled.

The series faced criticism during its UPN run, with many long-time fans not embracing the prequel format. Upon cancellation, it was unjustly branded as “the show that killed Star Trek”, given that no new Star Trek manual was produced for twelve years untilStar Trek: Discovery debuted in 2017.

Lucky for it, time and streaming’s binge model have been exceptionally kind to Star Trek : Enterprise , arguably more so than any other Star Trek series aside from the still-relevant Star Trek : Deep Space Nine . Viewers who missed out on Enterprise during its original airing on UPN have discovered that it is a high-quality Star Trek series with endearing characters that holds up well against its reputation.

Michael Sussman believes that Trip Tucker’s death in Star Trek : Enterprise ‘s series finale may not be what truly occurred, and he has ideas about Trip’s fate in Star Trek : United .

This upcoming project is intended as a spinoff rather than a direct sequel to Star Trek : Enterprise , but Michael Sussman hopes to incorporate as many actors and characters from Enterprise as possible if it moves forward. As such, Star Trek : United represents fans’ best opportunity to witness their beloved Enterprise characters return in live-action form and discover what transpired after their journeys aboard the NX-01.

Will Paramount+ Make Star Trek: United?

Captain Archer pensive

The plan for Star Trek : United was presented by Michael Sussman to Secret Hideout, Alex Kurtzman’s production company overseeing all Star Trek television content, along with Paramount+ a few years back. Although Star Trek : United received positive feedback, executives deemed its premise too similar to the then-in-development Star Trek : Starfleet Academy .

However , with the calendar turning towards 2026 and the upcoming 60th anniversary of Star Trek , several changes have taken place. The most significant change is Paramount Skydance now operates under new management , with Star Trek being prioritized by the studio for new theatrical feature films and additional TV shows available on Paramount+ .

In addition , aside from Star Trek : Legacy , which fans continue to ardently support following the conclusion of Star Trek : Picard , no other potential Star Trek project has garnered such rapid fan enthusiasm as Star Trek : United .

The prospect of Scott Bakula returning as President Archer while exploring his extended family dynamics and navigating the politics of the fledgling Federation presents fascinating concepts for a new Star Trek series unlike any other before it. Mike Sussman does not view Star Trek : United as a flagship series but believes it could pave new paths for this enduring franchise.

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Sarah Parker
Sarah Parker is a research analyst and content contributor with a strong interest in business strategy, organizational behavior, and social development. With a background in sociology and public policy, she focuses on exploring the intersection between research and real-world application. Sarah regularly contributes articles that bridge academic insights and practical relevance, aiming to foster critical thinking and innovation across sectors.