October 27 Star Trek: Prodigy returns with 10 more episodes (technically the second half of the first season). At New York Comic Con, the show’s producers and stars gave a heads-up on what to expect.
Jellico is Janeway’s boss
One of the big announcements of the weekend was the return of Ronny Cox to play Admiral Edward Jellico, reprising his role as Star Trek: The Next Generation. And executive producer and co-creator Kevin Hageman explains how he fits into the series:
Kevin Hageman: Admiral Jellico, because Admiral Janeway needs a foil. She needs a boss who will make things difficult for her. Who better than Admiral Jellico?
First look at Ronnie Cox as Jellico
More legacy characters and races are coming
Last month, on Star Trek Day, it was revealed that Billy Campbell was also returning from The next generation to play Thadiun Okona in the second half of the first season. But Kevin Hageman has indicated that there are more legacy characters to come.
Kevin Hageman: Also, Outrageous Okona is coming. These are just glimpses into the future. There will be so many more. Our characters now venture closer to Federation space. And we promise there will be some truly wild, fun and legendary characters returning. Prodigy.
When the moderator noted that the new mid-season trailer also had a brief glimpse of the Borg, co-executive producer and director Ben Hibon chimed in to promise even more familiar runs were on the way.
Hibon: The Borg, the Romulans, the Klingons, we’ll see them all. It’s a gift that continues to be given to us and the crew. We love these characters, we love their designs and what they represent and how they’ve been approached in previous shows. We just like to iterate on them and respect them from the ground up and add that little Prodigy twist at it.
Borg in the mid-season trailer
Mulgrew wants more Janeways
As seen in the trailer, future episodes will see Kate Mulgrew do double duty by voicing both Hologram Janeway and Admiral Janeway. But during the panel, asked about this challenge, the Traveler The star has made it clear that she’s ready to take on even more versions of Janeway.
Mulgrew: Approaching a saturation point, that’s what you’re saying?… No, I want more iterations and more iterations. Alex, can there be more iterations? [Kurtzman replies “As many as you like”] It’s exciting to play Vice Admiral Janeway and Hologram Janeway. Of course it is. And knowing that children are watching it is wonderful.
Mulgrew also talked about how acting with just her voice has given her more opportunities as an actress.
Mulgrew: When I go into the cabin with Kevin and Dan, it’s absolutely liberating. That’s something you really don’t get in live action, because live action is, by its very nature, rigorous, demanding and demanding. But you walk into the booth with these guys, and Ben at the end and it’s just freeing. So I can do with my voice, some things that I could never do on a set. And it’s a fabulous feeling as an actor.
Some answers and more questions for Dal
The trailer also hinted that Dal might learn more about his mysterious origins. But voice actor Brett Gray revealed that there would be more to this story:
Gray: I can tell it’s going to be epic. And there may be more questions than answers. It’s really great to see some sort of growth because Dal hasn’t known who or what he is or what his purpose is from the very beginning of the show. So while he’s learned a lot and been through a lot, it’s only really begun.
Jamil is excited for Trek and the second half of the first season
Jameela Jamil plays Ensign Asencia, a trill deck officer on Admiral Janeway’s ship, the USS Dauntless. She was seen briefly at the end of episode 10 but will be more present for the rest of the season. The actress who plays Wonder Woman in the new animated film DC League of Super Pets and currently appears as Titiania in the Disney+ MCU series She-Hulk expressed how being on Star Trek is a role she’s always wanted:
Jamil: I can’t believe it. I’ve been watching Star Trek since I was four years old with my brother. So when the email offering me the role came, I didn’t ask how much money. I didn’t ask to read a script. I wrote like a screaming “YES” in all caps. Yeah, I was over the moon and I couldn’t believe it. And you guys [Kevin and Dan Hageman] were with me in the booth every time you revealed to me what character would be coming to our show and now I’m absolutely terrified I’m about to reveal something… I’m a huge longtime fan and it’s a huge honor . And for making this show so beautifully written and beautifully animated, as a fan I thank you. Because it means you take us seriously and you take the next generation that comes into the world seriously and you give them the best. I’m really proud to be part of this show. Thank you for.
Later, she used adult language to express her feelings about the second half of the upcoming season:
Jamil: It’s been one of the most fun projects I’ve ever worked on… And you’ve also created such an environment of love for Star Trek that’s so contagious. And we did this with all our love for you. And I personally think that [the second half of season one] gonna blow your f–king b—s off.
Prodigy mid-season trailer
In case you missed it, here’s the mid-season trailer released at NYCC again. [international version at startrek.com]
Prodigy will have its mid-season return on Thursday, October 27, exclusively for Paramount+ subscribers in the US and Friday, October 28 in Latin America, Australia, Italy and the UK After the series returns, new episodes of the 10-episode second half will be available to stream weekly on Thursdays. The series will air later this year in South Korea, Germany, Italy, France, Austria and Switzerland.
More NYCC Star Trek
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