Star Trek’s Robert Picardo Confirms He Will Play Voyager’s Original Doctor in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy

Robert Picardo has ended the debate, confirming he is playing the original Emergency Medical Hologram from Star Trek: Voyager in the upcoming Star Trek: Starfleet Academy series. This direct answer from the actor clarifies a long-running question from fans about which version of the beloved holographic character will appear in the 32nd-century setting. The new series, featuring Holly Hunter and Paul Giamatti, will premiere on January 15, 2026 on Paramount+.

The Big Question Answered: Which Doctor Is It?

When Robert Picardo’s return was announced, dedicated fans immediately had a complex question. In the Star Trek: Voyager episode “Living Witness,” a backup copy of the Doctor’s program was discovered and activated in the 31st century, hundreds of years after the ship’s journey. This meant there were technically two versions of the Doctor that could exist in the future.

With Starfleet Academy set in the late 32nd century, many wondered if Picardo would be playing that backup copy from the Delta Quadrant or the original Doctor who returned to Earth with Voyager. The actor himself acknowledged the cleverness of the query. On the social media platform Threads, Picardo told a fan it was “an excellent question” and that he had asked it himself long before seeing a script. He then provided the definitive answer: he is playing “Voyager’s original EMH”.

Robert Picardo stated: “Voyager’s original Emergency Medical Hologram, but it is an excellent question. I remember asking myself long before I saw the first script.”

This means the character viewers will meet has been active, learning, and growing for nearly 800 years since the end of Star Trek: Voyager, making him one of the oldest beings in the franchise.

The Doctor’s New Role and a Look at ‘Starfleet Academy’

In Starfleet Academy, the Doctor serves as the Chief Medical Officer of the USS Athena. This ship also functions as a key part of the Academy campus, where a new class of cadets is training. The Doctor’s return to teaching is a natural progression; executive producer Alex Kurtzman noted that seeing the character mentor cadets in the animated series Star Trek: Prodigy made complete sense for him to still be in that role centuries later.

A four-minute preview clip from the series premiere was shown recently at the CCXP convention in Brazil. In it, the Doctor is seen helping to lead injured and frightened cadets to safety during an attack on the USS Athena. The clip also introduced the show’s villain, Nus Braka, played by Paul Giamatti. Holly Hunter stars as Captain and Chancellor Nahla Ake, who commands the Athena.

Picardo has shared that the Doctor has depth and complexity in this new era, describing him as having “a depth to him now, from that incredible sense of immortality” and confirming the role includes significant dramatic material. He has also joked about his character’s age, calling himself “the Yoda of the Star Trek franchise”.

How to Watch ‘Star Trek: Starfleet Academy’

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy will debut globally on Thursday, January 15, 2026, on the Paramount+ streaming service. The premiere will consist of two episodes.

Release Schedule:

• The series will have a 10-episode first season.
• After the two-episode premiere, new episodes will be released weekly on Thursdays.
• The season finale is scheduled for Thursday, March 12, 2026.

The series will be available on Paramount+ in many regions, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Latin America, and parts of Europe and Japan.

Also Read: Watson Season 2 Episode 10: Release Date, Story Details and Full Streaming Guide

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