The young cast of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is officially saying goodbye to the production set—at least for now. As filming on Season 2 comes to a close in Toronto, several actors have taken to social media to share emotional farewell messages, behind-the-scenes moments, and reflections on what it meant to shoot a second season of the popular Paramount+ series. The wrap comes at a significant time for the Star Trek franchise, with questions looming about the future of the current TV universe.
Cast Members Share Emotional Goodbyes as Production Ends
Kerrice Brooks, who plays the cadet Series Acclimation Mil (known as SAM), was among the first to share the news with fans. On her Instagram Stories, Brooks confirmed she has wrapped filming for the second season, posting moments from her last days on the Star Trek Stage at Pinewood Studios Toronto . Her posts showed a mix of exhaustion and gratitude after months of intense work.
Karim Diané, who portrays Jay-Den Kraag, delivered one of the most heartfelt reflections on social media. In a lengthy post, Diané opened up about what achieving a second season truly means in today’s entertainment industry .
“I’ve been in this industry long enough to know something very real: getting one season of a television show is a miracle. Getting to film a second? That’s rare air,” Diané wrote.
He acknowledged the online discussions and speculation about whether the show will continue beyond Season 2 but urged fans to appreciate what has already been accomplished.
“There’s been a lot of chatter online about the future of this show… But I think sometimes we forget to honor the present while we’re speculating about tomorrow,” he shared. “Right now, we have TWENTY episodes of a series about the Academy coming to screens. Twenty stories. Twenty hours of this world… That’s SO worth celebrating!”
Diané described the experience as “life-changing,” mentioning the early morning call times, the hours spent in heavy prosthetics, and the friendships built between takes. He ended his message by looking forward to the wrap party and added, “See you sophomore year” .
Bella Shepard, who plays Genesis Lythe, also confirmed via Instagram that she has finished filming her scenes for the season. Gina Yashere, who plays Commander Lura Thok, wrapped her work last week. After removing her prosthetics, Yashere headed straight to Florida to join Star Trek: The Cruise, which sailed to the Caribbean .
Assistant director Jess Smallwood also shared a story celebrating Karim Diané’s last day on set, marking the end of a major chapter for the production team .
Alex Kurtzman Directs Season 2 Finale
Behind the camera, executive producer and co-showrunner Alex Kurtzman took a hands-on approach to closing out the season. Kurtzman directed the Season 2 finale, just as he directed the first two episodes of Season 1 . He confirmed his involvement in earlier interviews, telling Collider, “I’m about to go direct the finale, so, yeah, we’re close to being done” .
The decision to have Kurtzman direct the finale shows the creative team’s commitment to maintaining a consistent vision for the series. Co-showrunner Noga Landau continues to oversee the show alongside Kurtzman, ensuring the storylines for the young cadets develop naturally across seasons.
According to Sandro Rosta, who plays Caleb Mir, the production team tried something new for the Season 2 finale. The last two episodes were filmed consecutively and in the same order they will air. “It’s the first time we’re actually filming one after the other,” Rosta explained . This approach allows for better continuity in storytelling and character development.
Cast Tease What’s Coming in Season 2 Episodes
While specific plot details remain under wraps, the cast has hinted at what fans can expect when the new season eventually airs. In interviews following the premiere of Season 1, Episode 5, several actors shared which episodes they are most excited about .
George Hawkins, who plays Darem Reymi, pointed to Episode 4 as his favorite, calling it “iconic.” Kerrice Brooks agreed but added that Episode 5 holds special meaning for her—though for very intense reasons.
“It’s a tie, and they’re my favorite for very, very different reasons. I would say Episode 5 because it pushed me to my absolute traumatic limits. I found out exactly who I was filming this Episode 5,” Brooks revealed. “I found out what I can and can’t take. I found out what I need to just shut up and push for. I found out a lot about myself as an individual, not even as an artist” .
Brooks also gave a shout-out to Episode 1 for all the stunt work, calling it “lit.” Sandro Rosta settled on Episode 6 as his favorite, which happens to be the same episode Zoë Steiner (Tarima Sadal) picked in a separate interview. Given the romantic storyline developing between their characters, fans suspect Episode 6 might focus heavily on the Mir-Sadal relationship .
Filming Schedule and Season 2 Release Date Window
With filming now wrapped, attention shifts to post-production and scheduling. Season 2 of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is expected to premiere on Paramount+ in either late 2026 or early 2027 . Given the typical turnaround time for visual effects-heavy series like this, an early 2027 release appears more likely.
The first season of the show debuted on January 15, 2026, with two episodes . Season 1 consists of 10 episodes, with new episodes dropping weekly on Thursdays. The season finale is scheduled for March 12, 2026 .
For international viewers, availability varies by region. In the UK, Canada, and Australia, the show streams on Paramount+ as well. Viewers in India and other territories should check local platform listings for updates.
What Season 2 Means for the Star Trek Franchise
The completion of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy Season 2 comes at a transitional moment for the Star Trek TV franchise. Parent company Paramount Global was acquired by Skydance Media in 2025, and questions remain about the future direction of Star Trek on television .
Alex Kurtzman’s contract as executive producer of Star Trek reportedly runs through the end of 2026 . It is unclear whether Skydance will renew his deal or bring in new leadership for the franchise. Kurtzman has expressed hope that Star Trek: Starfleet Academy will run for four seasons, allowing the cadets to complete their four-year college experience and graduate as full officers .
The show’s performance metrics tell an interesting story. While the first two episodes did not crack the Nielsen Streaming Top 10, the series has built a strong presence on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram—platforms that matter most for its target young adult audience . Fans have reported that Star Trek: Starfleet Academy regularly hits Paramount+ Top 3 when new episodes drop, sometimes even reaching the number one spot .
The show currently holds an 88% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, indicating positive reception from critics . With 20 total episodes across two seasons already in the can, the series has established a solid foundation regardless of what happens with a potential Season 3 renewal.
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Guest Stars and Returning Faces
One of the draws for longtime Star Trek fans has been the appearance of familiar faces. Season 1 features Holly Hunter as the Chancellor of Starfleet Academy and Paul Giamatti as the villainous pirate Nus Braka . Several actors from previous Star Trek shows appear, including Tig Notaro, Robert Picardo, Oded Fehr, and Mary Wiseman .
For Season 2, rumors continue to swirl about additional guest appearances. WWE champion Becky Lynch previously expressed interest in returning after her announced guest role in Season 1 . While not officially confirmed for Season 2, Lynch has indicated she expects to be called back.
The cast of cadets remains the heart of the show. Alongside Brooks, Diané, Shepard, Hawkins, and Rosta, the ensemble includes Zoë Steiner as Tarima Sadal and Romeo Carere as Ocam Sadal. Together, they represent the next generation of Starfleet officers .
For now, the cast and crew are celebrating their accomplishment. As Karim Diané put it, “Tonight at the wrap party, I’ll be celebrating what we built” . With 20 episodes completed, the doors of the Academy remain open—at least for the foreseeable future.
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