After two months of speculation — fueled by the actor himself at August’s Las Vegas Star Trek convention — CBS has finally announced that yes, Captain Janeway’s right-hand man is back!

Robert Beltran is returning to the Star Trek universe this year as Captain Chakotay in the upcoming animated series Star Trek: Prodigy, following his Voyager co-star Kate Mulgrew’s participation as a holographic version of Captain Kathryn Janeway.

Today’s announcement at New York Comic Con opens a big door for the series, as Chakotay’s return — as a Starfleet captain, no less! — means that there’s likely to be more Alpha Quadrant content in the Prodigy storyline than has been assumed to date, since the main young alien cast is warping about the Delta Quadrant in their found USS Protostar starship.

Joining Beltran in his still-secret Prodigy story is three other members of the show’s recurring cast — in roles that sound like they may be part of Captain Chakotay’s crew.

Daveed Diggs will voice Commander Tysess, an Andorian — Diggs is a Grammy and Tony-award winning member of the original Broadway cast of Hamilton, and currently stars on the TNT television adaptation of Snowpiercer.

Jameela Jamil will voice Ensign Asencia, a Trill — Jamil is best know in the United States for her portrayal of Tahani Al-Jamil in NBC’s The Good Place, and is also one of the leads in the upcoming Disney+ Marvel Studios series She-Hulk.

Jason Alexander will voice Doctor Noum, a Tellarite — The actor still best known for his role as George Costanza on Seinfeld returns to Star Trek, after appearing as Kurros in the 1999 Voyager episode “Think Tank,” and hosting the 1999 UPN special Ultimate Trek: Star Trek’s Greatest Moments.

Daveed Diggs has his own minor Star Trek connection, as he appeared in a 2014 fan film:

Star Trek: Prodigy also stars Brett Gray as Dal, Ella Purnell as Gwyn, Rylee Alazraqui, Dee Bradley Baker as Murf, Jason Mantzoukas as Jankom Pog,  Angus Imrie as Zero, Jimmi Simpson as Drednok, John Noble as The Diviner, and Kate Mulgrew as Hologram Janeway.

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In addition to the casting news, the series premiere of Star Trek: Prodigy, titled “Lost & Found,” also screened for in-person attendees at the show’s NYCC panel, and the official logline for the one-hour episode has now been released — along with an extended clip of Mulgrew as ‘Hologram Janeway.’

LOST & FOUND — A group of lawless teens, exiled on a mining colony outside Federation space, discover a derelict Starfleet ship. Dal must gather an unlikely crew for their newfound ship if they are going to escape Tars Lamora, but the Diviner and his daughter Gwyn have other plans.

Written by Kevin & Dan Hageman. Directed by Ben Hibon.

We’ve seen “Lost & Found” as well, and you can watch for our review of the Star Trek: Prodigy premiere later this month. We’ll also have interviews with the series’ creators, Dan & Kevin Hageman, along with several of the animated show’s cast, as we approach the October 28 premiere date.