Following the major casting of Hollywood heavyweights Holly Hunter and Paul Giamatti, CBS Studios and Paramount+ today announced the first three cadets set to join Star Trek: Starfleet Academy’s freshman class.
Relative newcomers Kerrice Brooks, Bella Shepard, and George Hawkins are the first members of Starfleet Academy’s younger cast — but that’s about all we know, as the studio has not shared character names or backstories as part of today’s announcement.
Here’s the full press release from Paramount+:
KERRICE BROOKS, BELLA SHEPARD AND GEORGE HAWKINS JOIN THE PARAMOUNT+ ORIGINAL SERIES STAR TREK: STARFLEET ACADEMY
July 9, 2024 – Paramount+ today announced that Kerrice Brooks (My Old Ass), Bella Shepard (Wolf Pack) and George Hawkins (Tell Me Everything) have joined the cast of the original series STAR TREK: STARFLEET ACADEMY. The upcoming series will follow the adventures of a new class of Starfleet cadets as they come of age in one of the most legendary places in the galaxy. Produced by CBS Studios, the new series will begin production later this summer.
Brooks, Shepard and Hawkins will play cadets, joining previously announced cast members Holly Hunter as the captain and chancellor of Starfleet Academy and Paul Giamatti as the season’s villain.
STAR TREK: STARFLEET ACADEMY introduces viewers to a young group of cadets who come together to pursue a common dream of hope and optimism. Under the watchful and demanding eyes of their instructors, they discover what it takes to become Starfleet officers as they navigate blossoming friendships, explosive rivalries, first loves and a new enemy that threatens both the Academy and the Federation itself.
Brooks, an actress and professional dancer, will make her feature film debut this year in My Old Ass produced by Margot Robbie and directed by Megan Park. She will also star in the 70s coming-of-age comedy, Feeling Randy. Brooks’ credits include The Prom, The Cypher, How We Roll and On My Block. Brooks got her start in the entertainment industry as a professional dancer performing with elite artists including Billie Eilish, Kanye West, Lil’ Nas, Kelly Rowland and more.
Shepard was recently the lead of the Paramount+ Series, Wolf Pack and is best known for her previous Brat Series’ On the Ropes and A Girl Named Jo, and as the lead in the series, Two Sides. Shepard was also seen in The Wilds, Witch Hunt,, and the iCARLY reboot . She also had a lead guest role on the final season of Orange Is the New Black, and recurring roles on Life in Pieces and Grace and Frankie.
Hawkins is best known for playing Dylan in Tell Me Everything. His previous credits include Sean in the BAFTA-nominated film Boiling Point and Adam in the feature film Gassed Up. In 2023, Hawkins graduated from London’s Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts.
It’s still going to be a while, it seems, until we know more about the new cadets’ characters — and their roles in the Starfleet Academy story — so stay tuned until Paramount+ has more to share.
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is in preproduction now.