When “Star Trek: Voyager” premiered in 1995, the world saw something it had never seen before: a female captain headlining her own series in the beloved franchise. Captain Kathryn Janeway instantly became a fan-favorite and remains so to this day. Now, actress Kate Mulgrew has shared one of the most exciting updates yet about her beloved character: She may get her own spin-off series in the future.
Getty“Alex [Kurtzman] and I are talking,” Mulgrew told TrekMovie at the world premiere for “Starfleet Academy” in January 2026. Kurtzman has headed up Paramount’s “Star Trek” projects since 2017. When asked about the possibility of a Janeway-centric show, the actress said, “If it’s good. It’s possible. But it has to be something pretty great.”
An Earlier Pitch for a Janeway Show Failed to Launch
GettyMulgrew confirmed she and Kurtzman are talking about the future of Captain Janeway, but this isn’t a new conversation. In 2024, the two discussed a pitch for a possible Janeway series. However, Mulgrew turned down the pitch. “I didn’t quite get it,” she confessed to TrekMovie, mentioning that the show was based “in the Wild West or something.” That may seem like a strange concept for her character, and Mulgrew clearly thought so, too. “I didn’t understand it,” she said.
Unusual pitches aside, the actress was crystal clear about what she’d need to see to sign on to a Janeway-focused series. “I just think that it’s very, very important to adhere to what we’re doing here, which is the message of hope, the mission of promise, excitement, danger,” she said. She also said that she’d love to return to embodying Janeway’s adventurous spirit, “but only if it’s excellent.”
Mulgrew Could See Her Character Become the Next Picard
GettyIf a series featuring the famous captain does materialize, it could easily follow in the footsteps of “Star Trek: Picard.” That show centered on another beloved leader from the franchise, Captain Jean-Luc Picard. The series won multiple awards, including an Emmy, and was very popular with fans.
In the meantime, Janeway’s story comes to a pause with the end of “Star Trek: Prodigy.” The series came to a close at the end of December, with Netflix declining to renew it. For her part, Mulgrew doesn’t believe the show gave Captain Janeway the ending she deserves. “And whether they did it intentionally or not… in terms of Janeway’s legacy, it’s not the best way to go out, is it?” she said. Here’s hoping this is just the beginning for Janeway, after all.
