Star Trek: Starfleet Academy Adds Surprise New Alien Cadet To 2nd & Final Season

Image credit: Paramount+ Published Jul 25, 2026, 4:13 PM EDT John Orquiola is a New & Classic TV Editor, Senior Writer, and Interviewer with a special focus on Star Trek. John has over 5,000 published articles at SR, and he has interviewed the biggest names in Star Trek on the red carpet and VIP events, among other beloved shows, movies, and franchises. Sign in to your ScreenRant account A surprise new alien cadet joins the cast of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy season 2, which is also the final season. Led by Academy Award winner Holly Hunter and Emmy winner Paul Giamatti, Star Trek: Starfleet Academy season 1 premiered in January 2026. Despite its Oscar-caliber star power, engaging young cast, and legacy Star Trek heroes like The Doctor (Robert Picardo), Starfleet Academy failed to find a large audience after being targeted by online hate groups. Paramount+ canceled Starfleet Academy soon after season 1's finale premiered in March. Photo Credit: Jackie Brown/Paramount+ Paramount+'s Star Trek Universe Hall H panel at San Diego Comic-Con celebrated Star Trek's 60th anniversary, where Star Trek: Starfleet Academy star Karim Diané exclusively revealed the show's new cadet: Ruaridh Aldington joins Starfleet Academy season 2 as a series regular. Aldington plays Keats, described as "a young alien our cadets encounter on an away mission who possesses a mysterious backstory. When the cadets make the risky decision to bring him back to Starfleet Academy, they realize he's a wanted man, and his life is in danger." Photo Credit: Chris Mann Ruaridh Aldington is a 28-year-old British actor whose credits include the 2024 vampire flick Drained, Dirty Boy, and the upcoming Blood on Snow, directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga (No Time To Die). Like most of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy's young cast, this will be the young actor's biggest role to date, and his first time joining a beloved sci-fi franchise like Star Trek. Aldington's character, Keats, is of an unknown alien species, but his background as a wanted man echoes Caleb Mir (Sandro Rosta), who was Captain Nahla Ake's (Holly Hunter) personal recruit into Starfleet Academy. Keats seems primed to be a disruptive force in the Academy's core group of cadets. Perhaps Keats may be a love interest for Genesis Lythe (Bella Shepard). Co-showrunner Noga Landau also confirmed that season 2 ends on a cliffhanger. Excitement for Star Trek: Starfleet Academy season 2 is tempered by the fact that it will be the show's final season, cutting off the cadets' 4-year college experience at the halfway point. Co-showrunner Noga Landau also confirmed that season 2 ends on a cliffhanger, which adds to the unfairness and frustration over how Starfleet Academy was treated. Paramount+ has not announced a premiere date for Star Trek: Starfleet Academy season 2, which would presumably be when Ruaridh Aldington debuts as Keats, but it's logical to guess the final season will start streaming early in 2027. Release Date 2026 - 2027-00-00 Network Paramount+ Showrunner Alex Kurtzman, Noga Landau Directors Douglas Aarniokoski, Alex Kurtzman, Andi Armaganian, Larry Teng Writers Gaia Violo, Alex Taub, Jane Maggs, Tawny Newsome, Kirsten Beyer, Kiley Rossetter, Eric Anthony Glover Franchise(s) Star Trek Creator(s) Gaia Violo, Alex Kurtzman, Noga Landau