At San Diego Comedian-Con 2024 it was first introduced that Robert Picardo was becoming a member of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, reprising his Star Trek: Voyager function because the Holographic Physician. Whereas that every one appears simple, there was a recurring query that followers have had in regards to the function, because it isn’t fairly so easy, you see, as a well-known Jedi frog-like being as soon as stated, there’s one other…
It’s EMH Basic
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is about within the thirty second century, following the occasions of Star Trek: Discovery, and about eight centuries after the EMH and the remainder of the crew of the usVoyager returned to Earth. One may assume the character on the brand new present is identical Physician who returned from the Delta Quadrant. Nonetheless, within the fourth season episode “Dwelling Witness” it was revealed {that a} EMH backup module from the usVoyager was stolen and centuries later it was recovered and activated by an alien race known as Kyrians. This backup EMH had a little bit of an journey serving to set the file straight relating to the usVoyager’s function in Kyrian historical past. Notably, most of this episode was set within the thirty first century, making the reactivation of this copy of The Physician tantalizingly near the setting of the brand new collection.
Robert Picardo because the backup EMH with Quarren, a thirty first century Kyrian scientist, holding his backup module in Voyager “Dwelling Witness” (Paramount)
Whereas all indications have been that Picardo is enjoying the unique EMH on the brand new present, the query remained for a lot of followers who questioned if he was truly enjoying the backup. Yesterday Picardo set the file straight when requested by a fan on Threads. Picardo confirmed he’s enjoying “Voyager’s authentic EMH.” Nonetheless, he did admit it was “a wonderful query,” including that he had requested that himself “lengthy earlier than I noticed the primary script.”
On-line for 8 centuries
So there you have got it, Bob is enjoying EMH traditional. In actual fact, during the last yr he has talked about how his character has modified, confirming that the EMH has been lively ever since the usVoyager returned, again within the twenty fourth century. Final yr, along with his standard wit, the actor talked about how The Physician is rather a lot older in Starfleet Academy:
“He’s now a number of hundred years outdated, however it’s set within the extra distant future that Star Trek: Discovery propelled itself into. So in that future that my character is now a number of hundred years outdated… Remarkably, I don’t look that a lot older.
He had one other quip about this over the summer season, speaking about returning to the function at STLV:
“There’s this factor known as Starfleet Academy, during which I play an 800-year-old synthetic intelligence. So I’m now the Yoda of the Star Trek franchise.”
L-R: Robert Picardo as The Physician, Kerrice Brooks as Sam and Bella Shepard as Genesis in season 1 , episode 1 of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy streaming on Paramount+. Picture Credit score: Brooke Palmer/Paramount+
And at TrekTalks earlier this yr he talked about how the years have had an impact on The Physician:
“I might say that The Physician is as we keep in mind him, however deeper. The best way he was, however extra so, if that is sensible. He nonetheless actually has his humorousness, however there’s a depth to him now, from that unimaginable sense of immortality, I feel we’d all agree it will be a blessing and a curse.”
At STLV he additionally talked about how The Physician isn’t simply there for laughs or a cameo within the new collection, saying:
“In Starfleet Academy I might say they’ve given me some very dramatic stuff to do, which is gratifying.”
Earlier than Starfleet Academy Picardo had returned to the function for the second season of the animated collection Star Trek: Prodigy (set within the late twenty fourth century) the place he was instructing cadets at Starfleet Academy. Apparently SFA government producer and co-showrunner Alex Kurtzman thought that it made sense for The Physician to nonetheless be on the Academy eight centuries later. At TrekTalks, Picardo stated:
“[Alex Kurtzman] stated that that seeing The Physician educate cadets on Prodigy, his precise phrases, that ‘it made full sense, that he could be instructing cadets in Starfleet Academy sooner or later.’ So I actually do suppose that my stint on Prodigy helped open that [door].”
One attention-grabbing twist to all of that is that the brand new present options the reopening of Starfleet Academy on Earth, the place the Physician was final seen in Prodigy. As established in Discovery, Earth had left the Federation within the thirty first century, joined by most members in the course of the period of “The Burn.” The brand new present options the reopening of the San Francisco campus.
Robert Picardo as The Physician in Star Trek: Prodigy (CBS Studios)
As for the destiny of the backup EMH, on the finish of “Dwelling Witness,” we do know that the backup model of The Physician grew to become Surgical Chancellor of the united Kyrian and the Vaskan worlds for “a few years,” earlier than leaving to set off on a journey to return house from the Delta Quadrant. Such a journey may take a long time. So in idea he may present up and meet the unique on Starfleet Acadamy.
See the Doc in motion in new clip
In case you missed it, over the weekend the first clip from Star Trek: Starfleet Academy was launched, timed to a panel at CCXP in Brazil. Within the new clip you’ll be able to see The Physician tending to the wounded throughout an assault on the usAthena, which is a component ship, half college constructing.
Starfleet Academy will premiere globally with 2 episodes on Thursday, January 15 on Paramount+, and in Japan on Tuesday, January 23.
The collection will likely be accessible to stream completely on Paramount+ within the U.S., the U.Ok., Latin America, Australia, Italy, France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Japan. The collection can be accessible on Paramount+ in Canada.
Sustain with information in regards to the Star Trek Universe at TrekMovie.com.
