Paul Giamatti has joined the cast of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy in a recurring guest star role as the season’s central villain. This marks the actor's official entry into the Star Trek universe.

According to his character description, Giamatti is said to be playing a man with an ominous past with a connection to one of the show’s cadets. He will be starring alongside Holly Hunter who takes on the role of the captain and chancellor of Starfleet Academy. The rest of the cast members are yet to be announced by the makers.

Starfleet Academy revolves around a young group of cadets who unite to pursue a dream of hope and optimism. It is expected to explore their academic and romantic endeavors as well as their battles against the latest threat to the peace and prosperity of United Federation of Planets.

Alex Kurtzman and Noga Landau serve as co-showrunners of the show. They also executive produce along with Gaia Violo, Aaron Baiers, Olatunde Osunsanmi, Jenny Lumet, Rod Roddenberry, Trevor Roth, Frank Siracusa and John Weber.