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Phasers Set To Stun: Trekxpectations | Stardate 79690.5

April 8, 2026·40 min·3 clips

Robert Picardo pitched a Voyager reunion episode for Starfleet Academy season three before its cancellation.

1. Phasers Set to Stun, part of the A Film By podcast, presents a Trekxpectations episode previewing the Star Trek universe across 2026 and beyond. 2. Hosts Wayne Whited and David Burns cover the episode without co-host Scott, who is noted as being on 'special assignment in the Gamma Quadrant.' 3. The episode's central question is what Star Trek's 60th anniversary year holds — and whether the franchise has a healthy future under Skydance's acquisition of Paramount. 4. Strange New Worlds Season 4 has no confirmed release date but is expected around late summer 2026, consistent with its previous August premiere; Paramount has revealed very little beyond a rumored Muppet crossover episode. 5. The hosts discuss unresolved Strange New Worlds storylines, particularly Mbinga's arc (corrected from 'chief engineer' to 'chief medical officer'), and speculate about young Carol Marcus appearing in Season 4 or 5 after a producer hint. 6. Thomas Jane has been cast as Dr. McCoy and Kai Murakami as Sulu for Strange New Worlds Season 5, signaling that the series will fully assemble the classic Enterprise crew before ending. 7. Star Trek Starfleet Academy has been canceled after two seasons, despite Alex Kurtzman's Season 3 already being greenlit; the cancellation is attributed to the Paramount sale to Skydance disrupting prior commitments. 8. Robert Picardo pitched a Starfleet Academy Season 3 concept to Kurtzman in which the Doctor would play opposite his younger self, with the younger self insulting the older self for aging — a premise drawn from the Voyager episode 'Living Witness'; Kurtzman called it a great idea. 9. A fan petition to save Starfleet Academy reached 25,000 signatures; the hosts express doubt it will change Paramount's decision given the ongoing corporate uncertainty. 10. The Trek to Vegas 60th anniversary convention (August 5-9, Rio Las Vegas, presented by Creation Entertainment) already has 136 Star Trek guests announced, including William Shatner, Kate Mulgrew, Jonathan Frakes, Brent Spiner, F. Murray Abraham, and Michael Dorn, with General Admission already sold out. 11. Additional conventions highlighted include GalaxyCon Nashville (May 29-31), GalaxyCon Columbus (December 4-6), and SpaceCon San Antonio (June 12-14), all featuring significant Star Trek guest rosters. 12. Nacelle's new six-inch Star Trek action figures (priced around $30 each) arrive in four waves: Wave 2 includes Generations Worf, LaForge, Kirk, and Carol Marcus; Wave 3 covers original series cast plus a Roddenberry and Lucille Ball two-pack. 13. The hosts explain that Lucille Ball financed the original Star Trek pilot and series, and call the Nacelle Lucille Ball figure 'badass' as long-overdue recognition. 14. XO6 figures (Commander Riker, Chief O'Brien, Commander Una Chin-Riley, Admiral Pike) and the Lego Star Trek Enterprise D are also highlighted as premium collectibles, the Lego set having sold out rapidly at release. 15. Upcoming Star Trek novels include 'To Defy Fate' by Dayton Ward (April 28, post-Picard Season 3), 'The Peacemakers' by Una McCormick (November 17, DS9 novel focused on Jake Sisko), and 'Echoes in Eternity' by David Mack (October 27, original series). 16. IDW Publishing's Star Trek comic slate includes ongoing Lower Decks and 'Star Trek: The Last Starship' series, plus a new main series featuring Captain Seven of Nine and the Enterprise G in a post-Picard story launching in September. 17. The hosts argue Star Trek Legacy is effectively dead, pointing to the existence of the Enterprise G comic as evidence Paramount has converted that concept into print rather than a TV series. 18. Wayne lists four reasons for optimism: Star Trek is Paramount's most valuable IP, new movies are in development, Skydance is deliberately taking time, and the 60th anniversary ensures the franchise stays visible; both hosts predict 'Star Trek Year One' — covering Kirk's early Enterprise command — as the next major production. 19. Long-term Trek fans who follow ongoing shows, conventions, and collectibles will find this episode highly detailed and useful. 20. Listeners unfamiliar with Star Trek continuity or seeking shorter, more focused content will find the episode's breadth challenging to follow.

As heard by us

Warm Trek banter that doubles as a useful convention-season check-in.

A loose Star Trek check-in gives this episode its shape, with Wayne Whited and David Burns using convention news and franchise housekeeping as the starting point. The conversation stays friendly and fan-literate, moving from GalaxyCon plans to the broader A Film By...

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Why you'd press play

You want Trek banter that stays loose, specific, and easy to keep up with.

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