Stephen Colbert is boldly going where no late-night host has gone before.
The Late Show host made a surprise appearance via video Saturday at New York Comic Con during a panel for the upcoming Paramount+ original series Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, revealing that he’s joining the franchise as the voice of the show’s “Digital Dean of Students.”
In the pre-recorded message, Colbert addressed the crowd in signature tongue-in-cheek fashion.
“Greetings and felicitations, New York Comic Con. ’Tis I, Stephen Colbert,” he said. “Folks, I’m sorry I couldn’t be with you in person today, but I’m a perfectionist and I just didn’t have enough bunting for my Mugato cosplay. However, nothing could stop me from sharing this exciting news. I am honored to announce that my beautiful voice will be joining Star Trek: Starfleet Academy as the digital dean of students, where I’ll get to announce things like, ‘Attention Ensign Krebs, your Taxian furfly has exited the replicator and is now mating with itself. Please report to Science Lab 1 immediately. Children are watching.’ It’s an actual line.”
Colbert added that he was “thrilled to join this universe that I’ve loved for so long,” and joked that unlike his on-camera co-stars, he’s happy to avoid “four hours in hair and makeup every day.”
The new Star Trek spinoff stars Holly Hunter as the Academy’s chancellor and features Tig Notaro and Paul Giamatti in supporting roles. The 10-episode first season will debut with two episodes on Thursday, January 15, with new installments dropping weekly through the March 12 finale.
Colbert’s voice role in Starfleet Academy follows his guest turn Sunday night on the CBS procedural Elsbeth, marking a busy stretch for the Emmy-winning host as he prepares to wrap his 11-year run on The Late Show in May 2026.
For Colbert—long known for his fanboy enthusiasm and comic precision—the new gig feels like a full-circle moment. As he told the Comic Con audience: “Live long. Do your thing.”
