Star Trek’s Kate Mulgrew Has Had a ‘Conversation’ About a Live-Action Janeway Return

Star Trek's Kate Mulgrew Has Had a 'Conversation' About a Live-Action Janeway Return

As a seasoned gamer and avid Star Trek fan with a heart full of memories spanning decades, I must say, Kate Mulgrew‘s career journey is nothing short of extraordinary! From her early days on Ryan’s Hope to her iconic role as Captain Kathryn Janeway in Voyager, and now voicing the character in the animated series Prodigy, it’s been a rollercoaster ride that’s kept me hooked.


Actress Kate Mulgrew, who played Captain Kathryn Janeway in Star Trek: Voyager, has expressed interest in reprising her role but only under specific circumstances. It’s been 23 years since the final episode of Voyager aired in 2001, yet Admiral Janeway remains a beloved figure in various Star Trek endeavors. In a conversation with TrekMovie at this year’s San Diego Comic Con, Mulgrew talked about potentially reviving the Janeway character for the animated series Star Trek: Prodigy, her reasons for safeguarding the character, and her recent discussions about the prospect of a live-action comeback.

Kate Mulgrew went to Comic Con for the Star Trek: Prodigy panel, where they talked about the upcoming Blu-ray release of season 2 of the animated series. At 69 years old, she reprised the Janeway character, which was well received by fans. There’s been a growing enthusiasm for Janeway to come back in live action, and Mulgrew mentioned that she had a casual chat about this with Alex Kurtzman, who manages the franchise, regarding the possibility of her return. However, she emphasized that it’s still just at the discussion stage. Her conditions for returning focus on ensuring the character is treated appropriately and respectfully.

Last night, I dined with Alex Kurtzman and we discussed the upcoming project. It needs to be flawless, without arrogance, genuine, and extraordinary – something that wouldn’t leave me doubting any part of it. After all, this character has been cherished by me for 25 years. Therefore, I told him, she must be treated with care. She will not be misused; instead, she should be elevated to great heights. The writing needs to be divine.

Mulgrew underscores her strong guardianship over the character, a feeling that has been reinforced since a newer group of children have come to know Janeway through “Prodigy”. She firmly advocates for the live-action revival of the character to place her in the lead role. In her opinion, Janeway should never be relegated to a secondary position.

She would have to be central to whatever it is that she’s doing. Otherwise, why bother?

Kate Mulgrew’s Career From Star Trek and Beyond

Star Trek's Kate Mulgrew Has Had a 'Conversation' About a Live-Action Janeway ReturnStar Trek's Kate Mulgrew Has Had a 'Conversation' About a Live-Action Janeway ReturnStar Trek's Kate Mulgrew Has Had a 'Conversation' About a Live-Action Janeway Return

In 1975, Kate Mulgrew quickly rose to fame when she landed the role of Mary Ryan in the soap opera “Ryan’s Hope.” After that, she starred as Mrs. Columbo on ABC in 1979, which earned her a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress in a Drama in 1980. During the 1980s and early 1990s, she worked prolifically in television and film, with roles on “Cheers,” “St. Elsewhere,” “Murphy Brown,” and the movie “Throw Momma From the Train.”

Starting in 1995, Kate Mulgrew was selected for the lead role of Captain Kathryn Janeway on Star Trek: Voyager. Over seven seasons, she starred in a total of 168 episodes. In addition to her television appearances, she reprised the character in the film Star Trek: Nemesis (2002) and a 4D film for the Star Trek Experience attraction in Las Vegas (2004). More recently, in 2021, Mulgrew lent her voice to Captain Janeway in the animated series Star Trek: Prodigy, appearing in 40 episodes. She has also voiced Janeway for various video games such as Star Trek Voyager: Elite Force (2000), Star Trek Legacy (2006), and the upcoming release, Star Trek: Prodigy – Supernova (2022).

Beyond her role in Prodigy, Mulgrew has been kept quite occupied in recent times. She’s made appearances on shows such as Law and Order: Special Victims Unit, but it’s her role as “Red” in the Netflix series Orange is the New Black that stands out. This performance earned her a Primetime Emmy nomination for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy in 2014. Moreover, she has lent her voice to video games like Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age II, and Dragon Age: Inquisition.

Star Trek: Prodigy
is now available to stream on Netflix.

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2024-08-04 19:31