Janeway's Live-Action Star Trek Comeback Offered Hope By Kate Mulgrew
By Dan Bibby
January 10th, 2026
Star Trek: Voyager's finale turns 25 years old this year, and Kate Mulgrew has reprised the role of Kathryn Janeway a decent number of times since then. However, other than her brief cameo in 2002's Star Trek: Nemesis, the character has been restricted to animated projects. Don't get me wrong, I loved seeing Janeway in Star Trek: Prodigy, and I hate that we'll probably never get season 3, but a live-action return is where the real excitement is.
Thankfully, Mulgrew recently confirmed (via TrekMovie) that a Star Trek: Picard-esque project is still in the works, but with Janeway as the show's central figure. She revealed that producer Alex Kurtzman has already pitched an idea that she wasn't on board with, and that it was "In the Wild West or something. I didn't quite get it." She went on to say that Star Trek: Janeway is still "possible. But it has to be something pretty great."
Thankfully, Mulgrew recently confirmed (via TrekMovie) that a Star Trek: Picard-esque project is still in the works, but with Janeway as the show's central figure. She revealed that producer Alex Kurtzman has already pitched an idea that she wasn't on board with, and that it was "In the Wild West or something. I didn't quite get it." She went on to say that Star Trek: Janeway is still "possible. But it has to be something pretty great."
I Love That Kate Mulgrew Is Taking Star Trek's Janeway Project So Seriously
It would be very easy for the Voyager star to just go with whatever the Star Trek writers wanted to do. I'm with Mulgrew in that Kurtzman's Wild West idea doesn't sound right for Janeway, even with as little information as we have on the pitch. A character like the USS Voyager's former captain needs to be out there in space, exploring and saving the day. In the words of Mulgrew herself from the same TrekMovie interview: "Janeway’s mind is the mind of somebody who can go anywhere at any moment, on a dime. And I’d like to go back to that, but only if it’s excellent."
She understands the Starfleet legend like no other, so it's great that she ultimately has the final say on whatever's next in store for Admiral Janeway. Her love for the character reminds me of Patrick Stewart's deep adoration of Jean-Luc Picard. When I read his autobiography, Making It So, there was a detailed account of how the Picard producers had to fight to bring the actor around to the idea of reprising his iconic role. I'm sure other stars of various franchises wouldn't be so careful and conscious of their legacies. I love that Mulgrew still feels so strongly about Janeway after all this time.
She understands the Starfleet legend like no other, so it's great that she ultimately has the final say on whatever's next in store for Admiral Janeway. Her love for the character reminds me of Patrick Stewart's deep adoration of Jean-Luc Picard. When I read his autobiography, Making It So, there was a detailed account of how the Picard producers had to fight to bring the actor around to the idea of reprising his iconic role. I'm sure other stars of various franchises wouldn't be so careful and conscious of their legacies. I love that Mulgrew still feels so strongly about Janeway after all this time.
What I'd Love To See For Star Trek: Janeway
Don't get me wrong, I really enjoyed Star Trek: Picard. But let's be honest, the final season was, by far, the show's best outing. Just as Stewart was reluctant to come back as Picard, he also stated in his autobiography that he was equally worried about the project essentially becoming a Next Generation reunion. However, he softened to the idea as time went by, and when he was brought back together with his former castmates, that's when Picard really shone.
With any luck, Mulgrew skips over the concerns that Stewart had and welcomes members of the Voyager cast to come and go from the potential live-action Janeway series. Star Trek's modern era has made countless Voyager references, especially in more recent years. So, it would be a little weird for a show centered around the USS Voyager's former commanding officer to break that trend. As much as I want to see Admiral Janeway's career decades after her return to Earth, I think it's fairly obvious that what everyone wants is a proper Star Trek: Voyager reunion, and this is the perfect project to accommodate that.
With any luck, Mulgrew skips over the concerns that Stewart had and welcomes members of the Voyager cast to come and go from the potential live-action Janeway series. Star Trek's modern era has made countless Voyager references, especially in more recent years. So, it would be a little weird for a show centered around the USS Voyager's former commanding officer to break that trend. As much as I want to see Admiral Janeway's career decades after her return to Earth, I think it's fairly obvious that what everyone wants is a proper Star Trek: Voyager reunion, and this is the perfect project to accommodate that.
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