Paul Giamatti Reveals His Favorite Star Trek Captain To Holly Hunter

23 hours ago 2

John Orquiola is a New & Classic TV Editor, Senior Writer, and Interviewer with a special focus on Star Trek. John has over 4,000 published articles at SR, and he has interviewed the biggest names in Star Trek on the red carpet and VIP events, among other beloved shows, movies, and franchises.

Academy Award nominee Paul Giamatti clues in his Star Trek: Starfleet Academy co-star, Academy Award winner Holly Hunter, on his favorite Star Trek Captain. Executive produced by Alex Kurtzman and Noga Landau, Star Trek: Starfleet Academy premieres with two episodes on January 15 on Paramount+.

Holly Hunter and Paul Giamatti are on opposing sides as they lead the cast of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy. Giamatti portrays Nus Braka, Star Trek: Starfleet Academy season 1's diabolical half-Klingon/half-Tellarite recurring villain. Hunter plays Captain Nahla Ake, the new Chancellor of Starfleet Academy and the newest female Captain to lead a Star Trek TV series.

TrekMovie's Laurie Ulster spoke to Paul Giamatti and Holly Hunter at Star Trek: Starfleet Academy's junket. When asked who his favorite Star Trek Captain is, Giamatti discussed his love for Captain Benjamin Sisko (Avery Brooks), and explained what makes Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's leading man so special to Hunter. Read their quotes below:

Paul Giamatti: Well, I love Captain Sisko. I mean, he’s a fascinating character, that character, and the sort of strange religious mission that he’s given and his sort of struggle with that stuff. [To Holly:] I don’t know if you’ve seen that series.

Holly Hunter: No.

Paul Giamatti: That character, and the actor’s great. Avery Brooks is amazing. He’s such an interesting character, such a complicated, interesting character. Wonderful journey that character has.

Paul Giamatti grew up a Trekkie thanks to Star Trek: The Original Series. However, Giamatti has spoken about his love for Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and its villains. DS9's big bads, such as Gul Dukat (Marc Alaimo) and Liquidator Brunt (Jeffrey Combs), were on his mind as Paul created Nus Braka's character in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy.

Given the morally complex roles Paul Giamatti has gravitated to throughout his stellar film and TV career, it's logical that he is drawn to Captain Sisko. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's Captain was more than a Starfleet Officer; Ben was a single father, later a husband, and he was a religious leader to the people of Bajor who ultimately became a demi-god.

Nus Braka and Captain Ake Starfleet Academy

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy's first trailer at San Diego Comic-Con 2024 showed a clip of cadet SAM (Kerrice Brooks) gazing at a photo of Captain Sisko. Star Trek: Starfleet Academy will reportedly include some sort of homage to Sisko and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.

Paul Giamatti's love of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine shows off his cred as an aficionado with excellent taste in Star Trek Captains. Giamatti's Nus Braka opposes the newest Star Trek Captain in Holly Hunter's Nahla Ake, who will make her own unique mark in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy.