Summary
Paul Giamatti has been cast asStar Trek: Starfleet Academy’s villain, and the actor’s impressive career proves how suitable he is for the role. Giamatti is the second starry addition to the cast of Paramount+’s nextStar Trekshow, which also includes Oscar-winning actress Holly Hunter as Starfleet Academy’s Chancellor. Executive produced by Noga Landau and Alex Kurtzman, who is also directing the series premiere, Star Trek: Starfleet Academywill begin production in fall 2024 in Toronto.The involvement of Paul Giamatti and Holly Hunter should mean thatStarfleet Academyhas audience appeal beyond its YA demographic.
Paul Giamatti is aStar Trekfan, so perhaps it’s unsurprising that he’s signed on for the upcoming Paramount+ show. Giamatti’s casting was announced on X by the official Star Trek on Paramount Plus account, which stated that his villain would be a recurring guest character on the show. It’s been teased that Paul Giamatti’s character will have an ominous connection to one of the newStarfleet Academy cadets. As both aStar Trekfan and one of Hollywood’s best-loved character actors,Paul Giamatti is perfectly suited for this villain role inStarfleet Academy.
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6Limbo in Planet of the Apes (2001)
Paul Giamatti will be no stranger to Star Trek’s prosthetics.
It’s unclear if Paul Giamatti is playing a human or alien villain inStar Trek: Starfleet Academy, but if heisplaying an alien, then the actor is no stranger to playing other creatures. Giamatti played Limbo in Tim Burton’s 2001Planet of the Apesremake, opposite Mark Wahlberg. Limbo was a slave trader who came into the possession of Mark Wahlberg’s Leo Davidson. Although he was morally dubious rather than outright villainous,the role of Limbo feels like good preparation for playing aStar Trekvillain. After all, Limbo endedPlanet of the Apesas a relatively reformed character.
Planet of the Apes
In 2029, Leo Davidson ventures through a space-time storm to rescue his chimp friend, landing on Ashlar, a world ruled by talking apes. With newfound allies, he uncovers his spacecraft’s fate and sparks a revolt against ape tyranny. Saved by his chimp companion, Leo returns to Earth, but discovers a deeply disturbing reality.
Although far from being one of Paul Giamatti’s greatest movie performances, it’s the role that feels most like a training ground for his role asStar Trek: Starfleet Academy’s villain. The bestStar Trekvillainsaren’t two-dimensional antagonists, and instead have depth of character and the capacity for change. Limbo inPlanet of the Apesis just one of many roles that Paul Giamatti has played like this. It just has the added bonus of preparing him for any heavy alien prosthetic make-up that he may have to wear.
ProlificStar Trekguest actor David Warner also starred in Tim Burton’sPlanet of the Apesas Senator Sandar.
5Chuck Rhoades in Billions (2016 - 2023)
Paul Giamatti’s been playing a TV villain for years.
Paul Giamatti has played U.S. Attorney Chuck Rhoades inBillionsfor the past seven years. A specialist in financial corruption, Rhoades has relentlessly pursued billionaire Bobby Axelrod across all seven seasons ofBillions. As the show went on, Paul Giamatti became the villain of the piece, hellbent on punishing billionaires for their obscene levels of wealth. However, he started out from a fairly honorable position, wishing to stamp out rampant financial corruption. Chuck’s descent into becomingBillions' primary antagonist could be good training for Paul Giamatti’s role as the unnamedStar Trek: Starfleet Academyvillain.
Billions
Billions is a drama series created for Showtime that follows hedge fund manager Bobby Axelrod’s quest to accumulate power and wealth, often leading him to utilize unscrupulous tactics. The one man standing in his way is U.S. Attorney Chuck Rhoades - who will do what it takes to ensure Axelrod is brought to justice. The series is based on several real-world cases featuring dramatizations and embellishments for entertainment purposes.
Billionsran for seven seasons between 2016 and 2023, meaning thatPaul Giamatti is used to the rigors of making prestige television. Having dedicated seven years of his life to a show likeBillions, it may be surprising that Paul Giamatti signed on to anupcomingStar TrekTV show. Presumably, this is why Paul Giamatti’s role inStar Trek: Starfleet Academyis being billed as a recurring guest star for season 1, rather than a series regular. However, the relative freedom of being a recurring guest may entice Giamatti to return for future seasons ifStarfleet Academytakes off on Paramount+.
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4Pig Vomit in Private Parts (1997)
Paul Giamatti’s breakthrough role was a different type of villain.
Paul Giamatti’s breakthrough role in Howard Stern’s biopicPrivate Partsproved that he had a particular skill for conveying boiling rage. Giamatti played Kenny Rushton, dubbed “Pig Vomit” by Stern, with whom he regularly clashed. Kenny was the head of WNBC, which hosted Howard Stern’s show. In a 2024 episode ofQ with Tom Power, Giamatti revealed that he never knew his character was based on a real-life network head untilStern complimented him for portraying Pig Vomit so accurately.
Private Parts
Private Parts is a biographical comedy-drama that chronicles the rise of radio personality Howard Stern. Directed by Betty Thomas, the film stars Howard Stern, Robin Quivers, and Fred Norris, portraying themselves as they recount Stern’s journey into becoming a controversial and influential figure in broadcasting. Based on Stern’s autobiography, the film provides insight into his professional and personal life, offering a mix of humor and candid moments.
Paul Giamatti also described his character inPrivate Partsas almost “Shakespearean” in its comic buffoonery.Shakespeare andStar Trekhave a long history, so Paul Giamatti’s understanding of the Bard and how he influences contemporary writing and performing will stand him in good stead. However, it’s the levels of rage that Kenny achieves while calling Howard Stern the Antichrist that should make Paul Giamatti an eminently watchable villain inStar Trek: Starfleet Academy.
3Dr. Lawrence Hayes in San Andreas (2015)
Paul Giamatti masters technobabble in The Rock’s disaster movie.
Paul Giamatti played seismologist Dr. Lawrence Hayes in Dwayne Johnson’s 2015 disaster movie,San Andreas. When the movie opens, Hayes is experimenting with new technology that can predict earthquakes, which becomes pertinent when his colleague Kim is killed by one. Lawrence’s technology predicts a massive earthquake heading for San Francisco, and takes to the airwaves to warn the public. Hayes' warnings to evacuate the city aren’t taken as seriously as he’d have liked, but thankfully The Rock was on hand to do a lot of the rescuing with his helicopter.
San Andreas
Starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson as helicopter-rescue pilot Ray Gaines, the 2015 disaster movie San Andreas explores the catastrophic effects of a series of earthquakes caused by a shift in the real-life San Andreas Fault. Set in San Francisco, the film’s cast also includes Carla Gugino as Ray’s ex-wife Emma, Alexandra Daddario as their daughter Blake, Ioan Gruffudd as Emma’s boyfriend Daniel Riddick, and Paul Giamatti as seismologist Dr. Lawrence Hayes.
Mastering Starfleet techno babbleis a great skill for anyStar Trekactor to have, and Paul Giamatti’s role as a seismologist inSan Andreasproved he’s more than capable. There’s a level of ridiculousness to some of the dialog in manyStar Trekshows that occasionally veers into the B-movie territory ofSan Andreas. Thankfully, Paul Giamatti is well-versed in what will be required from him in deliveringStar Trek: Starfleet Academy’s techno babble dialog with much-needed gravitas.
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2The Rhino in The Amazing Spider-Man 2
Paul Giamatti is no stranger to sky-high fan expectations.
Taking on a role in aStar TrekTV show can be a blessing and a curse. On the one hand, it’s a chance to be part of an iconic franchise that has had a genuinely positive cultural impact. On the other hand, hardcore fans can be out for blood the moment aStar Trekshow puts a foot wrong. Thankfully, Paul Giamatti’s experience of playing Rhino inThe Amazing Spider-Man 2should have given him a thick skin for any incoming insults from the more toxic corners ofStar Trekfandom.
The Amazing Spider-Man 2
The Amazing Spider-Man 2, released in 2014, continues Peter Parker’s journey as he balances life as Spider-Man and his relationship with Gwen Stacy. Facing new challenges, Peter encounters the formidable Electro and is reunited with Harry Osborn, while uncovering significant revelations about his past.
Following the release of Andrew Garfield’sThe Amazing Spider-Man 2, fans slatedPaul Giamatti’s “terrible” Rhino. However, despite fan criticism, Paul Giamatti revealed toJosh Horowitz’sHappy Sad Confusedpodcastthat he enjoyed the experience of playing the iconicSpider-Manvillain. Giamatti was a fan of the Rhino and had coveted the role for years, so it’s heartening to hear that fan criticisms didn’t hamper his enjoyment. As aStar Trekfan too, it seems thatPaul Giamatti will be able to navigate potential fan negativity surrounding his role inStar Trek: Starfleet Academy.
1Paul Hunham in The Holdovers
Paul Giamatti played a boarding school teacher with high standards.
One of Paul Giamatti’s most recent roles is perhaps his best pre-cursor toStar Trek: Starfleet Academy. In Alexander Payne’s Oscar winning movieThe Holdovers,Paul Giamatti played grumpy history teacher, Paul Hunham, who was forced to look after the boarding school students who didn’t go home for the holidays. Given the tease that his character is connected to a cadet, Paul Giamatti could be playing one ofStarfleet Academy’s mentors. If that’s the case, then Paul Giamatti’s villain could turn out to be an evil version of the cranky but sympathetic Paul Hunham inThe Holdovers.
The Holdovers
The Holdovers is a comedy-drama film starring Paul Giamatti as Paul Hunham, a prep academy professor hated by peers and students alike. Stuck at the academy for the holidays with no family or friends to visit, he finds himself in the company of a bright-but-troublemaking young student named Angus and the school’s head cook, Mary. Together, the three will create a makeshift family as they bond during the holiday season.
Paul Hunham’s high-standards and disdain for the privileged and feted students that he taught was played to perfection by Giamatti inThe Holdovers. The bond that Paul eventually formed with promising but troubled student Angus Tully (Dominic Sessa) hints at the types of stories that a Starfleet Academy series could tell. Whatever Alex Kurtzman and Noga Landau have planned for the YAStar Trekshow is clearly enough to convince an actor of Paul Giamatti’s talents to come aboard, which makesStar Trek: Starfleet Academyan exciting prospect.
Star Trek: Starfleet Academyis set to start shooting in Fall 2024 for a late 2025 or early 2026 release on Paramount+.
