Oded Fehr On Star Trek: Starfleet Academy’s Lighter Tone & Working With Holly Hunter

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Oded Fehr is back as Admiral Charles Vance, and this time he’s portrayed as more hopeful and upbeat, fitting the overall feel of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy. He first played Admiral Vance in seasons 3 through 5 of Star Trek: Discovery. Starfleet Academy is a continuation of Discovery, taking place four years later in the year 3195 and set in the late 33rd century.

As a long-time follower of the Star Trek universe, I was really intrigued by the setup in the latest installment. Following the devastation of The Burn, the Federation is trying to get back to its core mission: exploring the galaxy. And Admiral Vance has made a bold move – he’s put Captain Nahla Ake, played brilliantly by Holly Hunter, in charge of Starfleet Academy. Her mission? To mold a new generation of cadets who can actually fix the mess they’ve inherited – a truly ‘broken world,’ as it’s been described. It’s a fantastic premise, and Hunter seems perfectly cast to lead the charge.

ScreenRant recently spoke with actor Oded Fehr about his exciting return to the Star Trek universe as Admiral Vance. He shared his experiences working alongside Holly Hunter and the new, young cast at Starfleet Academy. Fehr also reminisced about his role in The Mummy and expressed his desire to play Ardeth Bay again in a potential fourth film.

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy Is A College Show About Youthful Optimism

Even though Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is Oded Fehr’s second Star Trek series, he believes it feels surprisingly similar to Star Trek: Discovery. He explains that’s because, at its core, it is Star Trek. Fehr assures fans that the filming experience is consistently focused on the legacy of Star Trek itself, with a deep respect for what came before. He describes it as a fantastic and welcoming work environment.

Oded explained that the set of Star Trek: Discovery differs from Star Trek: Starfleet Academy because Discovery aims to capture the feeling of a college campus for the Starfleet cadets.

Oded Fehr believes this show feels like being in college – full of energy, optimism, and the excitement of learning and new experiences. It’s a break from the everyday grind and worries, offering a sense of possibility and the chance to make a real impact. He feels this hopeful atmosphere is a key part of what makes the show special.

Even someone like Admiral Vance, who often maintains a serious demeanor, showed a bit more playfulness and humor on the show – a willingness to smile and not take things too seriously.

Working With Academy Award Winner Holly Hunter Is A Dream

Oded Fehr and Sonequa Martin-Green starred together in Star Trek: Discovery. Fehr praises Martin-Green, comparing her to Oscar-winning actress Holly Hunter, and says, “They’re both fantastic to work with.” He then goes on to describe Hunter’s approach to acting on set.

What really stands out about Holly is her dedication to the craft – she’s a true professional actor. Sonequa was always prepared, but Holly goes above and beyond, memorizing lines well in advance and fully immersing herself in the scene. She treats every single moment as important, never letting up and never just focusing on delivering her lines. She’s completely present as her character from the moment filming starts until it ends. As an actor, it’s fantastic to work with someone like that. It’s rare these days, especially on shows like Star Trek where rehearsals are often limited. The rehearsals for Starfleet Academy are a real treat – it’s a valuable opportunity to really develop the scenes.

I’ve had the chance to work with actors like Sean Penn, and a few other Oscar winners – it’s always a great experience. It can be a little daunting, but after being in the business for a while, I’m comfortable with what I bring to a role. I know I can hold my own as an acting partner, even if I’m not at their level. I really enjoy collaborating with talented people; it’s both fun and a fantastic learning opportunity. The key is to avoid being starstruck or getting flustered. You have to stay focused on your character and deliver your lines, even when working alongside someone amazing. That’s where the real challenge lies.

Oded Fehr Loved Mentoring Star Trek: Starfleet Academy’s Younger Actors

Oded Fehr is now a seasoned Star Trek performer, but he jokes that Robert Picardo, who’s returning as The Doctor from Star Trek: Voyager, is the real veteran. When asked if he guided the newer actors, Fehr emphasized the collaborative and supportive atmosphere on set, noting that everyone helped each other.

You know, when we started filming, the first few episodes were all about getting comfortable with the whole experience – things like adjusting to the uniforms and just figuring everything out. But honestly, everyone adapted incredibly quickly! It was amazing to see how naturally everyone fell into their roles, and it made the whole process so much smoother and more enjoyable.

What I love about Star Trek is the amazing team spirit. It wasn’t about competition at all – everyone was always giving, helping, and supporting each other. It’s a really technical show, so we had to work well together, and we genuinely did. We all looked out for one another. I think when I joined, coming from another show, they saw me as someone who could fit in, and honestly, it all just clicked. It was a really beautiful experience.

Reflections On The Mummy, Its Latest Remake & Upcoming Sequel

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Oded Fehr has a strong affection for The Mummy and credits his role as Ardeth Bay in the 1999 film with launching his career. He explains, “The Mummy is a huge part of my life. It essentially made me a working actor – it was one of my first jobs after graduating from drama school and completely changed things for me. I’m incredibly grateful for that movie, and I think it still holds up remarkably well.”

Alex Kurtzman, who’s an executive producer and director on the upcoming Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, also directed the Mummy movie starring Tom Cruise. When asked if he ever jokingly brings that up with Kurtzman, the speaker quipped, “I should have consulted you—I know a thing or two about The Mummy!”

I generally don’t like to hint at things, but the recent Tom Cruise ‘Mummy’ film hasn’t been as well-received as the original. And honestly, I wouldn’t dare tease Alex Kurtzman – he could easily point out a lot of roles I probably shouldn’t have taken!

This line of work is challenging, and we always strive to deliver our best. Every project has a lot of moving parts, and sometimes things don’t go as planned, which is obvious to everyone. Other times, we create something great that doesn’t get the recognition it deserves. It’s unpredictable, really.

Oded Fehr Hasn’t Been Asked To Return In The Mummy 4

I’m really looking forward to the new Mummy movie – The Mummy 4! It’s great to hear the original team is reuniting. Could you tell us a bit about it? Specifically, how has Ardeth Bay’s character evolved since the first film?

Honestly, I’m really excited to hear you’re excited too! But I haven’t received any official word about it. I’ve seen all the buzz online, and it sounds like people think it’s happening, but I haven’t been contacted at all. I’m definitely hoping it’s true and that I’ll be involved, but I genuinely don’t have any information to share right now.

ScreenRant believes that if a continuation of the story were to happen, the person they’re speaking to would almost certainly be involved, as they’re a crucial part of the overall picture.

I definitely agree, and I’m hoping we see another film! ‘The Mummy’ really launched my career, and I have a lot of affection for the movie and the people I worked with. I’ve run into some of my co-stars recently, which was great. While I’d love to be involved in a continuation, I haven’t heard anything about it yet.

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2026-01-26 17:52