‘We’ve never seen a Klingon’ like the cadet in new Star Trek series, says Starfleet Academy actor
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Karim Diané plays a Klingon with a unique atmosphere in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy. Certified fresh on rotten tomatoes, Star Trek: Starfleet AcademyThe first two episodes of were broadcast on Paramount+ and received an enthusiastic reception from Star Trek fans.
As Jay-Den Kraag, Karim Diané plays the first full-blooded Klingon main character in and Star Trek series since Michael Dorn, who played the iconic Worf in Star Trek: The Next GenerationStar Trek: Deep Space NineAnd Star Trek: Picard season 3. Jay-Den enrolls in Starfleet Academy’s medical stream, which is unusual for a Klingon.
ScreenRantLiam Crowley interviewed Karim Diané, with his comrades Zoë Steiner and Bella Shepard, at Star Trek: Starfleet Academy‘s press conference. Diane discussed meeting Michael Dorn in person for the first time and exaggerates the “different turn” Jay-Den Kraag brings the Klingons. Read Karim’s quote below:
Liam Crowley: Have you contacted Michael Dern about playing a Klingon? And beyond that, what makes your Klingon a little more unique than what we’ve seen before?
Karim Diane: Of course. I met Michael Dorn for the first time a few days ago at the Rose Bowl in person, and it was so cool. And we immediately clicked because we have this shared experience. In reality, only him and I, the main characters of Star Trek, are Klingons. So we know what it means to wear makeup daily for years. I studied it a lot, watched a ton, every episode of Worf. I had that backdrop in the character.
But I think he, and the fans I spoke with online, encouraged me to make it my own. It was really cool to add a different touch to it. Jay-Den is truly unique. We’ve never seen a Klingon like this, but yeah, I love him.
Watch ScreenRant’s interview with Star Trek: Starfleet Academy »s cast below:
Karim Diané and Tig Notaro represented Star Trek: Starfleet Academy at the Rose Parade on New Year’s Day. George Takei and Rebecca Romijn joined them on the Star Trekbut Diane also had a one-on-one Klingon summit with the OG, Michael Dorn.
Star TrekSocial networks revealed the challenge process that Karim Diané undergoes to become Klingon. Along with Michael Dorn, Karim also consulted with Doug Jones, who played Saru in Star Trek: Discoveryon the role of a character locked in prosthetics.
Jay-Den Kraag is looking to become a healer in Starfleet, but that makes sense even for Klingons. In a race of proud warriors, there must also be healers in Klingon culture, just as there must be scientists and engineers who build their starships like the Klingon Bird-of-Prey and the D-7 battle cruisers.
Thanks to Karim Diané, the Klingons also return to the forefront for the first time since Star Trek: DiscoveryThe much-hated rework of . Jay-Den Kraag restores the Klingons to their most popular look, and Star Trek: Starfleet Academy opens the door to exploring the state of the Klingon Empire in the 32nd century.
- Release date
- January 15, 2026
- Network
- Paramount+
- Showrunner
- Alex Kurtzman, Noga Landau
- Directors
- Alex Kurtzman
- Writers
- Gaia Violo, Gene Roddenberry
- Franchise(s)
- Star Trek
- Creator(s)
- Alex Kurtzman