One of the biggest surprise returns to Star Trek as the franchise expands its wave of original programming for Paramount+ is fan-favorite actor Kate Mulgrew reprising her role as Captain Kathryn Janeway on the upcoming animated series Star Trek: Prodigy. Now, the actor has revealed what brought her back to the role.

Mulgrew starred as Janeway on Voyager, commanding the eponymous Starfleet vessel across all seven seasons from 1995-2001, with a brief cameo appearance in 2002's Nemesis. For Mulgrew, that character has been a constant in her daily life.

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"She's always present in my life. Not a day goes by where I don't have some reminder or request about Janeway or something to do with the future of Janeway. And when [executive producer] Alex Kurtzman approached me -- when I was doing Mr. Mercedes, that's when he called me -- I was curious about it; slightly bewildered about it being an animated series, I didn't quite understand it," Mulgrew told CBR. "It was explained to me in detail and I thought to myself 'Wow, this will be terrific to bring this to young people who may be watching this with their mothers who watched me as Captain Janeway in live-action and it will bring the entire family into the orbit of Star Trek and this is something that I very much want to do.'"

Kurtzman serves as the head of Paramount+'s new wave of Star Trek original programming that launched with Discovery in 2017. Originally intended to premiere on Nickelodeon, Prodigy moved to Paramount+ and has reportedly already been renewed for a second season. For Mulgrew, herself a prolific voice actor that has appeared in everything from Batman: The Animated Series to the Dragon Age video game series, the opportunity to reprise her iconic role in a vocal performance was one that she found to be a major incentive to return to the franchise after nearly 20 years since her last on-screen appearance.

"Also, I love to use my voice, I love the solitude of the recording booth; I love the freedom of it," Mulgrew continued. "Star Trek truly is the gift that keeps on giving."

Created by Kevin and Dan Hageman, Star Trek: Prodigy stars Kate Mulgrew and Billy Campbell. The animated series has yet to receive a Paramount+ premiere date.

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