Star Trek: Starfleet Academy Confirms Avery Brooks Won’t Reprise Captain Sisko Role

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Be warned, this article contains spoilers for Season 1, Episode 5 of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, titled “Series Acclimation Mil.” The episode quietly confirms that Avery Brooks will not be returning to his iconic role as Captain Benjamin Sisko. Written by Kirsten Beyer and Tawny Newsome, and directed by Larry Teng, the episode serves as a warm and respectful homage to Brooks’ lasting impact as Captain Sisko on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.

In the series Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, Kerrice Brooks, playing Series Acclimation Mil (SAM), explored the fate of Captain Sisko from the end of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Notably, Cirroc Lofton returned as Jake Sisko, marking his first Star Trek appearance in 27 years. He helped motivate SAM as she fulfilled her role as an Emissary to the Kasq.

Tawny Newsome plays Professor Illa Dax, who hosts the Dax symbiont and is set in the 32nd century. The fifth episode of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy lovingly references Captain Sisko’s life, showcasing items from The Sisko Museum like his treasured baseball, a San Francisco 49ers cap, and a Willie Mays baseball card.

The video features a voice-over by Avery Brooks, sounding like Captain Sisko addressing viewers at the end of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy episode 5. While it’s wonderful to hear Mr. Brooks speaking as the character again, it’s also a bittersweet reminder that this will likely be the last time he portrays Captain Sisko.

Avery Brooks Won’t Return To Star Trek As Captain Sisko

Okay, so this is a bit sad, but Avery Brooks, the amazing actor who played Captain Sisko, has officially retired from acting and stepped away from Star Trek. Apparently, the team behind the new Star Trek: Starfleet Academy series really wanted him involved. Tawny Newsome, one of the producers, told ScreenRant they reached out to him through Cirroc Lofton (who played Jadzia Dax) and basically said, ‘Hey, any way you want to contribute to episode 5, we’re open to it!’ It sounds like they really wanted to give him creative control and honor his legacy. Newsome was going to share more details, but that’s where the information stops for now.

From the start, we believed the most fitting way to pay tribute to both Sisko and Mr. Brooks was to have their support and participation, however they envisioned it.

Avery Brooks chose not to reprise his role as Captain Sisko in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy. However, he did allow the show to use a recording of his voice from his jazz album, “Here…”, and Cirroc Lofton picked the specific clip used in the episode.

Since Star Trek: Deep Space Nine finished airing in 1999, fans have wanted Avery Brooks to reprise his role as Captain Sisko. This hope grew as other actors from the franchise, like Patrick Stewart (as Admiral Jean-Luc Picard) and Kate Mulgrew (as Admiral Kathryn Janeway), successfully returned to Star Trek in new series on Paramount+.

The fifth episode of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is a heartfelt tribute to the character of Benjamin Sisko, featuring Cirroc Lofton and co-written by Tawny Newsome, a devoted fan of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. If Avery Brooks had returned to play Captain Sisko, he would have been met with immense admiration and respect, given the perfect setting and enthusiastic support.

Sadly, Avery Brooks’ decision not to participate in episode 5 of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy likely means he won’t reprise his role as Captain Sisko. While it’s disappointing for fans like me, Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is still a great show to enjoy. We’ll have to accept that seeing him as Sisko again is probably not going to happen.

Starfleet Academy Finally Gave Sisko His Deserved Star Trek Honors

Since Star Trek: Discovery began the current wave of Star Trek shows on Paramount+ nine years ago, fans have noticed the absence of Captain Sisko and the world of Deep Space Nine. While other Star Trek casts and captains have been prominently featured in recent revivals, Sisko and DS9 seemed to be overlooked.

As a huge Star Trek fan, it’s been amazing to see actors from Deep Space Nine lend their voices to Lower Decks – that show really feels like a celebration of DS9. And while it was fantastic seeing the Next Generation cast back together in Picard’s final season, it definitely made me, and a lot of other DS9 fans, really hope our beloved show gets the same kind of attention and maybe even a live-action revival!

The passing of Rene Auberjonois and Aron Eisenberg sadly makes a complete reunion of the cast of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine impossible. And with Avery Brooks unlikely to reprise his role as Captain Sisko, the fifth episode of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy served as a fitting tribute to Sisko and the world of DS9, finally giving them the recognition they deserved.

Thankfully, Tawny Newsome and Kirsten Beyer figured out how to respectfully honor Captain Sisko and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, and Cirroc Lofton’s close connection with Avery Brooks was a big help. Considering Avery Brooks is now retired, Star Trek: Starfleet Academy feels like the most fitting way to pay tribute to Sisko’s legacy.

Introducing Captain Sisko and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine to a new audience through the eyes of Starfleet Academy cadet SAM was a great way to honor the show’s legacy. Eight hundred years in the future, Sisko and DS9 remain Star Trek icons, inspiring SAM and the next generation of Starfleet officers.

The fifth episode of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is a touching tribute to Captain Sisko and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. It also sadly confirms that Avery Brooks has no plans to reprise his role as Benjamin Sisko. While it’s disappointing, I respect Mr. Brooks’ decision, and as Sisko himself would say, it’s something he can accept.

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2026-02-08 14:00