After announcing that The Late Show will end in May 2026, Stephen Colbert stunned fans at New York Comic Con by revealing he’ll join Star Trek: Starfleet Academy as a witty AI character, a bold and emotional career shift that transforms his late-night farewell into an interstellar new beginning.

Stephen Colbert, one of television’s sharpest political satirists and a defining voice of late-night comedy, has announced that his reign on The Late Show will come to an end in May 2026.

Yet just as fans were bracing for a bittersweet goodbye, Colbert surprised everyone with a revelation that could only be described as out of this world — literally.

Appearing at New York Comic Con on October 11, 2025, the 60-year-old host stunned audiences by revealing his next gig: a major role in the highly anticipated Star Trek: Starfleet Academy series on Paramount+.

In a surprise video message during the Star Trek Universe panel, Colbert appeared on the big screen wearing a sleek Starfleet uniform, grinning mischievously.

“Attention cadets,” he began, with his signature mix of gravitas and absurdity, “I’ve officially been promoted from late-night host to your new Digital Dean.

I’ll be overseeing your emotional growth, ethical dilemmas, and maybe the occasional dance party.

” The crowd erupted into laughter and applause, with fans chanting his name as the clip ended with the Star Trek logo flashing behind him.

For many, this announcement was more than a casting reveal — it was a major cultural moment.

Colbert has been a lifelong Star Trek fan, often referencing the franchise on The Late Show.

He once admitted that as a child, Captain Kirk was one of his earliest heroes and that he learned “half of his moral code” from watching The Original Series.

Now, decades later, he’s officially joining the universe that helped shape his sense of humor and ethics.

The timing, however, raised eyebrows.

Just a few months earlier, Colbert had tearfully informed viewers that The Late Show would conclude its run next spring.

“I’ve done my fair share of monologues,” he told his audience, his voice cracking slightly.

“It’s been an honor and a joy, but I think it’s time for me to see what’s beyond this desk — maybe even beyond this planet.

” While Colbert insisted the decision was his own, reports suggest growing friction behind the scenes at CBS.

Sources close to the production claim that Colbert’s unapologetic political commentary, particularly his criticisms of powerful figures and corporate greed, had made executives uneasy.

One anonymous insider described the move as “a mutual breakup that both sides saw coming,” while another hinted that Colbert’s creative ambitions had outgrown the confines of late-night TV.

“Stephen doesn’t want to just interview politicians and celebrities anymore,” they said.

“He wants to build worlds — literally and figuratively.”

At Comic Con, Colbert leaned into the speculation with a wink.

“Some people retire.

Others beam up,” he quipped, drawing roars of laughter from the packed auditorium.

Paramount executives confirmed that Colbert’s character — an AI dean guiding young cadets through the perils of interstellar life — will appear throughout the first season, which begins filming in early 2026.

The role, they say, was written specifically for him.

Fans online were quick to react.

One X (formerly Twitter) user wrote, “Colbert leaving CBS for Star Trek is the ultimate plot twist — he’s literally going where no late-night host has gone before.

” Another added, “From truthiness to transporters — he’s the only one who could pull this off.

” Within hours, Colbert’s Comic Con appearance became one of the event’s most-watched clips, amassing millions of views across social media platforms.

Colbert’s transformation from late-night mainstay to sci-fi performer marks a full-circle moment in his career.

Before The Late Show, he rose to fame on The Daily Show and later headlined The Colbert Report, a satirical masterpiece that redefined political comedy.

Over the years, he’s earned critical acclaim, multiple Emmys, and a reputation as one of America’s sharpest, most thoughtful entertainers.

His decision to pivot toward scripted storytelling — particularly in a franchise as philosophical as Star Trek — seems less like a departure and more like an evolution.

When asked about the leap from political satire to space exploration, Colbert responded with his trademark sincerity and wit: “Both involve exploring strange new worlds — one just happens to have more warp drives and fewer campaign donors.”

As The Late Show enters its final season, CBS executives have yet to announce a successor.

Insiders suggest that Colbert will remain involved behind the scenes to help guide the transition, ensuring the show maintains its balance of humor and heart.

Meanwhile, Paramount+ is already capitalizing on the buzz, teasing Colbert’s new role in a mysterious teaser captioned: “Wisdom. Wit.Warp speed.”

For now, Stephen Colbert seems ready to trade his desk for a captain’s chair — and his audience of millions for a galaxy far beyond Earth’s orbit.

Whether his next adventure will match the cultural impact of his late-night legacy remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: Stephen Colbert is still boldly going where no one else dares to go — and loving every second of it.