With the recent news surrounding Mike Sussman’s planned Star Trek project — which would see Scott Bakula reprise his iconic role as Jonathan Archer — fans are buzzing with excitement. Here are five reasons why we think Archer’s return could be just the shot in the arm that brings new life to the Star Trek franchise.
1. A Return to Starfleet’s Roots
The planned series would pick things up several years after Enterprise left off, with Archer now serving as the new President of the United Federation of Planets. This direction works beautifully because Archer represents a time before the Federation became the galactic powerhouse we know from later series. His perspective — grounded, idealistic, and occasionally uncertain — reminds us what exploration truly meant in the early days of Starfleet.
2. The Missing Link Between Eras
Enterprise ended just as the Federation was beginning to take shape. Revisiting Archer’s story would allow fans to finally see how those early ideals evolved into the world that Kirk, Picard, and Janeway would one day inherit. It’s a gap many Trekkies have longed to see filled.
3. Scott Bakula’s Enduring Popularity
Bakula brings a warmth and depth to the role that continues to resonate with fans across generations. His return could unite longtime viewers who loved Enterprise with newer fans who discovered Star Trek through Discovery or Strange New Worlds. Added to that, it might also win back some of the audience that felt alienated by Discovery and its occasional mishandling of Trek canon.
4. Mike Sussman’s Vision
Having served as both a writer and producer on Enterprise, Sussman understands Archer and his world better than most. His involvement suggests that this isn’t just an exercise in nostalgia — it’s a genuine continuation of Archer’s story, and of the formative years of the Federation itself.
5. Rebuilding the Spirit of Optimism
Modern Star Trek series such as Discovery have been darker and more heavily serialized than ever before. Archer’s era, by contrast, embodied humanity’s curiosity and optimism. Bringing him back could reintroduce that more hopeful tone — something many fans have been yearning for.
Final Thoughts
Star Trek is in a state of flux right now. Beyond Strange New Worlds season five and the pending release of Starfleet Academy—which has allegedly received mixed feedback from Skydance and Paramount executives—we know precious little about the franchise’s future direction.
As a long-term fan who grew up watching repeats of the original series in the 1970s and early ’80s, and later embraced The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise as they aired, I’ve often felt that Star Trek is at its best when it moves forward through time rather than revisiting the past.
Personally, I’d love to see the story continue from where Picard season three left off, with Seven of Nine in command of a new Enterprise. That said, I wouldn’t be against seeing Archer’s story get the closure it deserves—whether in a movie or a limited series—because as far as prequels go, Enterprise did far more right than Discovery ever did.
