Giamatti was given the scripts for the first five episodes of "Starfleet Academy" and offered five different roles. It was Giamatti who chose to play the villain. While you often hear about actors who play alien characters complaining about their time in the makeup chair, Giamatti was apparently the exact opposite.

Starfleet Academy features a wall of notable Starfleet heroes, and there are many familiar names from legendary franchise character on it.