CBS is about to go all-in on its Star Trek franchise,
Per The Hollywood Reporter, Star Trek Discovery‘s executive producer Alex Kurtzman has inked an overall deal with CBS Television to develop “new series, mini-series and other content opportunities, including animation,” one of which may spell the long-rumored return of Patrick Stewart as Captain Jean-Luc Picard.
The Star Trek mainstay has been tipped for a cameo role ever since CBS’ TV reboot blasted off into hyperspace back in 2017, and THR brings word today that “Kurtzman and Akiva Goldsman, who left Discovery after season one, are attached to [a] Stewart-led reboot.” Color us intrigued.
From First Contact to The Next Generation, Patrick Stewart’s legacy is deeply entwined with that of Star Trek, so his return ought to make Trekkies very happy indeed. Variety has also offered up some clues regarding the other Trek series currently in development at CBS, one of which will be “set [at] Starfleet Academy from creators Stephanie Savage and Josh Schwartz.”
Additional projects include a limited series based around the Wrath of Khan storyline, and a mysterious animated series. Live-action TV shows are on the table, too, though CBS isn’t ready to divulge any firm details just yet.
The network is, however, full of praise for Alex Kurtzman, as CBS Television Studios president David Stapf tells Variety:
There is a very short list of writer/producer/directors that every film and television studio wants to be associated with, and Alex and his Secret Hideout team are always at the top. His talent, taste, and ability to shepherd a successful project is unparalleled. Alex has done remarkable work for our Studio, dating back seven years to the launch of Hawaii Five-0, and we are thrilled that he, Heather and their team will be partnering with us for a long time to come.
Closer to home, production on Star Trek: Discovery season 2 is expected to last right through until November of this year, so don’t expect any updates on CBS’ flagship drama for quite some time.
