In the wake of shocking allegations against Star Trek: Discovery‘s showrunners, producer Alex Kurtzman recently took over the role of showrunning the latest Trek series’ second season. But according to multiple reports today, he’s just signed a new deal with CBS that could usher in multiple new Star Trek shows. Hold on to your butts…
Shall I compare this news to a summer’s day? Image: CBS
Variety reports that Kurtzman has inked a $US25 million ($34 million) deal with CBS as part of a five-year plan to bring more Trek shows to TV in the wake of Discovery‘s success. According to the site, five series are currently in early development:
- A teen-oriented series set at Starfleet Academy from Stephanie Savage and Josh Schwartz, the duo behind the recent Dynasty reboot and Marvel’s Runaways adaptation.
- A limited series with a currently confidential plot.
- A limited series based around the beloved character Khan, from the original Star Trek and the classic film The Wrath of Khan – something that’s been rumoured for a while as being spearheaded by Wrath of Khan director Nicholas Meyer.
- An animated series with another currently confidential plot.
However, The Hollywood Reporter might have details on at least one of those mysterious limited series.
The trade reports that one show in Kurtzman’s new deal could bring back one of Trek‘s most beloved characters: Sir Patrick Stewart’s Captain Jean-Luc Picard. According to THR, both Kurtzman and producer Akiva Goldsman (who departed Discovery after its first season) are attached to the series, which would be lead by Stewart reprising his role as Picard.
Although a new post on the official Star Trek website has confirmed that a new deal has been signed for Kurtzman to “extend the Star Trek franchise for television, developing new series, mini-series and other content opportunities, including animation”, it doesn’t mention any of the above details about what those series may entail.
We reached out to CBS for a comment regarding the rumours surrounding Kurtzman’s new deal but had not heard back at time of writing.