Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' staff attempted to get William Shatner back as Captain Kirk, but they weren't able to make it happen before filming the final season. Now, as the series prepares for Season 4's debut on the 2026 TV schedule, we're hearing about the massive cameo they tried and failed to get.

Co-showrunner Akiva Goldsman and EP Alex Kurtzman talked to Polygon about the idea and how they quietly worked for years to try and get Shatner to return to Star Trek. With the series wrapped and Shatner revealing elsewhere he'd been in contact with the show about appearing, they pulled back the curtain on the plan they had to bring the 95-year-old actor back as Captain Kirk. I love the idea, and am a little upset we didn't get to see this happen.

William Shatner Would've Reprised His Role As James T. Kirk in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, But As An Alternate Version

Bringing back William Shatner as James T. Kirk, especially at the actor's current age, presented a challenge. Akiva Goldsman had a pitch, however, and wanted to do an episode centered around an alternate version of Kirk that would be linked to the classic Star Trek episode, "The City On The Edge Of Forever."

In the original story, McCoy inadvertently destroys the timeline whilst visiting the past under the influence of a drug. Kirk and Spock follow McCoy back to the past, trying to figure out what he did that forever altered the course of history. Whilst there, he falls in love with Keeler (played by Joan Collins), only to learn that McCoy's saving her from a deadly accident is what ruined their timeline. Kirk is forced to allow the accident to happen, thus restoring the timeline.

In this new potential story, rather than return to his adventures, this version of Captain Kirk would stay behind in Depression-era New York to live out his days with the new love of his life, Edith Keeler. Obviously, the details are thin because the idea never fully came together, but I'm sure it would've been great had they gotten a chance to work on it fully.

What Alex Kurtzman Had To Say About Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Missing Out On Including William Shatner

It's a cool pitch, but I imagine the logistics of pulling a script together in a way that didn't rebreak the Star Trek timeline were too hard to navigate. Alex Kurtzman seemed to agree it was sad that bringing back William Shatner and other scrapped ideas didn't happen, but believed it was ultimately inevitable:

As psyched as I am to watch Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Seasons 4 and 5 with my Paramount+ subscription, I can't help but be a bit bummed by what Kurtzman said. If there are tons of ideas that were left on the table, it makes me more eager to see more adventures. In fairness, that may be the point, considering Akiva Goldsman has petitioned for a spinoff of Strange New Worlds prior to this.

Unfortunately, we've known for a while that the days of hundred-episode Star Trek shows are over. Five seasons for a streaming series is considered an impressive metric, and with ten-episode orders becoming more commonplace, it's inevitable that ideas will be left on the table in the writers' room.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 4 premieres over on Paramount+ on July 23rd. William Shatner may not be in it, but with all the incoming crew members joining Kirk's Enterprise during the final two seasons, I'm still plenty excited about what's to come.

Season 1 of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is over, and with filming already finished on Season 2, and Strange New Worlds wrapping a while back, there are currently no active Trek shows in development. It's the first time in a long time that's happened, and while that may make fans uneasy, Alex Kurtzman reassured CinemaBlend they shouldn't be so worried.

While I'm excited to see Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 4 premiere later on the 2026 TV schedule, I had to ask Kurtzman if we could expect any new show announcements before the end of the year. The EP and head of Trek television hinted that conversations are happening, but given Paramount Skydance's planned acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, it could take some time before we see anything new move forward:

The gist here is that Paramount was a massive company with many holdings that merged with Skydance and its holdings. Now, it's taking on Warner Bros., which also recently merged with Discovery. Two studios with a lot of assets are going to take a long time to sort through, and as much as fans would love to have key decisions about their beloved franchises to be a top priority, there's a lot more to work through.

Alex Kurtzman did have some good news, however, especially if you're someone who feared Warner Bros. involvement in Star Trek like I once did. As he continued to talk about the logistics of this massive eventual merger, he added that he and Starfleet Academy showrunner, Noga Landau, feel supported:

Essentially, the delay in any new Star Trek is in no way indicative of the success of the shows, in this case. The simple fact of the matter is it's going to take time for everything to get worked out, and when the time comes to talk Trek, we'll find out.

While that may not be the answer that Star Trek fans want, it's worth noting that we really don't need any updates on shows for the immediate future. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds will air Season 4 later this year, and then presumably, the final season will air in 2027 along with Season 2 of Starfleet Academy. That gives a considerable window for Starfleet Academy creatives and actors to sit back and relax, and potentially still be able to go back into production for a 2028 release date for Season 3 should it get renewed.

Of course, there is a chance that the conglomerate comes together and tries to move the Star Trek franchise in a new direction entirely. We do know it's a priority of Paramount Skydance to get a movie back in theaters, so who knows how much attention the television side of things will get. As Alex Kurtzman said, they're being supportive, though, so we'll have to see.

Hold onto that Paramount+ subscription for Season 4 of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds later this year, and stick with CinemaBlend for updates on the franchise. Hopefully, as the year continues, the dust will settle, and we'll have a much better idea of what the future holds.

Since 2017, Alex Kurtzman has been overseeing the return of Star Trek television. He's guided the launches of Discovery, Picard, Lower Decks, Strange New Worlds, and Prodigy, as well as the upcoming series Starfleet Academy. That said, amid the merger of Paramount and Skydance, and the shake-ups across the company, fans have wondered whether that will be the case going forward.

After hearing the executive producer wasn't involved in upcoming Trek movies, and knowing his contract with Paramount is set to expire in 2026, it was fair to speculate whether this would mark the end of Alex Kurtzman's tenure as head of Star Trek. That said, I had a chance during the Starfleet Academy junket to directly ask him if there was anything he could share with us about remaining the franchise head beyond 2026, to which he said:

Alex Kurtzman didn't say anything specific about his contract, but based on that vague comment, I imagine we'll be seeing his EP credit on Star Trek shows with a Paramount+ subscription beyond 2026. He still has many more years to go before he can surpass Rick Berman, but it's looking like we'll be seeing how close he can get.

Alex Kurtzman was among the many creatives who helped bring the first Star Trek shows back to television screens after the end of Enterprise in 2005. Starfleet Academy is the latest of those offerings, and it highlights the iconic, but rarely seen school from which all Starfleet cadets come. The series is set in the 32nd century, far beyond the days of most familiar characters, though Robert Picardo's EMH is a part of the adventure as an instructor.

It gives the franchise more time in the 32nd century, which served as the backdrop from Star Trek: Discovery in Season 3 until the series' end. The serialization of the previous series didn't allow much focus on how The Burn had impacted the many species in the universe, many of whom were landlocked because warp travel was nearly impossible for a century.

Starfleet Academy feels like it will mirror modern issues that younger adults of today face, all housed on a streamer owned by a company that has made headlines for controversial decisions as of late. Readers may remember the accusation that CBS' cancellation of The Late Show With Stephen Colbert was politically motivated, with some believing it was a goodwill gesture by Paramount to appease President Donald Trump and his administration.

In Starfleet Academy, Colbert has a prominent role as the voice of the Academy's Digital Dean of Students, frequently heard throughout each episode. Additionally, the Star Trek franchise is known for pushing progressive ideals, sometimes before the general public was willing to embrace them. Robert Picardo assured CinemaBlend he didn't expect the franchise to change much under the regime changes at Paramount Skydance, and if Alex Kurtzman remains in control of the television side of Trek, I tend to agree that will remain the case.

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy premieres on January 15th over on Paramount+. I'm thrilled to see new episodes so soon into 2026, and am hoping we get more announcements for new Trek projects before the year ends.

Star Trek envisions an idealized version of the future, but the franchise's future may not be ideal. While I remain the eternal optimist who thinks there's plenty of reason to have faith in upcoming Trek shows, I just learned a Section 31 actor revealed an issue top brass like Alex Kurtzman and others are concerned about behind the scenes concerning the age of its fandom.

While it's true that the sci-fi franchise generated billions in revenue for streamers in 2024, Robert Kazinsky revealed in a video with TrekCulture that the median age of the Star Trek fandom is getting older, which can always be a problem for the longevity of a franchise. The actor, who played Zeph in Section 31, explained what he learned below:

The younger generation is largely in the dark of Star Trek, and as much of a bummer as that is to hear, I'm not too surprised by that. The franchise's most recent attempt to pull in younger audiences was Star Trek: Prodigy, and it was canceled, saved by Netflix and now is in limbo for whether it will return for any new episodes. For what it's worth, it's a great series and worth binging with a Netflix subscription.

Star Trek needs younger fans, which may be why the franchise is skewing younger with a series centered on cadets in the upcoming Starfleet Academy. The series is loaded with a cast of younger actors, as well as big names like Holly Hunter and Paul Giamatti for the older crowd. Also, let's not forget Starfleet Academy tapping classic Voyager star Robert Picardo to reprise his role as The Doctor, which I'm thrilled about. Hopefully with production recently wrapped on Season 1, we'll see the younger viewers flood in to watch this new show.

In any case, I do hope that if Star Trek is concerned about the age of its fandom, it will take more steps to try to pull in a younger crowd. That said, if the bulk of the fandom is older, there will have to be a way to balance serving its current audience. It's not an easy problem to fix, but hopefully the creatives working behind the scenes have solutions.

Star Trek: Section 31 is available to stream over on Paramount+. Maybe readers should start getting their younger children, nieces, and nephews into the franchise now so we can ensure we're still enjoying it decades from now.

With Star Trek: Section 31 available to stream with a Paramount+ subscription, one of the franchise's most controversial additions has again reared its head. There have been conversations about whether Section 31 was an affront to Gene Roddenberry's vision for Starfleet since Deep Space Nine and EP Alex Kurtzman and director Olutande Osunsanmi assured CinemaBlend they did their best to ensure they didn't help the argument it doesn't have a place.

While critics haven't been kind in their reviews of Star Trek: Section 31, there's been far more criticism of other parts of the movie rather than how the shadow ops sector of Starfleet was portrayed. Kurtzman explained to me why the team stayed away from doing a darker storyline like some might've expected, and how he felt Section 31 is justified within the utopian ideals of the universe:

One thing that wasn't up for debate was Section 31 being a part of the plot, given that Star Trek: Discovery tied the organization so closely to Michelle Yeoh's Philippa Georgiou. The movie was originally envisioned as a series, but when Yeoh won an Oscar, plans shifted to better accommodate her busy schedule in Hollywood.

A movie made it harder to explicitly outline the ways that Star Trek: Section 31 adventure didn't violate Starfleet protocol, but Alex Kurtzman assured that the evidence is there. He talked about the early point made at the start of the film, and walking the fine line between new storytelling and keeping it all within what the franchise is:

Star Trek: Section 31 set the stage for a sequel, and while the reviews haven't been glowing, the fact that Michelle Yeoh is committed to continue playing Philippa Georgiou may convince Paramount+ to greenlight another installment in between the other upcoming Trek projects. There's been no word on whether a sequel will happen or not as of writing, but it will be interesting to see if another movie could polish some of the issues viewers had with this movie. Lest fans forget, we had to get Star Trek: The Motion Picture before The Wrath Of Khan.

While waiting on sequel news, Star Trek fans will enjoy the return of Strange New Worlds later this year. There's also a theatrical film said to be an origin story in the works, but Alex Kurtzman told CinemaBlend he's not involved in what's happening in Trek on the theatrical side. Here's hoping we'll get more information on that movie before the year's end, and maybe even a trailer to get excited about.

As mentioned, Star Trek: Section 31 is over on Paramount+. I think it's worth a watch for anyone who hasn't checked it out yet, and I certainly think there have been worse movies in the franchise. Readers can check it out and decide for themselves what they think.

Star Trek: Section 31 is available to stream with a Paramount+ subscription, and that's the only place fans can go if they want to see the first film for the franchise in nearly nine years. Given the circumstances and Oscar-winner Michelle Yeoh's involvement, I wondered why it didn't get a theatrical release.. CinemaBlend asked franchise head Alex Kurtzman for an answer and learned some surprising information regarding the future of the movies.

I was grateful to talk to executive producer Alex Kurtzman and director Olutande Osunsanmi ahead of Star Trek: Section 31's premiere, and asked why we couldn't see the action-packed title in theaters. Kurtzman is the driving force between upcoming Trek shows, so I assumed he had the answer, but he informed me that is not the case:

Alex Kurtzman was a big part of Star Trek's return to theaterical adventures long ago, having co-wrote the script for 2009's Star Trek and its sequel Star Trek Into Darkness. He's also served as co-creator on every live-action series for the franchise in the streaming era. So to hear he's not involved in what's happening with the vision for the film side and that upcoming origins movie we keep hearing about is a shock to this fan.

While it's not necessarily out of the ordinary for different people to dictate the direction of a franchise, one does have to wonder what's going on with this new Star Trek movie for it to sidestep one of the primary creatives behind the franchise's return to form over past decade and a half. It seems Paramount would sooner keep Kurtzman on what's working on the television side, while perhaps bring something new to theaters.

It's worth noting this quote was received before the reviews of Star Trek: Section 31 hit the internet, which was largely unfavorable. The movie currently has a 23% Rotten Tomatoes score from critics and 18% from the Audience Score. As mentioned by Alex Kurtzman, the movie originally started out as a series but was reconfigured into a film to accommodate Yeoh's busy schedule.

It remains to be seen how many people checked out the action film and whether this attempt to step outside of the traditional Star Trek adventure will encourage Paramount to greenlight further sequels with Michelle Yeoh back in the saddle. We also continue to be largely in the dark about what to expect from the next Trek movie on the big screen, though we know it's directed by Andor director Toby Haynes and written by Seth Grahame-Smith. My only hope is that it's tied to some of the franchise's successes on television in recent years, but we'll just have to wait and see.

Stream Star Trek: Section 31 on Paramount+, and check out the wide variety of content there as well. We're expecting Strange New Worlds to return before the end of the year, and hopefully, we'll get more news on that movie as well.

Star Trek: Discovery is taking its final bow after five seasons, ending the longest-running series of the modern era. Thankfully, we know we can expect more upcoming Trek shows as well as a few surprises in the future, but even so, Voyager will hold onto the accolade of being the last show in the franchise to exceed 100 episodes. So, now the question becomes: Will a Star Trek series ever hit that milestone again? CinemaBlend talked about it with top brass Alex Kurtzman to get some answers. 

I had a chance to speak to Kurtzman ahead of the premiere of Star Trek: Discovery on the 2024 TV schedule, and I asked if a day would ever come when a modern entry in the franchise could hit 100 episodes. It feels like a tall order, considering current seasons of current shows are only about ten episodes in length, but Kurtzman talked about another obstacle while giving his thoughts on the matter:  

Streaming has permanently changed the television landscape. There are more options to watch shows both new and old than there ever were before. As such, it's hard to keep audiences glued to their Paramount+ subscription when competitors are churning out other exciting new shows. As he said, the fact that Star Trek: Discovery received five seasons before the cancellation was a big feat, especially when considering the fact that some of streaming's most popular shows, like Stranger Things, will end with Season 5. 

While Alex Kurtzman likely has the details of what is in store for Star Trek's future, including the news on that rumored Jean-Luc Picard movie, he doesn't know what the future holds. He did offer his best guess at what the chances are of any current or upcoming Trek show hitting a hundred episodes and why he's happy with the way things currently are: 

I certainly can understand Alex Kurtzman's perspective, and I agree that some Star Trek filler episodes from the past were absolute stinkers. Then again, one has to wonder if The Next Generation had only ten episodes if we would have seen some of its more WTF moments unfold, or Tim Russ talking about  Voyager's "Tuvix" episode. There's a trade-off for the big-budget adventures, and a large part of it is the show needing to stay on task with the main story with the limited episodes it has. 

Of course, Star Trek has still found ways to include side stories in this new era, with Strange New Worlds focusing on character-driven serialization amongst daily adventures the crew faces. It's working well enough that Discovery reportedly mimicked the style in its final season, and it may just be the new normal for the franchise going forward. Who knows, it may even get the series, which is currently in production for Season 3, to a hundred episodes, which would be fantastic. Then again, in an age where there's no sign of Trek slowing down, do we need that? 

Fans may ponder this question as they tune in for new episodes of Star Trek: Discovery on Thursdays over on Paramount+. Those who aren't caught up need to do so, because this final season has been amazing thus far. 

Star Trek: Discovery will premiere its final season soon, and with the flagship modern Trek show ending, it only seems natural fans are taking stock of where things stand. After all, we know the series ended prematurely, and the past year also brought cancellations of Star Trek: Prodigy and the official convention Mission: Seattle. Amidst the many questions about the future of the franchise, especially with rumors of Paramount going into a merger or selling off the franchise, Alex Kurtzman was able to share his thoughts with CinemaBlend.

Kurtzman and Discovery showrunner Michelle Paradise were kind enough to speak to me during the junket for the series' final season which premieres for those Paramount+ subscriptions on April 4th. I mentioned Discovery's cancellation has led to worry Star Trek is in a downturn, and he assured me it's more just the common trend in streaming:

The future of Star Trek is bright, and as Alex Kurtzman said, there are a couple of surprises coming up after Starfleet Academy. We know that Patrick Stewart has openly talked about a Picard movie being written and that many fans are hoping it's a tie-in that follows up on the crew's adventures following Season 3. We also know Star Trek 4 took a major leap forward bringing in a new screenwriter, and there's even chatter of a new movie that will tackle the origins of the franchise.

We also know that Kurtzman teased some conversations happening tied to a Deep Space Nine project a while back, as well as Kate Mulgrew has pushed for a chance to appear as Janeway again in live-action. In short, there's no shortage of ideas or actors for Alex Kurtzman and the company to work with, so we'll just have to wait and see what these surprises end up being.

It all sounds very promising, but with rumors of Paramount entering a merger, plans can always change. There's even speculation about another company purchasing Star Trek, which could always put all current plans in flux while they meet with their new bosses and figure out which direction to proceed. Alex Kurtzman doesn't seem worried about that, however, as he assured me that the franchise will remain strong regardless of where it ends up when the dust settles:

If Kurtzman isn't worried about Star Trek going away, I would say it's safe for any readers to take a sigh of relief. As we recently learned, one out of every five people with Paramount+ is watching a Star Trek series.

Of that group, over 50% are watching two or more other new Trek shows (via Variety). Considering that the shows and other upcoming Trek projects are available to stream in the states and 200 international markets, the bottom line suggests there are plenty of people who prove this isn't a dying franchise. Personally, I'm thrilled to hear that because it means I can re-launch my campaign to get Voyager a feature film.

Star Trek is here to stay, though Discovery is going to say goodbye soon. Stream the two-episode premiere starting on Thursday, April 4th, and get ready for the final ride of this wonderful crew.

The beginning of 2023 was a bit rough for Star Trek fans thanks to unexpected cancellations and show conclusions, but optimism never completely left, and is expanding anew among the fandom. Prodigy finally has a new home and will stream Season 2 on Netflix, for instance. Meanwhile, Trek bigwig Alex Kurtzman had all sorts of positive things to say regarding the future of the franchise and its ongoing relationship with Paramount+. 

Star Trek fans wondering how much content their Paramount+ subscriptions will provide for the foreseeable future received something an answer from Alex Kurtzman during the franchise's panel at New York Comic-Con. Kurtzman sang the streamer's praises during the panel, and teased that there's a lot more on the way for viewers anxious for spacefaring excitement. In his words (via TrekMovie.com):

Alex Kurtzman said there are a "bunch of new things now in the works," and I wonder what he might be referring to there. He might be speaking about one or more of the upcoming Star Trek projects we're already aware of, or maybe he's talking about all new shows that have yet to be revealed. In any case, it seems like he's happy with how Trek is doing on Paramount+.

While fans have expressed disappointment over Star Trek: Discovery ending in 2024 or the fact that a Picard spinoff hasn't been announced, there are positives to look forward to. Strange New Worlds will return for Season 3, and assuming the SAG-AFTRA strikes end in 2024, will film then alongside the Section 31 movie with Michelle Yeoh. 

Kurtzman went on to confirm during NYCC that the writer's room for the Starfleet Academy reopened last week and also has plans to film in 2024. He also revealed the series will be funny, which makes sense considering hilarious Lower Decks voice actress Tawny Newsome is on the writers' staff. 

Star Trek fans have felt unsure about the franchise's future following the cancelation of the official convention in Seattle earlier this year. Following that, Discovery was announced to be ending after its fifth season, Prodigy was canceled, and Picard failed to land a confirmed follow-up despite an overwhelmingly positive response from viewers. It led to the idea that the franchise was on a downturn, especially after a run in which five Trek shows were airing/streaming concurrently. 

While we still have yet to see what the future holds for Star Trek, it is reassuring to hear Alex Kurtzman so positive about its ongoing relationship with Paramount+. Here's hoping the optimism remains strong through 2024 and beyond, and maybe we get a few surprise shows and other projects announced to keep the stream of new Trek flowing. 

Paramount+ is the home of almost every Star Trek series currently, so pick up a subscription if you're a fan. I definitely like having it so I can rewatch my favorite episodes of different shows and be reminded of how great the ones I've forgotten are. 

Star Trek actress Kate Mulgrew is crushing it with her role as a hologram and actual Janeway on the animated series Prodigy, but the fans want more. It’s hard not to as Star Trek: Picard prepares for a farewell season with the cast of The Next Generation! If Jean-Luc can return to live-action with his own series, why not Kathryn Janeway? Franchise head Alex Kurtzman offered some encouraging comments about the character returning to live action in addition to what she's doing in animation. 

Alex Kurtzman was present at the New York Comic-Con panel for Star Trek, and was asked by a fan during the Prodigy segment about when Kate Mulgrew’s Janeway will return to live-action (via TrekMovie.com). Kurtzman, who tends to be cryptic when it comes to any what-if scenarios in the Star Trek franchise, gave a surprisingly candid response on whether anything was in the works for Mulgrew to reprise her role: 

It would be cruel of Alex Kurtzman to tease that there’s an idea for Kate Mulgrew to return as Kathryn Janeway if there wasn’t something seriously on the table, so this sounds like good news. With that said, there’s really no telling what that idea could be, and whether it would be something fans feel is worthy of what the actress deserves for a Janeway comeback. 

While Alex Kurtzman was scant on details for how Janeway might return, he did offer some equally encouraging news. Kurtzman noted that whatever ideas are in the works for Kate Mulgrew to appear in live-action, this is happening as soon as they can: 

There are a couple of ways that Star Trek could re-introduce Kathryn Janeway in live-action. Star Trek: Prodigy, of course, revealed the actual non-hologram Janeway at the end of its first batch of episodes and could be used to lay the groundwork for her future story in live-action (even if the showrunners deny they’re doing Voyager stuff exclusively). Additionally, with Seven of Nine in Star Trek: Picard and now a commissioned Starfleet officer, there’s cause for her to team up alongside her former Captain Janeway and take on some threat in a potential post-Picard spinoff.

It’s also worth considering – especially with all the trouble Paramount is having with getting Star Trek 4 to happen in theaters – that there are fans hoping for a Voyager movie. Kate Mulgrew had a brief cameo as Janeway in Star Trek: Nemesis but never had the chance to lead her own movie. With her, and co-stars Jeri Ryan and Robert Beltran currently working in the franchise, now could be the time to pull that off. The sky is the limit here for what can be done, so let’s just hope Alex Kurtzman and other decision-makers are considering all options!

Watch Kate Mulgrew’s Janeway in Star Trek: Prodigy’s return if you have a Paramount+ subscription on Thursday, October 27th. Now is a perfect time to catch up for those who haven’t watched, and of course, anyone hoping they’ll see more Janeway in live-action soon. 

Paramount+ subscribers have a lot of new Star Trek content coming to them in the years to come, but that doesn’t mean fans would turn away even more content. Especially when it comes to more revival-esque projects, as there are many fans interested in seeing Deep Space Nine and/or its characters could return for a revival of some kind, especially after it was revealed that the Lower Decks crew will visit the outpost in Season 3. Alex Kurtzman was put on the spot about making more DS9 content, and gave San Diego Comic-Con attendees a fairly surprising update. 

Star Trek has already reflected on the past with meaningful shows and storylines for characters featured in The Next Generation and Voyager, but Deep Space Nine hasn’t received as much attention to this point. It sounds like that might soon change, with CinemaBlend present at the SDCC Star Trek panel to hear Kurtzman’s intriguing response to a fan who asked for more new content focusing on Deep Space Nine’s characters. In his words:

It’s certainly interesting to hear Alex Kurtzman bringing up the character Sisko specifically, as actor Avery Brooks hasn’t made Hollywood a full priority in the past decade. Seeing him return as Sisko, especially in live-action, would be quite a rare treat and maybe the most unexpected return of a Star Trek character from that particular project. It’s possible Kurtzman and others are trying to make something happen, but whether it’s bringing Brooks back to the franchise, or something else entirely, we can’t be sure. But the point is, something is happening, or else he wouldn't have been so intentionally vague, right?

Alex Kurtzman made it clear there are conversations happening, but was also clear on another point to San Diego Comic-Con attendees. There won’t be a Star Trek: Deep Space Nine continuation or spinoff just for the sake of it existing as fan service. Kurtzman explained in detail what they seek to do with every project, saying:

When CinemaBlend attended Star Trek: Mission Chicago earlier this year, members of the Deep Space Nine cast were asked about reprising their roles in the new generation of shows on Paramount+. Nana Visitor (who is gaining all sorts of new fans in the modern era for one specific reason) and some of her fellow co-stars noted some interest in making it happen, but wanted DS9 showrunner Ira Steven Behr involved for sure.

It seems like both Star Trek creatives, and the actors behind DS9, have specific requests on hand for bringing a follow-up project to life. So while those conversations may ultimately result in nothing, we’ll be waiting eagerly to see what is announced in the years to come. The good news is that Lower Decks will be bringing some sort of homage to the Deep Space Nine universe soon, and given Mike McMahan’s love for all things Trek, it should be a great and memorable tribute. 

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine is available to stream on Paramount+. Head to our 2022 TV premiere schedule to see what other new and returning shows are on the way.

Universal Pictures’ Dark Universe franchise collapsed at the same place it began: with 2017’s The Mummy, starring Tom Cruise (one of two movies he appeared in that year, the other being American Made). This take on the classic horror franchise was primarily met with negative reviews and was considered a commercial disappointment, and director Alex Kurtzman considers it his “biggest failure.” That being said, he still found helming The Mummy to be beneficial for some key reasons.

In addition to sitting in The Mummy’s directorial chair, Alex Kurtzman also hashed out the story with Jenney Lumet and Jon Spaihts. Kurtzman and Lumet are now making the press rounds plugging their latest collaboration, the Showtime series The Man Who Fell to Earth, which is serves as a legacy sequel to the same-named 1976 movie starring David Bowie. While speaking with The Playlist, Kurtzman addressed his “painful” time on The Mummy, saying:

Following nine years after the release of The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, the last entry in the Brendan Fraser-led Mummy film series (could that get a relaunch someday?), this new version of The Mummy starred Sofia Boutella as Ahmanet, the title character who Tom Cruise’s Nick Morton, Annabelle Wallis’ Jenny Halsey and others had to battle across the globe. The Mummy also laid foundation for the wider Dark Universe, specifically through Russell Crowe’s Dr. Henry Jekyll/Mr. Edward Hyde and the secret society known as Prodigium. In addition to The Mummy’s ending teasing a sequel, other movies that were set to exist in the Dark Universe continuity included Bride of Frankenstein, The Wolfman and The Invisible Man. 

Alas, the combination of The Mummy’s poor critical reception and only making $410 million worldwide resulted in Universal Pictures writing off the Dark Universe as a “failed” experiment and turning it into a general banner encompassing standalone movies focused on the studios classic monsters. Despite his regrets with how The Mummy turned out, Alex Kurtzman is thankful he was able to direct the movie, as the mistakes he made there have informed how he’s tackled later projects. In his words:

The Mummy is one of two movies Alex Kurtzman has directed, having made his directorial debut with 2012’s People Like Us. Along with The Man Who Fell to Earth, Kurtzman has kept busy in recent years with the Star Trek TV shows Discovery, Picard and Strange New Worlds, and he and Lumet also created the short-lived CBS series Clarice. As far as the new Dark Universe goes, 2020’s reimagined version of The Invisible Man kicked off that run, and upcoming entries under that banner include Renfield, the Ryan Gosling-led Wolfman reboot and Dark Army (assuming Paul Feig can get it made).

The Man Who Fell to Earth premieres Sunday, April 24 on Showtime, and Renfield, the next Universal Monsters movie on the docket, comes out on April 14, 2023. Take a look through the 2022 movie releases to figure out what you’ll be watching later this year.

Warning! The following contains spoilers from the Star Trek: Discovery Season 4 episode “All Is Possible.” Read at your own risk!

Star Trek: Discovery threw a shocker into its latest episode as Lieutenant Sylvia Tilly decided to leave the Discovery crew. Tilly once thought being captain was her biggest dream, but after a period of unease, coupled with a harrowing volunteer mission with a group of young cadets, she found her true calling. With Tilly now taking a position at the Starfleet Academy, I have to wonder if the Paramount+ series just laid the groundwork for yet another Trek spinoff. 

Earlier this year, Alex Kurtzman unleashed some teasy info about another Star Trek franchise entry being in development, with a focus on life within Starfleet Academy. Kurtzman hasn’t offered up much more information beyond that by way of confirming the project exists, so it’s pretty open-ended exactly what the new project may be. A key point of speculation is what era the series might take place during, so if my hunch that Star Trek: Discovery’s Season 4 episode served as a door-behind-the-backdoor pilot for it, then the answer would be in the 32nd century. More importantly, it seems as though Mary Wiseman, one of the original cast members of Discovery, could be a part of the series.

Of course, this is only speculation, and there’s no official indication that Star Trek: Discovery intentionally blazed the path for a future Starfleet Academy series. With that said, Mary Wiseman would only be the latest alumni of Discovery to help spearhead a new spinoff if this is the case. Anson Mount, Ethan Peck, and Rebecca Romijn went on to helm Strange New Worlds after their Season 2 stint, and Michelle Yeoh is integral to the impending Section 31 spinoff, which is still in development. In any case, the precedent for organic expansion is there, which is what makes Tilly’s new job so intriguing. 

One exciting thing about the possibility of Mary Wiseman spearheading a Starfleet Academy series is that it would share a common timeline with Star Trek: Discovery. Having two ongoing Trek shows taking place within the same time frame would make it much easier to handle crossovers compared to others. To that end, it would provide more opportunities to expand the lore of the 32nd century, centering around a fractured universe trying to rebuild and unify after the catastrophic “Burn.” 

Star Trek: Discovery fans will miss Sylvia Tilly on the bridge, regardless of if she’s leaving the franchise for good, or merely going to a spinoff. Though we'll have some time to cope with this unexpected exit, as Mary Wiseman confirmed to Inverse that Tilly would return before the end of the season, which is great news. The Discovery crew is already juggling enough this season on top of trying to figure out how to respond to the devastating gravitational anomaly, so the last thing they needed was Tilly completely dropping off the map and being unavailable when such a galaxy-wide threat could happen.

Star Trek: Discovery streams on Paramount+ on Thursdays. Season 4 is one of the series’ best yet, so those that haven’t caught up yet, certainly need to do so heading into the holiday TV and movie season.

CBS committed to more diversity in its reality genre in the past year, and it appears there could be a lot more diversity in its genres like sci-fi and horror going forward. The speculation comes with the launch of a new production company under the CBS Studios umbrella, 25 Voices. The company is led by two names in Hollywood well-known at CBS, Paramount+, and to fans: Jenny Lumet and Alex Kurtzman. 25 Voices has a goal of promoting the voices of people of color. 

25 Voices will be a company promoting the ideas of people of color and also help guide these content creators on the paths they need to find success in Hollywood. Jenny Lumet spoke to Variety about the origin of the company, which started back in 2017 with a unique experience.

Alex Kurtzman is a partner in 25 Stories, but the announcement noted that he will continue to work at his primary studio under CBS Studios, Secret Hideout. The production company is responsible for the new era of Star Trek television, which has already taken steps to further diversify the franchise and expand opportunities to women and people of color. Jenny Lumet was already under an overall deal with CBS, and collaborated with Kurtzman on projects like Clarice, and is a co-creator on the upcoming Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. 

Given the resumes of Alex Kurtzman and Jenny Lumet, it’s possible 25 Voices could seek to bring a lot more diverse sci-fi and horror projects created by or starring people of color. Some of these projects could even happen through well-known franchises like Star Trek, which has long been a franchise unafraid to cast BIPOC starring roles. It will be interesting to see what projects come from the start of this new company and how the landscape of CBS and Paramount+ will change as a result. 

The television landscape is changing each and every day, and slowly but surely, progress is being made, and more people of color are being cast for key roles in shows every day. Hopefully, 25 Stories will help further benefit that trend and give audiences a few shows unlike things they’ve seen in the past.

Star Trek's massive expansion into streaming has created a plethora of new opportunities for past actors of the franchise to return or to pitch their own series. Voyager's Robert Duncan McNeil has apparently done just that, though he's proposing something wildly different that's only semi-related to Tom Paris. It turns out the actor is interested in a Captain Proton project, and I think it absolutely needs to happen.

Robert Duncan McNeil recently spoke to Trek.fm about the urge to return to Star Trek, presumably before it was publicly known he'd reprise his role as Captain Tom Paris on Season 2 of Star Trek: Lower Decks. Paris didn't mention that appearance, but it was during that chat that he did reveal an idea that would potentially bring back the Voyager crew, though as part of a Captain Proton adventure:

As much as I'm all in on the radio drama idea, it does feel like the easiest sell would be a Short Treks episode with Robert Duncan McNeil as Tom Paris playing Captain Proton in the Holodeck, with a handful of other Star Trek: Voyager cast members in on the action. One would think Star Trek could rope in Jeri Ryan and Kate Mulgrew given their current affiliations with modern Star Trek as well as other Voyager cast members who aren't at the moment.

As for whether or not this idea will actually happen, that's up in the air. It's been said by Alex Kurtzman that the currently planned Section 31 spinoff won't start production until one of the presently airing or soon-to-arrive Star Trek shows has concluded. Robert Duncan McNeil didn't say much on that but stressed that he feels a Captain Proton project is a great idea for both him and the fans:

The good news is Robert Duncan McNeil's plan for a quasi-Star Trek: Voyager reunion sounds completely doable and doesn't require a full series order to happen. A Short Treks series also sounds like something that's feasible, as does a podcast or audio drama adventure. I'm sure there are numerous Voyager fans who would appreciate something like that, especially if a full-scale revival is indeed off the table.

As mentioned, fans can catch Robert Duncan McNeil voicing Tom Paris in an upcoming Season 2 episode of Star Trek: Lower Decks. Catch the premiere on Paramount+ Thursday, August 12th, and be sure to check out our fall premiere guide for a list of all the shows set to arrive in the coming months.

Star Trek announced Michelle Yeoh would get her own Star Trek spinoff as one of the first official spinoffs to Star Trek: Discovery and even teased some of the cast. And yet, years later, we've seen the launches of two other Trek spinoffs, both of which were announced later. And not only that, but two more are on the way. Star Trek fans recently received an update on the Section 31 series from producer Alex Kurtzman, and it's far more optimistic than what we've heard so far.

Last we heard from Alex Kurtzman, Michelle Yeoh's Star Trek Section 31 spinoff was slated to run after one of the currently airing Star Trek shows ended. This time around, Kurtzman revealed during a recently released (but filmed earlier this year) Producers Guild of America panel that some progress had been made on the Section 31 spinoff:

The good news is that the Section 31 spinoff does have some work being put into it, though progress has stalled, thanks to COVID-19 shutdowns in 2020. Star Trek fans were already aware Star Trek television had been delayed by COVID, as Star Trek: Discovery Season 3 took longer to complete its post-production. Star Trek: Picard Season 2 was also forced to move its release date to 2022.

One would assume Section 31 will arrive sometime over the next few years, especially after Star Trek: Discovery Season 3 sent Michelle Yeoh's Georgiou back in time, presumably to the period in which Section 31 would take place. Alex Kurtzman has since explained Georgiou being written out in Season 3 as a way to complete her arc with Michael Burnham, as well as organically put her in a position for the spinoff series to happen.

The only bit of potentially negative news from this positive update on Star Trek's Section 31 spinoff is that it would presumably mean one of the presently existing Trek shows is set to end. Star Trek: Discovery is the most tenured of the productions, but there's always a question of how long Patrick Stewart is expected to reprise his role in Star Trek: Picard. Honestly, at this point, we'll just have to wait and see when the time will finally come for Michelle Yeoh to reprise her role and get rolling on this much-anticipated series.

Continue to stick with CinemaBlend for more updates on Star Trek and the development of the Section 31 spinoff. For more happening with Star Trek in general, read up on what's happening with the upcoming movie in the franchise right here.

Spoilers ahead for the series premiere of Clarice on CBS, called "The Silence is Over."

CBS is revisiting the world of Silence of the Lambs in primetime without remaking the 1991 film, with freshman series Clarice functioning as a sequel that picks up on how Clarice Starling has moved on (or not moved on) from the case of Buffalo Bill. The series premiere heavily dealt with the trauma of not only Clarice but also Buffalo Bill's survivor Catherine Martin. Notably absent from the episode was an explicit mention of Hannibal Lecter, but the show has found a way to follow Silence of the Lambs without mentioning the iconic film villain.

Now, anybody who is aware of the situation with the Hannibal character likely went into Clarice knowing that Hannibal wouldn't be explicitly mentioned, since CBS only has rights for characters from Thomas Harris' Silence of the Lambs novel, and Hannibal actually debuts in Harris' book universe in an earlier novel, Red Dragon. Clarice co-creators Jenny Lumet and Alex Kurtzman weighed at the virtual TCA panel for the new show on why not name-dropping Hannibal Lecter works, with Lumet saying:

The role of Hannibal Lecter was made famous on the screen with Anthony Hopkins portraying the cannibal psychiatrist serial killer in Silence of the Lambs, for which Hopkins won an Academy Award. Another high-profile actor to play Hannibal was none other than Mads Mikkelsen, who also won an award for his portrayal, in NBC's Hannibal TV show that ran for three bloody seasons. And those are only two of those who have tackled the role. As Jenny Lumet said, Hannibal Lecter has been played many times; Clarice hasn't gotten as much focus until the CBS show literally named after her.

None of this is to say that Clarice can't at least allude to Hannibal, with Clarice's mandated FBI therapist mentioning that her "last therapist was an inmate in a Baltimore hospital for the criminally insane" who "ate his patients." Clarice of course protested that "he" wasn't her therapist, and neither name-dropped Hannibal Lecter, but the reference was enough for any viewers who have seen Silence of the Lambs or are even vaguely aware of it in pop culture to know who they were talking about.

Clarice co-creator Alex Kurtzman shared his own thoughts on Clarice focusing on Clarice without needing to mention Hannibal (rights issues aside), making mention of both Silence of the Lambs and the Hannibal TV show:

In a fun twist, Clarice's 2021 debut means that the Clarice Starling-centric show debuts 30 years after Jodie Foster (who hasn't committed to watching the new show) brought Clarice to life on the big screen in Silence of the Lambs. This new CBS show is about the FBI agent who saved the day (traumatizing herself in the process) in the movie as she moves on with her life, and Hannibal Lecter doesn't need to be involved with that.

In fact, as the series premiere proved, Clarice has plenty on her plate without spending her time thinking about Hannibal, and not just because Buffalo Bill still intrudes on her mind. She has a new killer to catch. And you can watch Clarice fighting for her place on the FBI team even as she chases a new killer with new episodes of Clarice on Thursdays at 10 p.m. ET on CBS. For more of what's on the way in the not-too-distant future, be sure to check out our 2021 winter and spring premiere schedule.

The Star Trek: Discovery crew may have found a way to strengthen the Federation of the future, but they aren't out of the woods just yet. New dangers await Michael Burnham in Season 4 of the CBS All Access series, though showrunner Alex Kurtzman revealed the characters may face a threat unique to any they've faced before.

Kurtzman participated in an online panel on the series with Deadline (via Trekmovie.com) and teased a bit about what was in store for fans waiting on Star Trek: Discovery Season 4. Kurtzman revealed the upcoming enemy for Star Trek: Discovery may not be like anything fans are used to, and may not even be a traditional "thing" at all.

The cryptic statement is confusing, to say the least, but it does seem to make one thing clear. The big bad of Star Trek: Discovery Season 4 is not a living being, but "something else." One could make the argument that Star Trek's greatest foes are non-living forces, though what could be so big a threat that it would be able to effectively replace an actual living big bad?

A clue may be hiding in what Alex Kurtzman had to say about the challenges Captain Michael Burnham will face in Season 4. The federation may be in a better place with her arrival, but Starfleet's efforts to reunify its once-massive alliance will not happen without struggle and conflict with its former nations.

Given that statement, it sounds like one possible enemy could be the clash between old Federation ideals and how that works in a post-Burn civilization. There's also bound to be some inter-Federation conflict over the inclusion of some species between existing members, most of which the Discovery may be oblivious to because they've only gotten the CliffsNotes on the past 1000 years of history. Speaking of The Burn, could this mysterious enemy be another potential world-ending threat? Obviously, we can only continue to speculate and trust that the CBS All Access series can live up to its challenge of constantly giving Star Trek fans something new.

Star Trek: Discovery Seasons 1 through 3 are currently available to binge on CBS All Access. For more on the franchise, read up on Michael Dorn's recent thoughts about appearing on Star Trek: Picard in the near future.

September of 2019 saw many Star Trek fans shocked and saddened when Star Trek: Deep Space Nine actor, Aron Eisenberg, died of heart failure suddenly at only 50 years old. Eisenberg, who played Nog on DS9 for all seven seasons of the series, was an important part of the show, and his Ferengi character eventually became the first of his race to join Starfleet. After Eisenberg's death, there were a lot of fans who called for a tribute to him (and Nog) in one of the new Trek series. Now, that's become a reality, as Star Trek: Discovery has paid an awesome tribute to the actor on screen.

Discovery, which began as a prequel to series to Star Trek: The Original Series, has now gone way beyond Nog's time in Starfleet. At the end of the previous season, the crew had to jump about a 1000 years into the future, and Season 3 has shown that things are a lot different in the galaxy. The Federation (and Starfleet, for that matter) is now a shadow of its former self, while technology has advanced pretty far beyond what Discovery's crew is used to, and the state of relations between the wide variety of races and lifeforms is now a mystery they'll have to catch up on very quickly to do their jobs.

Episode 5 of Season 3 aired recently and showed that one thing has remained the same: the amazing contribution Nog made to Starfleet. In the episode, which featured Discovery's crew finally making contact with Starfleet, the Federation, and being granted the right to continue on working as a science vessel in the fleet, fans were treated to a quick shot of a new ship, which bares the name of the "USS Nog," in tribute to Aron Eisenberg and the beloved Ferengi.

I mean, this is cool, right? While fans had been hoping that we would be treated to seeing Nog as a captain somehow, as seen in the alternate future DS9 episode "The Visitor," this is a similar treat which proves that he continued to make his mark after beginning his work in Starfleet on that show.

At New York Comic Con last year, Discovery's executive producer and co-showrunner, Alex Kurtzman, promised fans that he and his team would "look for every opportunity" to find a way to honor Aron Eisenberg's contribution to the wide-spread Trek franchise, so it's good to see that they were serious about working Nog into the show in some way. About the decision to name a ship after the character, he told Trek Core:

Lovely. I'd like to think that with this crazy new world Discovery's crew has entered, there would be at least some future need for assistance from those working on the USS Nog, but we'll just have to keep watching to see if the ship created to pay tribute to the late Aron Eisenberg will return at some point.

Star Trek: Discovery airs every Wednesday on CBS All Access, but for more to watch in the coming weeks, be sure to check out our guide to fall TV, and see what's coming to the small screen in the new year!

Just when it seemed that Star Trek has more than enough shows in development, one more has been added to the bunch. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds will follow Captain Pike, Spock, Number One, and the pre-Kirk Enterprise in some new adventures that will show some flashes of the original Star Trek.

Star Trek TV producer Alex Kurtzman revealed the ties to the original series at Deadline's Contenders Television panel. He explained the in-development series will try and emulate Star Trek in one key way:

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds will supposedly push optimism, which is somewhat impressive given the circumstances of the characters heading in. Season 2 of Star Trek: Discovery showed Captain Pike learning of his future gruesome fate when he took possession of a Klingon Time Crystal. Anson Mount's Pike will have to reckon with that in some way, even if he was able to push it down when helping Michael Burnham and the crew.

It is interesting to see that Star Trek: Strange New Worlds wants to revisit the tried and true method of classic Star Trek story arc formats. I'm sure there will be all sorts of opinions from the fandom regarding that decision, and some may think Strange New Worlds is the franchise backpedaling away from the serialized storylines. I'm not sure it's backpedaling considering both Star Trek: Discovery and Star Trek: Picard are still around and will likely still explore serialized stories.

Alex Kurtzman knows what the real strategy is, though I personally believe making Star Trek: Strange New Worlds more in line with the format of classic Star Trek is a good call. Star Trek: Discovery's main controversy was how far it leaned away from the classic series, despite being set within the era. If audiences are interested in a classic Star Trek show, it only makes sense to give it to them.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is currently in development over at CBS All Access. Continue to stick with CinemaBlend for all the latest happenings in the Star Trek franchise, and for more news in television and movies. Be sure to check out our fall TV premiere schedule for what's on the way to the small screen.

As the movie portion of the Star Trek franchise tries to figure out what to do next, its TV division could be toying with its most ambitious move yet. Is a Star Trek TV musical in the future? The future is where Star Trek tends to live, and while it has taken on many edgy angles, a musical one has been an elusive.

The person who could make that decision is the one who broached the possibility in the first place -- Alex Kurtzman. He is the one who has provided Star Trek fans updates on all of the projects happening in the TV universe. One of the more recent shows to emerge has been Star Trek: Short Treks. Asked about its future, Kurtzman provided hope for a musical iteration telling Gold Derby:

A Star Trek musical is not the distant journey you may have thought, thanks to Star Trek: Short Treks. If it happens, Star Trek will join Grey’s Anatomy and Scrubs (among other shows) in having musical installments despite not being TV musicals. Interestingly, the idea is getting discussed not too long after Data actor, Brent Spiner, posted a video showing off his grade-A vocal abilities.

Could a Star Trek: Short Treks musical be what draws Brent Spiner back to the franchise? He has said that he is not against returning, so that is good news. Whoever ends up doing it, Star Trek’s Alex Kurtzman is thinking rather large for one of the franchise’s Emmy-nominated shows.

I have to say that musicals are not the first genre that comes to mind when it comes to Star Trek. However, there is a precedent for shows to push outside of their genre norms in order to embrace something very different. In a world where The Blacklist can do a partly animated finale, I say, why not?

Television is currently embracing an anything-goes round of ambition, and Trekkies may be into this idea. Star Trek: Short Treks could be just the outlet for such a daring attempt to get made in the franchise, because of the one-off nature of the stories. Rainn Wilson’s Harry Mudd was among those featured during the CBS All Access show’s first season, while Alita: Battle Angel’s Rosa Salazar appeared in the anthology series during its second.

It would be interesting to know who/if any stars Alex Kurtzman has in mind to sing their hearts out for a potential Star Trek musical. Enough is certainly going on in the Star Trek franchise to keep Kurtzman so preoccupied that he can't create his dream casting, though. The franchise is bustling, with new TV series frequently popping up.

Time will tell if and when a Star Trek musical enters the equation. For now, you can stream the first two seasons of Star Trek: Short Treks on CBS All Access. Meanwhile, Star Trek: Discovery is set to be one of this fall’s premieres. Season 3 is currently slated to premiere on Thursday, October 15, on CBS All Access at 3:01 a.m. ET.

Fans of Star Trek: Discovery went crazy for Ethan Peck's bearded Spock when he showed up on Season 2 of the latest entry in the Star Trek franchise, and now everyone who loved seeing the classic character in a new way is going to get to see a lot more of him and some of the other old favorites we were treated to on Discovery. CBS All Access, the new home for pretty much all things Trek, has now given a series order to Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, which will follow Spock, Captain Pike and Number One in the years before Kirk came to the Enterprise.

Along with Ethan Peck returning to the role of Spock for Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Anson Mount is on board to bring Captain Christopher Pike to life again, along with Rebecca Romijn taking on the part of Number One, as she did in Star Trek: Discovery. The series will focus on the trio as they lead the Enterprise and her crew on a trip around the galaxy to explore, you got it, new worlds. Akiva Goldsman wrote the series premiere from a story created by himself, Alex Kurtzman and Jenny Lumet, and here's what Kurtzman had to say about the new project:

I have to say, I love it when a plan comes together! It was just last summer that fans, in the wake getting to watch Spock, Pike and Number One on Season 2 of Star Trek: Discovery, were giddy with the hope that we could see these new versions of the characters again. Of course, as Discovery viewers will know, that show jumped very far ahead in the Star Trek timeline at the end of its second season, meaning that any significant appearances from them would be very unlikely.

At the time, Kurtzman, who is Discovery's co-showrunner and EP, admitted that they were looking for a way to bring Spock, Number One and Captain Pike (with Pike and Number One also being Original Series characters, but who were only briefly seen) back into the Trek fold. Seeing as how not even a full year has passed since then, it's clear that they were deeply serious about granting fans' wishes and making Star Trek: Strange New Worlds a reality.

This series now joins several new franchise shows, as, along with Discovery, there is also Star Trek: Picard, Star Trek: Short Treks, the upcoming animated series Star Trek: Lower Decks, and the still in development show about Section 31 starring Discovery's Michelle Yeoh, along with a CG animated show for younger audiences, which is being made for Nickelodeon.

Goldsman, Kurtzman and Lumet will act as executive producers on Strange New Worlds, along with Henry Alonso Myers, Heather Kadin, Rod Roddenberry and Trevor Roth. Goldsman will also keep his other day job as an executive producer on Picard, and had this to say about the new series:

Man, it's hard to believe that just a few years ago, there was no new Star Trek on TV, and it didn't seem like we'd ever get to explore the galaxy with a brightly outfitted Trek crew again. Now there are so many shows to choose from that fans can stay entertained for as long as they like.

Right now, there's no word on how many episodes we'll see from Season 1 of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, or when we can expect it to debut on CBS All Access, but you can stay tuned to CinemaBlend for the latest!

The first season of Star Trek: Discovery offered up several surprises for fans who were eager to feast their eyes on a new Star Trek series for the first time in over a decade. One of those many shocks involved not just an extended trip to the Mirror Universe, which had popped up several times across various Star Trek shows, but the reveal that Mirror Philippa Georgiou was recruited by the super secret Starfleet Intelligence wing, Section 31. And, people loved it so much that it wasn't long before a spinoff was announced which would follow Michelle Yeoh's character as she worked with the organization. Now, it looks like it'll go into production in May.

Rumors began floating around about Section 31 back in November 2018, with official confirmation that the series was being worked on, along with several other new Star Trek series, coming just a few months later in January. So, Trekkies who have loved what we've already gotten to see of the ruler of the Terran Empire, her most Imperial Majesty, Mother of the Fatherland, Overlord of Vulcan, Dominus of Kronos, Regina Andor, Emperor Philippa Georgiou Augustus Iaponius Centarius, have been waiting for quite a while to see her take off on her own covert missions.

According to Space, which spoke with CBS All Access' Star Trek overlord (i.e. Picard executive producer and a Discovery showrunner) Alex Kurtzman at the Picard premiere, he was willing to offer up some info on the buzzed about Section 31. While Kurtzman confirmed that they already had a "great" first script and a writers' room set up, and said that casting for the new show "could be" happening within the next three months, he wouldn't confirm the start to filming. But, information from Geeks WorldWide says that production is set to begin on May 4 in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.

The thought is that filming was actually going to begin earlier, but was pushed back so that Michelle Yeoh could work on her mystery role in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings for Marvel. That movie is set to film through May, so it does seem to make sense that, if they are just a few months from completing casting on Section 31, they would go ahead and begin principal photography as soon as Yeoh is available.

All of this, of course, is very exciting, and means that we should start getting images and more teases about what, exactly will happen in Section 31 (and a confirmation on that title) before too much longer (my bet is on some big reveal at this year's San Diego Comic-Con). It also means that the series could begin airing as early as a year from now, and while that might seem like a long time to wait, remember that Picard has only just begun and we still have Season 3 of Discovery coming at some point in 2020.

Section 31 first showed up in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, and while the division had originally been an important part of Starfleet Intelligence, by the time viewers were introduced to it, Section 31 was considered a rogue, clandestine organization which was just fine with breaking all kinds of Starfleet rules and regulations in the name of keeping the populace safe. It was also just as secretive as ever, with only those in the organization, and a handful of others outside of it, knowing of its existence. People generally don't find out about Section 31 unless they try to recruit you, which is exactly what happened to Mirror Georgiou.

Section 31 is set to be a fun, exciting show that will give Trekkies something they've never seen with previous shows set in the universe, not to mention the characters we've followed so far, so be sure to stick with CinemaBlend for the latest on the new Michelle Yeoh series. In the Meantime, you can catch up with Jean-Luc Picard on his eponymous show right now, and see what else you can watch in the coming weeks with our 2020 winter / spring premiere guide!

Star Trek: Picard's premiere is not far off on CBS All Access, and there are still many things fans are in the dark about. One big unanswered question ahead of the streaming series' debut is whether or not Michael Dorn's beloved Klingon character Worf will appear, since there seems to be a discrepancy on whether or not he will. Dorn's signature was spotted on a gift for a cinematographer, but CBS has denied his involvement. Luckily, executive producer Alex Kurtzman has some answers.

Kurtzman spoke to CinemaBlend's Nick Venable and a handful of other outlets following Star Trek: Picard's panel at the Television Critic Association's winter press tour, and was asked about whether or not Worf will appear in the Patrick Stewart-fronted series. Kurtzman didn't give any specifics, but did confirm there's definitely a chance the Klingon will appear in the continuation series.

Alex Kurtzman didn't say whether or not Worf will actually be in Star Trek: Picard Season 1, but he did confirm that Worf's return is a possibility, which is cheer-worthy in and of itself. Kurtzman also added that the writing team didn't want to add characters just for the sake of adding them, so everyone that comes into Picard's story absolutely needs to be significant to the plot in some way. So if Klingons don't have a significant role in Season 1, then there's a solid chance Worf won't be around this time around.

The good news in that respect is that Star Trek: Picard has already been renewed for Season 2 by CBS All Access, so Worf could totally appear deeper into the storyline. As some added good news, Patrick Stewart revealed during the show's TCA panel that it's his hope to have every principal character of Star Trek: The Next Generation featured on Picard before it is all over. That means, sooner or later, Worf will will appear, even if it may not happen in Season 1. No one lets Sir Patrick Stewart down.

When that happens, though, how will Star Trek: Picard present Michael Dorn's iconic character? Alex Kurtzman was asked if Worf would retain his original Klingon look, or resemble something closer to the Klingons currently seen in Star Trek: Discovery. Kurtzman assured that when Worf appears in Picard, he won't look like those Klingons.

Alex Kurtzman was asked as a follow-up if Worf's look represented evolution in Klingons, but he sidestepped that question and instead Kurtzman theorized that Klingons vary in appearance like the Romulans do, and that their appearance can vary based on the region they come from. While I wouldn't consider this an official canon explanation for differing appearances, it will be interesting to see if Star Trek does address the Klingon aesthetic differences in some way that jives with canon down the stretch.

Related: No, Star Trek: Picard Won't Be A Sequel To Next Generation

Star Trek: Picard premieres on CBS All Access on Thursday, January 23, at 8:30 p.m. ET. Stick with CinemaBlend for more updates on the series' TCA panel, and for more happening in the world of television and movies.

Space. The final frontier. The voyages of the Starship Enterprise continue in spirit with the newest sci-fi series, Star Trek: Picard, which will premiere in just a few short months. It'll serve as Patrick Stewart's unexpected return to the sci-fi franchise, and it'll hopefully be both a fitting, formidable return for the beloved captain. What do we know about the Star Trek series, though, particularly as it's expected to connect the tissues of several hit shows?

With the show practically weeks away from its much-anticipated premiere, we do know a bit about Star Trek: Picard and the rousing return it'll provide to the long-running legacy of Star Trek: The Next Generation. Let's get into a rundown of what Star Trek fans can expect from this streaming program!

Are There Any Trailers For Star Trek: Picard?

During this year's San Diego Comic Con, viewers got their first glimpse at Star Trek: Picard, which was set to premiere roughly six months later. This first trailer allowed fans to get a glimpse at what was considered a more grounded, contemplative show centered on the familiar character. It would be a little different from Star Trek: The Next Generation, yet this teaser was also a chance to remind people of what they loved about Jean-Luc Picard and see the potential in this new streaming series.

It was in early October that viewers got a second trailer (which you can see above). This one showcased some of the other cast members as well, while also providing a broader, more expansive look at the show, thus promising a number of delightful appearances for many long time Star Trek fans.

When Will Star Trek: Picard Premiere?

As the second trailer was making waves around the web, it was confirmed that Star Trek: Picard would premiere on CBS All Access on January 23rd, 2020. This premiere date isn't in line with Star Trek: The Next Generation, but it does follow the rollout of Star Trek: Discovery Season 2, which made its debut in January of this year. The winter release date should hopefully land the series in a nice little window between the crowded return of fall shows and the equally bustling spring television line-up. Hopefully, there will be some wiggle room that will allow this new character study series to find its own little rhythm and rhyme with audiences.

What Is The Premise Of Star Trek: Picard?

In Star Trek: Picard, we follow our title character, played once again by Patrick Stewart, a full 20 years after the events of Star Trek: Nemesis, and find him still grieving the loss of his friend, Data (Brent Spiner). The intention with this series is to provide more of a "real world" feeling to the series, giving it a bit of an edge while never straying entirely far from what people can expect from these popular characters.

It's expected to be quite different from what we'd normally see in a traditional Star Trek series, however, and it's safe to assume that the creators will make great use of the possibilities provided by its streaming service home. It's also reported to show how the destruction of Romulus in Star Trek (2009) has affected our title character.

That last development is certainly an intriguing one, as it'll be the first time that the new Star Trek blockbusters and the events of Star Trek: The Next Generation will correlate, with the new show having a feeling that combines TNG with Star Trek: Discovery. It's unclear how exactly it'll work. But, we know that the character will have a different future than what viewers saw in the flash-forwards during the series finale of TNG, titled "All Good Things." The creators of the show have admitted outright that this series will be both similar and different to what came before.

Who Is The Creator Of Star Trek: Picard?

Star Trek: Picard is created by Alex Kurtzman, who has served as a writer and producer for Star Trek for a little over ten years running. Kurtzman was first involved when he served as a screenwriter / executive producer on Star Trek (2009) alongside Roberto Orci. He also co-wrote and produced Star Trek Into Darkness and spearheaded Star Trek: Discovery as the creator with Bryan Fuller. Picard is part of his five-year overall deal with CBS Television Studios to expand the popular property into several shows following Discovery. Surely, for many Star Trek fans, Picard is the type of show they were never expecting to see.

While Patrick Stewart was initially steadfast in his reasoning that he was done playing the character, he was intrigued by the ideas presented by Alex Kurtzman, Akiva Goldsman, and Kristen Beyer. They were initially interested in having Stewart possibly reprise his character in one of their Star Trek: Short Treks episodes, but the conversation bloomed into the writers producing an outline alongside acclaimed novelist Michael Chabon. In an interview, Kurtzman has gone on to describe Picard as "a more psychological show, a character study about this man in his emeritus years." His broad intention for the series is to have the character find his way back to Gene Roddenberry's original optimistic visions, while also reflecting our times now.

Who Will Write Star Trek: Picard?

Currently, the full writing team behind Star Trek: Picard hasn't been 100 percent revealed, though we know that Alex Kurtzman and Michael Chabon are each credited with an episode, according to IMDB. Akiva Goldsman and Kristen Beyer, as mentioned earlier, were also involved in the show's core concept, but whether or not they're involved with the writing of the actual episodes themselves is currently left unclear. Though it would, obviously, make sense if they were attached. More details about the writers specifically involved with each episode is likely to be announced and confirmed in the weeks leading up to Picard's anticipated release.

Where Will Picard Take Place In The Star Trek Timeline?

Naturally, Star Trek: Picard is an extension of Star Trek: The Next Generation and the movies that followed for the cast. But, this show will deal with an important event from the rebooted Star Trek, which took place in 2379. This means that Picard will pick up in 2399. Even still, it'll be curious to see how the destruction of the Romulan empire has affected our former space captain. As the show premieres next year, it will give viewers a better reflection of how it wishes to present itself, but it should be noted that it's expected to follow what we know while also providing exciting new avenues.

How Many Episodes Are In Star Trek: Picard Season 1?

It has been confirmed that Star Trek: Picard will have a ten episode first season. This is notably more condensed than Star Trek: Discovery, which had a 15 episode first season and a 14 episode second season. It's also notably much shorter than your average season of Star Trek: The Next Generation, which ran between 22 to 26 episodes per season. Given the more isolated, contained focus of the story, though, it makes sense that this newest series would want to narrow down the number of episodes per season, allowing each one to have more bang for the buck.

Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart)

Jean-Luc Picard, former Starfleet captain and admiral, is back again. After the traumatic death of Data, along with the destruction of the Romulan empire and leading the largest rescue armada ever seen, Picard left Starfleet at the height of his career. He retired to the family winery to live a much more simple, introspective life away from everything — until a young woman in need convinces him that it's time to return to work with the Federation. Although Picard was once one of the most celebrated captains of the 24th century, he now finds himself with a new mission so that he can do what he feels is right.

Data (Brent Spiner)

Data served as the second officer and chief operations officer aboard both the Enterprise D and E. He was capable of great courage and selflessness, as seen when he sacrificed himself in order to save his crewmates, and the universe at large, in Star Trek: Nemesis. But, it appears that Jean-Luc Picard is still haunted by his crew member's sacrifice, as the droid is seen in the trailer providing a paintbrush to Picard and telling him that it's time to finish his picture. It was confirmed back in Comic-Con in July that Data would be back in some capacity. Even still, this brief but lovely glimpse at Brent Spiner reprising his character was very welcomed.

Will Riker (Jonathan Frakes) And Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis)

In addition to Patrick Stewart and Brent Spiner reprising their respective roles from Star Trek: The Next Generation, there are also at least two other favorites from the sci-fi series who are making their comebacks in Season 1. Specifically, Jonathan Frakes' Riker and Marina Sirtis' Deanna Troi are both returning for Picard. Frakes, in particular, was already confirmed to be involved with the new adventure as a director of at least a couple of episodes. The latest trailer shows fans Riker and Troi, when Picard goes to visit them at home, so you can be sure that this surprise made folks happy.

Seven of Nine (Jeri Ryan)

In addition to the characters from Star Trek: The Next Generation who will be appearing on Star Trek: Picard, there is also a favorite from Star Trek: Voyager who has been confirmed to star in the new CBS All Access program. That would be Seven of Nine (Jeri Ryan), a former Borg who joined the Federation starship Voyager. She was intended to be the Spock to Voyager's Captain Kathryn Janeway, though she developed into an intriguing and memorable presence of her own throughout the show.

Seven's involvement in Star Trek: Picard is certainly a fascinating development, especially when you consider Picard's checkered history (to say the very least) with the Borg — as detailed in both TNG and in Star Trek: First Contact. Not to mention the fact that we see a Borg ship in the most recent trailer, and that Jonathan Del Arco, who played the freed Borg, Hugh, in TNG is scheduled to appear as someone in Picard. So, it looks like Picard's most fearsome foes will be big players in the story.

What New Characters Will Be On Star Trek: Picard?

In addition to all the characters named above, there are a bunch of fresh new faces joining the Star Trek series. While Picard was designed to be more of an introspective character study based on the eventful final years of Captain Jean-Luc Picard, the streaming series will also feature Santiago Cabrera as Cristobal "Chris" Rios, Michelle Hurd as Raffi Musiker, Evan Evagora as Elnor, Alison Pill as Dr. Agnes Jurati, Harry Treadaway as Narek, and Isa Briones as Dahj. Details about their respective characters will be revealed closer to the show's premiere date, but it is definitely a solid cast.

Will Worf Appear On Star Trek: Picard?

Bad news for fans of Worf (which should, hopefully, be a good many of you). It has been revealed that Worf is not expected to appear in the first season of Star Trek: Picard. There had been rumors that the character would make an appearance in the series, though. A clapboard which featured a number of signatures from different cast members had an intriguing signature that looked very similar to the one from actor Michael Dorn.

Alas, the folks at CBS claim Dorn isn't involved with this season, though it's entirely possible they're just saying this as a diversion. Here's hoping that the actor makes at least a surprise cameo. Either that, or he will be asked to join next year. Perhaps this could provide some storyline incentive for season two.

How Can You Watch Star Trek: Picard?

Star Trek: Picard will be premiering exclusively on CBS All Access. The show will make its debut on January 23, and every episode will be found on the streaming service. While it might be an inconvenience for some folks, there is a good chance that a lot of Star Trek fans already have the service in order to watch Star Trek: Discovery. If not, this show might finally give them the incentive to buckle down and get yet another new streaming service.

This is what we know about Star Trek: Picard so far, but there are certainly more details to follow. Be sure to stay tuned here for the latest information about this new Star Trek series and a whole lot more.

Out of all the new shows that Alex Kurtzman and CBS TV have planned for the Star Trek franchise, it's fair to say Star Trek: Picard is the one that has beamed up the most excitement. An impressive feat, considering there are still a lot of questions left to be answered, and some have wondered why the series was named directly after the great Starfleet captain.

Especially when Star Trek series have, by and large, have titled projects after space stations and vessels while focusing on ensembles of characters, even if one tends to get the spotlight more than others. Will Star Trek: Picard be a change of pace, in which the story is entirely driven from the perspective of Patrick Stewart's (former?) captain? Alex Kurtzman shot straight when asked about it, and implied that while this is the first Trek series named after a character, it doesn't mean the franchise's formula has been upended.

Star Trek fans and CBS All Access subscribers will be showing up for Jean-Luc Picard, but it sounds like they'll stay for the amazing supporting characters, and will possibly grow just as fond of them as other beloved Star Trek characters. Such was the case with Star Trek: The Next Generation where, as Kurtzman told Deadline's Crew Call Podcast, several characters were strong enough to carry episodes of their own. If Star Trek: Picard was crafted with that intention in mind, that's very exciting.

The strategy for Star Trek: Picard sounds a lot like what Alex Kurtzman has been trying to do with the franchise for a while now. That means taking the old things that classic Star Trek fans love, but introducing new elements to keep things fresh and inventive for newer audiences to be entertained by.

So through this new cast, which includes Alison Pill, Harry Treadaway, Isa Briones and others, something new is born. So far, the story is tied to Picard, but it has been revealed he's now out of Starfleet. Part of that plays into tough decisions he had to make as admiral, and another aspect seems to involve the destruction of Romulus. So the big question is, what is Picard up to, and are these new characters his "crew"?

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Audiences are bound to find out before too long, as CBS All Access is supposed to be premiering Star Trek: Picard before the end of 2019. Stick with CinemaBlend in the meantime for the latest news on the upcoming series, and for big news on other upcoming television shows.

Star Trek: Discovery Season 2 seemed like a big gamble for the franchise, especially when it was announced it would feature one of the most revered characters. Luckily, audiences seemed to really love Ethan Peck's bearded Spock, and were engaged by Anson Mount elevating the character of Christopher Pike with his performance. Everybody want more of them, Rebecca's Romijn's "Number One," and the Enterprise on Discovery, but will we actually get more? Here's what co-showrunner and EP Alex Kurtzman had to say.

As fans have learned previously, Star Trek: Discovery's jump to the future is going to make it difficult for that crew to reunite with Pike, Spock, and the Enterprise crew. Even if these characters were to develop some form of time travel, the fact that each Anson Mount's Pike and Ethan Peck's Spock has a defined path in the Prime timeline from here on out does limit the creative team's options. They'd have to mess with the timeline if they tried to find Michael.

Of course, there is a bit of a silver lining to this rain cloud, as Alex Kurtzman did tease to TrekCore.com he and the Star Trek team are looking into ways to bring Ethan Peck, Anson Mount, and Rebecca Romjin's characters back into the fold. That means audiences could be seeing them back soon enough on one of the other shows in development regardless of what happens on Discovery.

While it's offhandedly plausible Alex Kurtzman could be in discussions to get the characters in that Nickelodeon CGI series or the adult-animation comedy Star Trek: Lower Decks, the most obvious option here would be to feature the pre-Kirk Enterprise crew in a future episode of Short Treks. Perhaps a mini-episode that shows the team working together, or maybe the day that leads up to Captain Pike's tragic incident?

After all, we saw Spock visit Talos IV which is where he'd take the injured Pike years later in the original Star Trek. We also saw Pike learn of his fate long before it happened when he took the time crystal, which was a new bit of information.

Is it possible there's another chapter in which Pike tells Spock he wants to return to Talos IV following his injury? If so, I'd love to see that exchange. Or something else, even.

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For now, we can only wait and see what Alex Kurtzman has planned for the world of Star Trek. Discovery Season 3 is currently in the planning stages, with a release likely happening next year. CinemaBlend will keep an eye out for updates on all upcoming projects as well as more on other events happening in television and movies.

CBS All Access is really going all in on Star Trek, and the platform will soon have tons of new and varied content for fans to swoon over...or to argue amongst themselves about. So when might viewers expect to see all the new shows, along with Season 3 of Star Trek: Discovery? Co-showrunner and EP Alex Kurtzman shared a production update on Trek's live-action shows, and revealed where they all are in terms of the development process.

That's right, Patrick Stewart's return to the franchise, Picard, is in the middle of shooting its first season, which is great, because that means CBS All Access is still good to uphold its promise of the premiere airing before the end of 2019. The faster, the better, while keeping quality control intact.

Star Trek: Discovery Season 3, meanwhile, is still in the writing stages, which are likely quite different than those of previous seasons, considering the gigantic time jump. But as Alex Kurtzman pointed out to TrekCore.com, things are moving a lot faster now than things went Season 2 last year. Production for Season 3 is believed to be launching a month or two from now.

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Once things get wrapped up on the time-travel heavy Star Trek: Discovery Season 3, the plan is to then really get the ball rolling on the mysterious Section 31, even though the story is at least already being constructed. That's a bit of a wait for anyone hoping we'd see Michelle Yeoh kicking ass on-screen in the immediate future, but at least it appears Alex Kurtzman and crew are working to churn things out as fast as they can.

Of course, Star Trek has even more shows than those in the works, specifically CBS All Access' adult animation comedy Star Trek: Lower Decks and Nickelodeon's CGI-driven Trek series. Alex Kurtzman didn't really give a timetable on when to expect either show, but did provide some background into what each show will be like when they debut. First up is Lower Decks.

They may be the animated adventures, but the way Alex Kurtzman talked about them, Lower Decks and the CGI Nickelodeon show sound just as must-watch as the live-action stuff. That the animation quality is arguably on par with Love, Death, and Robots is particularly interesting to hear, although Nickelodeon does have a history of committing to high quality animation like it did with Avatar: The Last Airbender, so it's not entirely surprising.

And now for Kurtzman's thoughts about the Nickelodeon show, which is apparently keeping its title under wraps for a reason.

One other fascinating bit of information is that the animated shows may feature voices and/or characters that Star Trek fans may recognize. Alex Kurtzman wasn't forthcoming with details, but did reveal that while the main characters will be "mostly new" to Star Trek, there could be a voice or character loyal fans may recognize. Fingers crossed for Worf in animation, let's get Michael Dorn in on another Trek series!

There's lots of Star Trek coming to television, but it appears as though Picard will arrive before everything else on CBS All Access sometime before the end of 2019. Stick with CinemaBlend for details on the franchise in the meantime, and to stay in the loop on other things headed to television and theaters.

Spoilers ahead for the Season 2 finale of Star Trek: Discovery, called "Such Sweet Sorrow."

Star Trek: Discovery premiered as a show set in a delicate place in the Star Trek timeline: shortly before the events of the original series and even featuring characters from the original series. While that gave fans the opportunity to see characters like Sarek, Pike, and a surprisingly sexy Spock, it meant that there were things Discovery just couldn't do without treading on original series canon that definitely did not mention Michael Burnham or others of the Discovery crew.

Now, the Season 2 finale solved the problem of keeping the Discovery action going but keeping it out of previously-established canon. Fans no longer have to wonder why Spock never mentioned checking in with his sister on the original Star Trek series, for example. The Discovery crew jumped into the future as part of a last-ditch attempt to stop Control from wiping out the universe after gaining sentience.

Now, time travel is nothing that hasn't been tackled before in the Star Trek franchise, but Discovery jumped forward a whopping 950 years, which places it further in canon than any other show or movie. Discovery can truly blaze its own path. Showrunner Alex Kurtzman shared how it feels to approach a brand new time period in the Trek timeline, saying this:

The Star Trek universe is vast, nuanced, and incredibly popular, and Discovery's expansion on canon answered some questions and added more layers to some characters. That said, Alex Kurtzman raised the point that there are challenges in adding to corners of the universe that are already pretty full. By jumping forward nearly a thousand years, the path is clear for the Discovery team to go in whatever direction strikes their fancy.

Alex Kurtzman was also a writer and producer on Star Trek (2009) and Star Trek Into Darkness (2013), so he was familiar with the challenges of adding to canon without telling a story with a predetermined ending. In the case of those movies, they wound up creating and exploring an alternate timeline that was quite similar to the original Trek timeline in some ways but quite different in others.

For example, Khan was still the baddie of the second movie, but Spock was not the one with the heartbreaking farewell to his friends as he saved the ship. (Of course, Kirk came back to life without needing a Search for Kirk movie. Gotta love those Tribbles.) Star Trek: Discovery didn't have to create an alternate timeline to escape the confines of established canon; jumping almost a millennia in the future does the trick!

All of this said, the jump into the future doesn't mean that Star Trek: Discovery will progress without any connections to preexisting Trek canon. Alex Kurtzman went on in his chat with THR to explain:

Characters like Spock and Sarek and Pike may not be able to appear in Discovery anymore, but that doesn't mean the characters won't mention them or their exploits. If they have access to the histories of what happened before, they can even reference and learn from the adventures that took place in the 950 years they missed.

Discovery has already been renewed for Season 3, so there's no need to worry that fans will never get to see the new status quo now that the show will be set so far in the future. Alex Kurtzman will have a co-showrunner when the action picks up again on CBS All Access. Discovery definitely isn't the only source of Star Trek coming to the streaming service. The Picard series is taking shape, and then there's that Georgiou spinoff!

Anson Mount’s Captain Pike has been one of Star Trek: Discovery’s most beloved characters since he first beamed onto the bridge, and there has been no shortage of fans calling for a spinoff for the character to be added to the growing list of CBS All Access series. Unfortunately, it was recently revealed Mount’s contract is up following the season. Showrunner Alex Kurtzman confirmed Pike’s story in Discovery will be wrapped, but in an unexpected way few may see coming.

Alex Kurtzman is teasing an extra dimension to Captain Pike’s story, which takes a rough turn following the events of Discovery. Pike eventually earns the title of Fleet Captain and leaves the Enterprise. He’s then involved in a terrible accident, which leaves his body badly scarred and paralyzed to the point he is confined to a wheelchair and unable to speak.

Star Trek fans only know this through “The Menagerie,” which shows Spock risking court martial in order to deliver his former Captain to Talos IV. Star Trek: Discovery fans will recognize that name as it’s where Burnham and Spock went to help Spock regain his sanity and where they met Vina. Spock delivers his former Captain to Talos IV so that the Talosians can give him a life free from his body and pain.

As for how Pike's exit will get that added dimension Alex Kurtzman teased to Syfy.com, Star Trek: Discovery has been establishing Pike's guilt for not participating in the Klingon war. His sometimes reckless behavior and willingness to sacrifice himself in situations has led some crew to say he's overcompensating to feel like a hero. As a note, Pike's injuries sustained in his accident are a result of his remaining in a danger zone and ensuring others survived the encounter.

Another idea is that this "added dimension" may pertain to Pike and Spock's relationship. Spock admired his former Captain enough to risk it all to get him to Talos IV, which must mean they're pretty close. We've seen glimpses of that throughout Star Trek: Discovery so far, but nothing so drastic to show their bond is that deep. Is something on the horizon that will show why Spock was willing to put his freedom on the line for Pike?

Answers are coming, as Star Trek: Discovery continues on CBS All Access with new episodes uploaded Thursdays at 8:30 p.m. ET. Keep track of all things Trek here at CinemaBlend, and be sure to also see what shows are headed to television this spring season with our handy midseason premiere guide.

Spoilers ahead for the Season 2 premiere of Star Trek: Discovery.

Star Trek: Discovery went nearly a full year without debuting its second season, and so Trek fans have had a long time to speculate about how the CBS All Access series would incorporate Spock. Discovery takes place before the events of The Original Series, and it was bound to be fascinating to see how the new show would handle a heretofore unknown version of an iconic TV character. Well, any fans who were hoping for Adult Spock in the Season 2 premiere were undoubtedly disappointed on that front, but showrunner Alex Kurtzman has explained why he didn't appear:

Viewers learned back in Season 1 that Michael Burnham and Spock had been raised by Sarek as foster siblings, and there was the big question of why Spock in all of his other canon appearances never mentioned her. Alex Kurtzman's comments indicate that their relationship was important, even if Spock wasn't going on and on about his foster sister in The Original Series or any of the movies.

Fans can see and comprehend Spock's role in Michael's life before even encountering him, and that should raise the stakes for when they do inevitably cross paths as adults. The Season 2 premiere revealed that they weren't exactly the best of friends as children, and it tracks that such feelings might extend into adulthood, especially if they went their separate ways in their careers.

Still, there must be more to the story than what Star Trek: Discovery explained about their background in the Season 2 premiere. The trailer seemed to indicate a fair amount of Adult Spock in the second season, so no need to worry that Young Spock will be the only one in the mix. Besides, what sibling relationship isn't at least a little bit complicated? With Sarek for a father and a Vulcan society around them, it makes sense that Spock and Michael fall short when it comes to sharing their feelings!

Alex Kurtzman went on in his chat with THR to say this about Michael and Spock's relationship:

We've known for a while that we should expect a very different version of Spock in Discovery than in his previous appearances in Star Trek canon; perhaps what we learn of his relationship with Michael will help explain why he is the way that he is when he first appears in The Original Series. Just because fans had never heard of his sister prior to Star Trek: Discovery doesn't mean that Discovery can't make her retroactively important to him, right? This is sci-fi franchise we're talking about.

Spock won't just be in and out of the action in Season 2, judging by what Alex Kurtzman had to say, and that should make longtime Star Trek fans happy. It was difficult to imagine Discovery only featuring a character as huge and iconic as Spock for only a couple of episodes. Honestly, what would be the point of bringing in Spock of all people if he wasn't going to be impactful?

Given the in-universe circumstances that led to his absence in the Season 2 premiere, we can probably be confident that Spock's screen time won't be dedicated to a ton of heart-to-hearts with Michael. There are larger issues to be investigated, addressed, and resolved than just the family drama. Star Trek has always sought to balance the sci-fi shenanigans with lessons about life and society; maybe we'll learn a lot from how Spock and Michael work out (or do not work out) their issues with each other.

I do have to wonder if Star Trek: Discovery won't give Michael and Spock a happy ending to their issues. There's no getting around the fact that Spock didn't mention his sister in any of his decades of appearances in Star Trek canon. Could their conflict continue despite any strides they make on Discovery? Or is Spock's lack of mention of his sister reflective of a tragedy that went down, making it too painful for him to speak of her? Did Spock actually talk about her all the time, but we never saw it?

Only time will tell. A third season of Star Trek: Discovery has not yet been announced, but Discovery has been such a big deal for CBS All Access that I don't see it going anywhere any time soon. After all, Discovery is already getting a spinoff, and none other than Jean-Luc Picard is coming back to TV with a Star Trek series of his own! This is a good time to be a Star Trek TV fan, especially since Star Trek 4 is in developmental hell for the big screen.

New episodes of Star Trek: Discovery release Thursdays on CBS All Access. For more viewing options, swing by our midseason TV premiere schedule.

What if Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy was never made? We thankfully don't have to live in that reality, but there were certainly other filmmakers who might have helmed 2005's reintroduction to Batman. Star Trek: Discovery showrunner Alex Kurtzman was in the running back in the day, with his former partner Roberto Orci. And you guessed it, it did not end well for them. Here's what he said:

Yikes, sounds like it was quite the awkward meeting. In a recent THR interview with Alex Kurtzman, the writer/producer shared the story when he was asked about his worst experience pitching, so it's nice to know it doesn't get more cringe-y then this.

When Warner Bros. was looking to bring Batman to the big screen at the time, it was following the flick starring the masked hero everyone loves to hate, 1997's Batman & Robin. You know the super campy one starring George Clooney, Arnold Schwarzenegger as Mr. Freeze and Uma Thurman as Poison Ivy?

Batman & Robin was certainly the most kid-friendly flick about the superhero, but it was also the least successful critically and money-wise. So when Warner Bros. was looking to give the hero another shot at a hit, it makes sense that Christopher Nolan's dark, gritty take on the Caped Crusader was just what they were looking for.

So when Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci pitched something else, probably more along the lines of a fun-filled action movie starring Batman, it wasn't going to cut it. The pair went on to work on the scripts for The Island, Mission: Impossible III, Transformers and 2009's Star Trek, so I'd say they got their share of working on a successful series or two.

Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci are responsible for revitalizing the Star Trek franchise, which has grossed over $1 billion worldwide and led Kurtzman to be instrumental in putting a new Star Trek series back on television, over at CBS.

While Batman wasn't in the cards for them, they did work on a superhero movie after all -- The Amazing Spider-Man 2. Considering the film starring Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone ended up cutting the Sony franchise short, it's unclear if a Batman movie written by them would have fared better.

Who knows? They might have had a really good pitch for Batman. All we know is Warner Bros. wanted the hero to be darker and that's not what Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci were thinking up at the time.

The Mummy was a movie that was supposed to launch a new cinematic universe. It was to be the first of a series of movies that brought Universal's classic monsters into the modern era. Unfortunately, that idea hasn't gone as planned. Part of the reason may be that actually making the first movie wasn't all that much fun, as director Alex Kurtzman describes the experience, at the time, as "painful." According to Kurtzman...

While Alex Kurtzman says he now looks back on the experience of making The Mummy as a blessing, he tells THR that at the time it was anything but. Of course, the reason that he says the film was a blessing now is that it taught him to follow his own instincts, implying that he wasn't doing so while directing Tom Cruise and Sofia Boutella.

He does say that the film wasn't what he wanted it to be, so perhaps he didn't follow his instincts in pushing the movie to become something he knew it should be. Since the response to The Mummy both critically and commercially was lukewarm at best, we can guess that's probably the case.

Alex Kurtzman is no longer involved in the Dark Universe so he can't speak to its future. Several months ago Universal was still taking meetings on the idea which indicated that while things had certainly slowed, the concept of creating a new series of monster movies wasn't entirely dead after all.

Having said that, we have heard nothing about any of the other film projects actually moving forward. It seems likely that if and when the Dark Universe does return, the entire concept could be starting from scratch.

The Universal monsters, from Dracula to Frankenstein and the Wolfman could be considered the first ever cinematic universe, as the classic Universal films did see the various monsters cross over and do some films together. It seems like the perfect set of properties to bring back in a modern era when connected films have become so popular.

If we do get a Bride of Frankenstein or a Creature From the Black Lagoon one day, hopefully, the person in charge of directing them will find the experience a blessing while actually filming the movie, not long after the fact.

We've known since last August that Patrick Stewart and his portrayal of Star Trek: The Next Generation's Jean-Luc Picard were coming back to TV, but details on the exact nature of the show, which is still untitled, have been kept under wraps. Now, though, Alex Kurtzman, the executive producer and showrunner of Star Trek: Discovery who's helping to develop this new entry in the Trek canon, has finally given us a hint of what the series will focus on. And, surprisingly, it looks like it will deal, at least in part, with something that happened in the 2009 Star Trek film that established the Kelvin timeline. According to Kurtzman:

If it's been a while since you've seen the Star Trek film that recast all our favorite characters from The Original Series, you might only remember that the movie radically changed things by actually destroying Spock's home world of Vulcan. While that did, indeed, happen, it took place in the newly established Kelvin timeline, while the destruction of Romulus in the Prime timeline is kinda what led to us getting the Kelvin timeline at all.

At one point in Star Trek, young Spock (who's been put in charge of the Enterprise by Captain Pike) maroons young Kirk on a planet after he tries to mutiny. While Kirk is stranded, he runs into old ambassador Spock who tells him that he and the film's main villain, Nero, are from 129 years in the future. In his time, a supernova was threatening to destroy the galaxy, but ambassador Spock was able to use red matter to create a black hole, which sucked in the exploding star.

Unfortunately, his actions were too late for Romulus, which got taken out by the star, and the black hole he created ended up pulling his ship and Nero's Romulan mining ship back in time. The disturbance created by them getting thrown back in time is what created the Kelvin timeline and all the Star Trek films that have come since then.

So, now that we've got the background of this event down, the question is why the destruction of Romulus and the dissolution of the Romulan Empire have impacted Picard so much and for so many years. As Alex Kurtzman told The Hollywood Reporter, these events didn't just sadden Picard or make him wish for a future that would never come, they "radically altered" the man, and that's pretty deep stuff.

During his time as a Starfleet captain, Jean-Luc Picard had many run-ins with the Romulans, and most of those weren't entirely friendly. The Romulans are related to Vulcans, but broke off from that society and became xenophobic conquerers who treated most other species with suspicion and/or disdain. They also went on to control some of the galaxy and oppose the Federation throughout Picard's time as captain.

In fact, the last time we saw Picard on screen, in 2002's Star Trek: Nemesis, he was trying to broker a peace treaty between the Romulans and the Federation, and was faced with a rebel Romulan leader who was actually cloned from Picard's own DNA in the hopes that they could plant a spy in the Federation. So, yeah, Picard and the Romulans got issues.

It kind of sounds like Picard has spent his time since the fall of the Romulan empire mourning the peace he was never quite able to facilitate. And, while I can certainly understand how having one major unfinished goal in a long and distinguished career can certainly affect someone, this doesn't really explain why Picard was so changed by the Romulan empire dissolving.

Alex Kurtzman has given some some good food for thought when it comes to the upcoming Picard-centered Star Trek series, but, obviously, there's still a lot more to find out. We don't know yet when the show will air, but when it's finally ready for our eager eyeballs it will come to CBS All Access.

Be sure to stay tuned to CinemaBlend for more details about the show as they become available, but, in the meantime, check out our 2019 midseason premiere guide so you can keep up with everything that's coming to the small screen in the next few weeks.

With each day that passes, Star Trek: Discovery's second season gets closer than ever to debuting on CBS All Access. Could the prequel series be on the verge of introducing Captain Kirk, first brought to fame by William Shatner? Here's...what showrunner Alex Kurtzman...had to say:

That is not the answer some Captain Kirk fans may have wanted to hear. According to what Star Trek: Discovery's showrunner told THR, things seem to be pointing to "no" for now, and unless the Discovery crew finds itself on the other end of a decade-long time jump, the chances of seeing the venerable Kirk getting introduced in the near future are grim.

Stranger things could happen in order to introduce Captain Kirk, of course, given this franchise's rulebook. What is a little trip through time? That kind of plot would not be beyond the realm of possibility if Star Trek: Discovery really wanted to introduce it. One extended trip on a sleeper ship could even get the job done, allowing the crew to travel through time for ten years without aging much.

So yes, Star Trek: Discovery's take on Captain Kirk is apparently off the table for now. However, what about a stand-alone series starring William Shatner, the man who originated the role and propelled Kirk to his pop culture mega-status? The acting legend recently opened up about whether he would be into the idea of reprising the role for a new television show. For now, Shatner is content with what his current non-Kirk life.

The chances that Star Trek fans will see Captain Kirk again soon are growing dimmer by the day. Star Trek 4's fate was just plunged into incredible doubt with news that its planned director, S.J. Clarkson, will be taking on directing duties for the Game of Thrones prequel.

It would seem there will be no Captain Kirk on the big or small screen for the immediate future. With so many new projects set to take shape in the Star Trek universe, it stands to reason that CBS All Access could be holding out for something else down the road. Perhaps, a Captain Kirk solo series that doesn't involved William Shatner?

If the character is not going to appear on Star Trek: Discovery, why not give Captain Kirk his own show, regardless of who's playing him? It would be a neat solution that would enable Star Trek: Discovery to retain its current timeline, while also giving Captain Kirk a lively presence in the franchise. Star Trek: Discovery is set to introduce Mr. Spock and Christopher Pike in Season 2, so the connective tissue is definitely there.

You can discover the second season of Star Trek: Discovery when it arrives on CBS All Access on Thursday, January 17. The series is among many making a return visit to television during the midseason.

Patrick Stewart may be making a grand return to the Star Trek franchise but that doesn't mean Star Trek: Discovery is suddenly chopped liver. The streaming series gained a fair share of franchise fans in its inaugural season, and its run played a big part in drawing a lot of eyes to CBS All Access. No doubt the series will do the same in Season 2, as the drama gears up for another inventive story, the return of a few classic characters, and probably some swearing. With that said, here's all we know about Season 2 and what fans can expect.

When Will Star Trek: Discovery Season 2 Debut?

The exact premiere date for Star Trek: Discovery Season 2 is unknown, although we've been told to expect the show to arrive on CBS All Access in the early half of 2019. Executive producer and now showrunner Alex Kurtzman has been consistent with that date since Season 1 was still airing, and no news has come out to indicate we should expect it any sooner. Additionally, production seems to be chugging along in spite of behind the scenes drama, so, provided no other massive roadblocks come up, Star Trek: Discovery should arrive when expected.

What Will Star Trek: Discovery Season 2 Be About?

Star Trek: Discovery Season 1 ended with the USS Discovery face-to-face with the USS Enterprise, and while it's been confirmed that the Enterprise and its crew won't be around all season, there will be some connection. Former co-showrunner Aaron Harberts said a theme of Season 2 revolves around the family one chooses versus the family one is born into, and with Michael Burnham's adopted brother Spock on board the Enterprise, he'll no doubt have a part to play in this theme. That much was confirmed in the Season 2 trailer anyway, which hinted that Spock is somehow linked to seven mysterious red bursts spread out light years apart. The Discovery will team up with Captain Christopher Pike and his Enterprise crew, in what sounds to be a rescue mission to find the Vulcan.

Another theme teased for Season 2 of Star Trek: Discovery involves spirituality, and the struggle between logic and faith. It's an issue Michael Burnham somewhat struggled with in Season 1, as the human raised by Vulcans slowly became more accustomed to her more human desires. No doubt she'll continue to struggle with this balance in Season 2, and it's possible the rest of the Discovery crew might go along for the ride as well. Beyond that, the Discovery is slated to get a new permanent captain, and appearances from Mirror-Georgiou, Voq/Ash, or even Harry Mudd are always on the table. One thing that seems certain, though, is that the adventure is only beginning.

What Have We Seen From Star Trek: Discovery Season 2?

A first-look trailer for Star Trek: Discovery Season 2 was released at San Diego Comic-Con 2018, and with it came the arrival of Anson Mount's Captain Christopher Pike. As previously mentioned, the trailer seemed to revolve around mysterious red bursts and the revelation that Burnham's brother Spock might be in trouble. Given what is known about the Enterprise's role in Season 2, it's possible this is just an arc of Season 2 and not the entire big picture of what's happening in the upcoming season. That said, even the small stories in Season 1 seemed to come full circle by the finale, so it's possible the trailer contains more about Season 2 than we know for now.

The Star Trek: Discovery first look also contains the high-intensity space flying and explosions that appear to indicate the action will be as constant as ever in Season 2. It's doubtful the Klingons are ready to take on the Federation so soon after their conflict in Season 1, but a silhouette spotted in Burnham's helmet at the start of the trailer appears to indicate some alien race could be behind all this drama. Who that might be, however, is anyone's guess, as Star Trek: Discovery has not been shy about redesigning some of the series' most iconic species.

Michael Burnham

Burnham might've lost whatever budding romance she had with Ash Tyler when he awoke as Voq, but Star Trek: Discovery's main character at least got the consolation of being pardoned and reinstated in Starfleet for her role in ending the war with the Klingons. Burnham's heroics have undoubtedly earned her the respect of the majority of the Discovery crew, which means she'll probably get a lot more friendly interactions with crew members who aren't Tilly. Burnham will definitely appreciate the regained acceptance of her peers, even if she won't readily admit it.

Burnham may not have a ton of time to appreciate that kindness, however, as the Season 1 finale threw her right into another complicated situation. Star Trek: Discovery is ready to show some more family drama, as Burnham appears to be on a collision course with her brother Spock. Fans will just have to wait and see what transpires if that encounter happens, as Vulcans aren't typically known for emotional interactions. That said, with Spock half-human and Burnham a human raised by Vulcans, one shouldn't be surprised if their exchange gets a bit more heated than the conversations that took place between Burnham and Sarek. Spock might help Burnham in her quest to balance the Vulcan and human aspects of her life, and, perhaps, together the two can touch on the season's overarching theme of logic vs. spirituality.

Stamets

Paul Stamets had a rougher season of Star Trek: Discovery than most and walked away lucky to be alive after merging with the Spore Drive. Unfortunately, his partner, Lt. Hugh Culber, wasn't so lucky, and we're sure Season 2 of Star Trek: Discovery will show Stamets continue to mourn for his lost other half. We're also sure we'll see him work up some other brilliant tech to aide the Discovery and its crew, although it's worth noting the Season 2 trailer only showed him briefly. Perhaps without the Mycelial network on the Discovery, his role in the current season won't be as large as it was in Season 1?

Tilly

Things were looking up for Sylvia Tilly at the end of Star Trek: Discovery, as the quirky crewmember was awarded admission to Starfleet's officer training school. Her mirror counterpart proved she's capable of handling command, although it's safe to say Tilly won't be handling things as her mirror self did if she ever gets the chance to lead. We're not sure how the surprise arrival of the Enterprise will impact Tilly's new development in Season 2, but we're assuming she'll be dropping another f-bomb if it causes a significant delay to her future goals.

Saru

Saru ended Season 1 as the first Kelpian to ever receive the Starfleet Medal of Honor, and as acting Commanding Officer of the USS Discovery. The moment meant a lot to Saru, who had been pining for command of his own ship for a long time. Unfortunately, the moment appears short-lived as the trailer showed Captain Christopher Pike will eventually take command of the vessel not long after their encounter. Saru also managed to bond with Burnham before the season's end, which means Season 2 of Star Trek: Discovery will almost certainly see the two on much better terms.

Christopher Pike

Star Trek fans are already familiar with Captain Christopher Pike, as the iconic franchise captain is largely known for being in command of the USS Enterprise prior to James T. Kirk. Star Trek: Discovery Season 2 looks to show more of Pike at his peak, and will show far more of what the Enterprise was like before Kirk's arrival. We'll also, presumably, get to see how Pike interacts with Spock, which is interesting, due to the Vulcan being one of the thin links between the two captains.

Spock and Captain Kirk had a pretty good bromance, but it's hard to say whether or not that'll be true with Spock and Pike. The Enterprise captain appears concerned for his crew member, but that may be the amount of concern he'd show towards any missing crew member from his ship. If fans don't get to see much interaction between Pike and Spock, at least they'll get to see more of the captain in action, which is something the original series didn't show much of outside the pilot.

Spock

The story of Spock in Star Trek: Discovery is interesting, and not just because his adopted sister is playing the lead character. The show has cast Ethan Peck to play a younger version of the Vulcan, despite a rather rampant insistence early on in production that the show would not be casting a new Spock. Originally, it was strongly implied that the series would use past Spock voice work and footage to re-create the character, but, apparently, some things have changed.

That said, perhaps that's still partly true as Jonathan Frakes revealed that Young Spock will, for sure, be around in a couple Season 2 flashbacks. Alex Kurtzman didn't reveal if the Spock Frakes referred to was Ethan Peck or a younger actor brought in to play a more child-like Spock, although he has confessed this will be a different Vulcan than the one portrayed by Leonard Nimoy and Zachary Quinto. Essentially, Peck's version may not quite be the level-headed clear thinking Vulcan he's largely been portrayed as, which might be why he's missing, and possibly in danger.

Sarek

Michael Burnham isn't the only relative of Spock's who is involved in Star Trek: Discovery, as Star Trek fans know his father, Sarek, has a long and strained history with his son. It's been known for a long time that Sarek wasn't the biggest fan of Spock joining Starfleet over the Vulcan Science Academy, but Star Trek: Discovery revealed why the sleight was so significant. Now, we'll get to see if Sarek forgives his son for throwing away an opportunity that Burnham so desperately wanted, but was denied, after the Vulcans gave their father an ultimatum where only one of his children could join. Judging from their relationship in later years, we're assuming whatever interaction happens between the two won't go well, but we could be surprised.

Harry Mudd

Rainn Wilson's Harry Mudd hasn't been confirmed for Season 2 of Star Trek: Discovery, although Star Trek fans are guaranteed to see him before the new season begins. Mudd will return in Short Treks, which will give the character a fresh short adventure, as well as further flesh out the Star Trek universe. Mudd's big attack on the Discovery was one of the highlights of Season 1, and while it's exciting to hear he'll get another stand-alone adventure, some fans are hoping he still makes an appearance in the new season.

What's Going On Behind The Scenes?

Star Trek: Discovery Season 2 got thrown a curveball not long into production when it was revealed that Season 1 showrunners Aaron Harberts and Gretchen Berg were being replaced. The duo, who originally took over for Bryan Fuller, were both removed after the budget for the Season 2 premiere was so out of control that all remaining episodes had to have a chunk of their budgets removed to compensate for it. Additionally, it was reported that Berg and Harberts had created a toxic work environment for the writing staff, and were, reportedly, cursing and making threats towards a few people. Executive producer Alex Kurtzman is now in control of the series for at least Season 2, and it is unknown if he will replace himself should the series return for Season 3.

As mentioned, Star Trek: Discovery will return to CBS All Access sometime in early 2019. For a look at what television shows will be arriving before that, be sure to visit and bookmark our handy summer and fall premiere guides. For other things coming to streaming, head on over to our Netflix and Amazon premiere guides.

We've known for a few months now that everyone's favorite Vulcan, Mr. Spock, would be showing up on Season 2 of Star Trek: Discovery. Now, we finally know who'll be playing the iconic character. It was announced today that Ethan Peck would be taking on the role in the upcoming season of the sci-fi hit. Peck will, of course, be the third actor to take on the part of the half Vulcan science officer who works aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise, and Discovery's executive producer, Alex Kurtzman had lots of great things to say about him.

As could be expected, Alex Kurtzman and those behind Star Trek: Discovery knew they had a massive job ahead of them when they decided to bring Spock onto the show. But, it's pretty clear from his words about Ethan Peck, that they believe they found the perfect person; someone who's completely up to the task of filling the shoes first put on by Leonard Nimoy and who can make the part his own while still respecting the great legacy that came before him. Also, just look at the guy! Does he have the right look for Spock, or what?

If you haven't heard of Ethan Peck, you're probably not alone, even though he's been kicking around our TV screens since he got his first gig on a show called Charlie Grace in 1995. So, where might you have seen our new Spock before? Well, his first major part was playing a young Kelso on That '70s Show in two episodes from 2000 and 2002. He's also been on The Drew Carey Show, The O'Keefes, the 10 Things I Hate About You series which ran from 2009-2010, Gossip Girl and (much more recently) Madam Secretary along with many other shows and the 2010 movie The Sorcerer's Apprentice. According to his IMDB page, Peck has five projects, in addition to Discovery, in some state of production at the moment.

It's probably for the best that Ethan Peck isn't a giant TV star already. While Zachary Quinto was able to easily put his own stamp on Spock for the rebooted Star Trek movies, it seems like that might be an even tougher task as a well-known actor on a weekly series.

When we first found out that Star Trek: Discovery would star the, previously unheard of, adopted sister of Spock, long-time fans were deeply skeptical, curious and also intensely interested to see if the newest entry in television's Trek franchise would actually dare to show the famous Vulcan on screen. The Season 1 finale of Discovery revealed a meeting with the Enterprise, meaning that the series spending some time with Spock was almost a given. Sure enough, the show found a new Captain Pike to helm that ship, and now we have our new Spock.

There's no word right now on how many episodes Ethan Peck will appear in as Spock or what episode he'll make his debut in of the new season, but we can all see how he does in the classic role when Star Trek: Discovery debuts Season 2 in early 2019 on CBS All Access. For more on what you can watch in the meantime, check out our summer and 2018 fall premiere guide.

Star Trek: Discovery is set to welcome one of the most famous characters in Trek canon in Season 2 -- Spock. While there is still a lot of mystery surrounding his inclusion on the series, some answers are starting to pour in. And, it sounds like Trekkies need to prepare themselves for an encounter with a significantly different version of the beloved character when Spock makes his way to Star Trek: Discovery. Discussing the character's debut, the series' new showrunner, Alex Kurtzman, teased the following about Spock, saying:

This is one tidbit bound to bring its share of speculation. Of course, Spock not being the full-fledged version of his original canon self is to be expected, given this is a prequel version of the character. How the Spock character will be entirely consistent with canon and yet much different from that version, as Alex Kurtzman told TV Guide, will undoubtedly be something to behold. It is not as contradictory in nature as it may sound. Consider what was done with Clark Kent on Smallville, for instance.

Given how often prequels have dealt with this issue regarding character development, there is no reason to believe Star Trek: Discovery will not be able to handle it. While Spock's character growth is certainly worth teasing, so is a bit of the background surrounding the plot that brings him to Star Trek: Discovery Season 2. Spock's Season 2 debut will be a family affair, as it has to do with his sister Michael Burnham.

Alex Kurtzman has assured Trekkies that Season 2 will explain why Spock left out the vital detail of his sister's existence to Kirk and other crew members of the USS Enterprise. For Trekkies wondering how Spock and Burnham get along with each other, they will soon get their answer as the show will also delve into the siblings' relationship. Teasing the dynamic between the pair, executive producer Heather Kadin said:

All of this sounds pretty sweet and compelling. In case you were wondering, you have not missed an official casting announcement for Star Trek: Discovery's Spock. The actor who will play the role has yet to be disclosed. Whoever the actor cast turns out to be, they are in for an exciting story that will break new ground for the character Trekkies were introduced to over 50 years ago. Star Trek: Discovery will have a lot going on in Season 2 with the introduction of Spock and Christopher Pike, along with many others, so stay tuned.

Star Trek: Discovery Season 2 will premiere in January 2019 on CBS All Access. To tide you over, Star Trek: Short Treks will premiere this fall on CBS All Access. For other new television content set to arrive this fall, check out CinemaBlend's guide to TV's fall premieres.

Never a dull moment where the Star Trek franchise is concerned, with multiple feature film projects in varying stages of development, and a highly acclaimed TV series with a constantly evolving creative team. Now, it looks like the TV side of things will begin expanding even further, as CBS Television Studios has re-upped its contract with Discovery executive producer and now-showrunner Alex Kurtzman, and the deal includes a heavy focus on creating more Star Trek content for the small screen. What's more, rumors are flying high that Patrick Stewart's Captain Jean Luc Picard could lead one of those projects.

With the renewed overall deal, Alex Kurtzman is tied in with CBS Television Studios for another five years, earning him an estimated $5 million per year. Obviously, Kurtzman won't only be dealing with Star Trek: Discovery at this time, and the goal will be to develop new Trek-set TV series, miniseries, and other forms of shorter-form content. Animated projects are definitely in the running, too.

This deal's announcement adds fuel to the fire that Patrick Stewart could bring his iconic Star Trek: The Next Generation captain back for a major TV return. It's a fire that Stewart himself managed to stoke recently by saying he may have good cause to catch up with Star Trek: Discovery soon, which had fans thinking he could be making a cameo or more. According to THR, both Alex Kurtzman and now-former Discovery writer/producer Akiva Goldsman are attached to the project, although it has not been officially addressed by CBS. So keep those hopes buoyed for now, but don't lose sight of them.

According to Variety, there are a handful of other potential projects reportedly being discussed. One would be a younger-skewing drama set at Starfleet Academy, with Gossip Girl and Runaways creators Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage behind it. And aside from a limited series and animated series with subject matter being kept under wraps, the other alleged project would be based in part on The Wrath of Khan, the beloved Star Trek film sequel in which Ricardo Montalbán played the interestingly coifed villain.

When Star Trek: Discovery was first being put together, with Bryan Fuller as one of the creative heads, the idea was for the show to be an anthology series that used each season to tell a different story from a different point in space and time. So it's absolutely likely that CBS could use the miniseries format to tell more limited stories from various corners of the universe, and the narratives need not only focus on protagonist ship crews, either. (Am I weird for hoping for a Muppet Babies-esque animated show featuring young versions of the franchise's all-star characters?)

All of this should be taken with a grain of salt, of course. Alex Kurtzman getting paid to come up with new Star Trek pitches doesn't necessarily mean anything will get made. Kurtzman has been tied to several high-concept projects and franchises that failed to materialize or grow, including Universal's Dark Universe (which stalled out after The Mummy), the Amazing Spider-Man sequel, the Locke & Key adaptation and more. But CBS definitely wants more Star Trek in the world, so we're setting our phasers to "remain optimistic."

For now, Star Trek: Discovery fans are waiting patiently to find out what will come from the end of Season 1, in which the Enterprise made its grand debut, along with the voice of one Christopher Pike, to be played in Season 2 by Inhumans and Hell on Wheels' Anson Mount. Season 2 will arrive on CBS All Access at some unknown point in the future, so stay tuned for more info there. In the meantime, head to our summer premiere schedule to see what new and returning shows are on the way.

Star Trek: Discovery brought the beloved Trek franchise back to the small screen in 2017, but it was a bumpy road to get there. The series lost its first showrunner before the first season even premiered, and the premiere was delayed time and time again for various reasons. Now, big news has broken during the hiatus between Season 1 and Season 2. Showrunners Gretchen Berg and Aaron Harberts are out at Star Trek: Discovery after issues behind the scenes. Executive producer Alex Kurtzman will take over as showrunner.

Gretchen Berg and Aaron Harberts took over showrunning duties on Star Trek: Discovery following Bryan Fuller's departure back in October 2016, and they were still promoting the show as recently as the end of May. All outward signs pointed toward Berg and Harberts continuing to share the top job throughout Season 2 and perhaps even beyond. Now, THR states that Berg and Harberts are out at CBS All Access due to "leadership and operational issues." The budget for the first episode of Season 2 reportedly ballooned out of what was expected, and subsequent episodes were going to have to compensate for the extra money allotted to the premiere. Money talks in showbiz, and CBS execs couldn't have been happy about costs skyrocketing in the very first episode of the second season.

Budget apparently isn't the only issue that demanded change behind the scenes at Star Trek: Discovery, and the other issues are more troubling. Gretchen Berg and Aaron Harberts were reportedly abusive to the writing staff at Star Trek: Discovery, and sources state that Harberts was seen leaning across a table in the writers' room to shout an expletive at a staff member. Multiple writers were allegedly uncomfortable working in the environment cultivated by Berg and Harberts, going so far as to threaten to file complaints with human resources or even resign from the series. Sources also report that the staff was threatened by Harberts, who wanted to keep problems behind-the-scenes in-house rather than involve human resources.

CBS hasn't commented on allegations against the showrunners of abuse, but CBS Television Studios producers released a statement acknowledging "some producer changes" and stating that the show "remains on course for season 2 in 2019." Alex Kurtzman is undoubtedly the ideal candidate to take over as showrunner for Discovery in the aftermath of Gretchen Berg and Aaron Harberts' ousting. Kurtzman is an executive producer of the series and has worked on the film franchise as well. For the second season, Kurtzman will oversee the writers' room, which should come as a relief for any writers who were uncomfortable with the prior working conditions.

Production is already underway on Star Trek: Discovery Season 2, and the first five episodes of the season are reportedly nearly complete. It's expected that Gretchen Berg and Aaron Harberts will retain their credits on this first batch of episodes, with Alex Kurtzman probably taking over beginning with the sixth episode. That said, fans may want to control their excitement for the time being. Star Trek: Discovery won't be back on CBS All Access until 2019.

The good news is that there are plenty of great shows to watch in the meantime. Our summer TV schedule can help you plan what to watch on broadcast, cable, and premium cable. For streaming, check out our 2018 Netflix premiere guide and our 2018 Amazon Prime breakdown.

Well, Star Trek: Discovery finally debuted its first two episodes last night, and the sci-fi drama is promising to be a wild ride. Many fans were likely shocked during the second episode of the show, when Michelle Yeoh's Captain Philippa Georgiou died at the hands of ostensible Klingon leader T'Kuvma, as she and Sonequa Martin-Green's First Officer, Michael Burnham, were trying to capture him in an effort to stop the Klingon/Starfleet war before it went any further. Now, it looks like we might not have actually seen the last of the USS Shenzhou's former captain as the series continues its freshman season. Executive producer Alex Kurtzman has opened up about what might be ahead for the character, and, when asked if the plan was always to only have her appear in the first two episodes, said:

So, it sounds like we might get to see some posthumous viewings of Georgiou during the course of Season 1 of Star Trek: Discovery. This wouldn't be far-fetched, either. As it was made pretty clear that the captain had played a very large part in Burnham's life for the past seven years leading up to what we saw at the beginning of the series. Burnham's surrogate father, Sarek, brought her to Georgiou and the Shenzhou after she had been trained as a scientist on Vulcan. He clearly thought Burnham needed the captain to mentor her, and that's exactly what happened. And, during the premiere, Georgiou even told Burnham that she thought the first officer was finally ready to helm a ship of her own.

As Alex Kurtzman spoke with TVLine, he clearly didn't commit either way to us seeing Michelle Yeoh and Georgiou again, but it does sound like those behind Discovery are considering ways to make it work for the serialized story that they plan to tell this season. Since Burnham was a part of Georgiou's crew for seven years before the captain's death (and the near destruction of her ship), it would seem pretty easy to have Burnham flashback to happier times with her mentor. This is especially true, because the war that Georgiou went to the Klingon vessel to stop, started because of a stupid mistake that Burnham made during Episode 1. There's no way she doesn't feel responsible for the death of her mentor/mother figure.

Aside from the possible flashback angle, it also sounds like there might be another option for how they bring back Georgiou. Kurtzman also said:

So, is it possible that Burnham will have visions of Georgiou, or actually imagine herself talking with her deceased mentor to figure out how to proceed in difficult situations as the season goes on? It sounds like that might happen, but to be sure we'll just have to check out Star Trek: Discovery weekly on CBS All Access, Sundays at 7:30 CST. For everything else you can catch on the small screen in the coming months, bookmark our fall premiere guide.

After a dozen years without a Star Trek TV show for fans to dig into, not to mention the multiple production delays that kept the wait going, Star Trek: Discovery finally made its big debut on CBS and the streaming service CBS All Access. And as everyone who watched discovered (pun not intended), this newest franchise entry is far more serialized than the O.G. series that it serves as a prequel for. And according to writer and executive producer Alex Kurtzman, fans should expect more cliffhangers and similarly exciting endings for episodes.

Now, I know that there are some fans out there who won't be too happy to hear that, since many don't necessarily think that Star Trek shows need to follow the hyper-serialized storylines that became so commonplace during the Peak TV era in the last decade or so. But for viewers who embrace the thrills of cliffhangers and other big moments that tie a season's episodes together, Star Trek: Discovery will apparently steer itself closer to shows like Breaking Bad and The Walking Dead than Star Trek: The Original Series. (Or even Seth MacFarlane's new Fox show The Orville, which is adhering to weekly standalone episodes.)

Note that there are MAJOR SPOILERS BELOW THE IMAGE for those who don't want to be spoiled on the crazy shocker at the end of Episode 2, titled "Battle at the Binary Stars." Many fans only got to watch the first episode of Star Trek: Discovery, which aired on CBS proper, while the second episode was streamed exclusively on CBS All Access. So DO NOT READ ON unless you're fine with knowing.

SPOILER TALK STARTS NOW. When Star Trek: Discovery's second episode came to an end, fans had witnessed one of the show's first mindblowing shocks, as Michelle Yeoh's Captain Philippa Georgiou was already killed off by the Klingon leader T'Kuvma, which all came about as a result of Sonequa Martin-Green's First Officer Michael Burnham making the arguably terrible decision to strike first against the Klingons in the first episode. And beyond that big death, the episode ends with Michael getting sentenced to prison for her mutinous actions. Amazingly enough, everything occurred before fans could even spend any time on the actual Discovery ship. It was a hell of a two-part premiere, and fans can expect to see the ramifications of Michael's decisions for months to come. (The season will take a winter break in November before starting up again with its second chapter in January 2018.)

When Bryan Fuller was part of the creative team behind Star Trek: Discovery, before dropping out to focus on Starz's American Gods, he'd intended to try and make the new series an anthology project that focused on different timelines within the Trek universe for each season. It's unclear if Fuller's original vision for the story would have taken this same cliffhanger-heavy approach, but considering he worked closely with Alex Kurtzman in first putting this season's story together, one can assume that was the case.

To catch many more cliffhangers and other wild episode cappers, don't forget to watch Star Trek: Discovery every Sunday night on CBS All Access. And check out our fall premiere guide to get a look at everything else hitting the small screen soon.

Although it has been a pretty great summer for blockbuster movies, 2017 hasn't been without its own set of misfires. Chief among these lackluster flicks is The Mummy, which has gotten the Dark Universe off to a rocky start at best. Everyone involved in this new franchise has quite a bit to reflect on looking forward, but none more so than director Alex Kurtzman. The screenwriter-turned-filmmaker was the man at the helm for this Dark Universe outing, and now it is unclear as to whether or not he will even opt to return. Kurtzman recently admitted:

Alex Kurtzman's candid comments to IGN during the Television Critics Association press tour are not necessarily surprising. The Mummy debuted to an incredibly disappointing 16% "Rotten" rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and the film's financial performance paled in comparison to better summer films like Wonder Woman. Kurtzman's potential involvement will lean heavily on whether or not he's still interested in the franchise going forward, and whether the studio is still interested in him. As of right now he doesn't seem to have a clear answer.

Aside from the less-than-desirable critical reception that The Mummy opened to, it sounds as if Alex Kurtzman may have received very little creative freedom on the set of the film. Some reports have suggested that Tom Cruise played a significant role in overhauling the movie during the filming process, as well as during post-production, leading many to assume that the less experienced director may not have had much control over the final product. We don't know if these rumors are true, but if they are, then it stands to reason that the experience could've potentially soured Kurtzman on the Dark Universe as a whole.

With all of that said, it is worth mentioning that Alex Kurtzman isn't officially (a.k.a publicly) out yet. He's still listed as a producer on 2019's The Bride of Frankenstein, and as of right now, he will still return for other Dark Universe movies like Creature from the Black Lagoon, The Invisible Man, and even a Van Helsing reboot. At this point, he could stay or go, and neither decision would surprise us.

On that note, the next few years will be interesting for the Dark Universe. Even if Alex Kurtzman opts not to return, the franchise still has some of the biggest names in Hollywood backing some of its most important projects. From Javier Bardem as Frankenstein to Johnny Depp as The Invisible Man, the Dark Universe has managed to assemble an all-star ensemble that can rival anything Marvel or DC has to offer. Now we will just have to wait and see if these projects can live up to their A-list status.

We will keep you posted with more information concerning Alex Kurtzman's future with the Dark Universe as new details become available. The monster-themed franchise will expand even further when The Bride of Frankenstein hits theaters on February 14, 2019.

Universal's answer to the Marvel Cinematic Universe -- the Monster Mash of interconnected horror movies -- took a big step forward with the hiring of a brain trust for the studio's shared world.

The studio recently hired Noah Hawley (TV's Fargo), Aaron Guzikowski (Hugh Jackman's Prisoners) and Ed Solomon (Men In Black) to join Chris Morgan and Alex Kurtzman in a band of screenwriters they collectively are dubbing the "Monster Men." These scripters, according to The Hollywood Reporter, are operating like a television-show writer's room to brainstorm an interlocking monster universe drawing on the popularity of Universal's classic monster properties, now known as The Dark Universe. And in the past few weeks, an A-List cast has been assembled on that front, as well.

The earliest seeds of this shared monster universe have been laid, and they are starting to bear fruit. We recently ran the teaser trailer for the latest step in this shared universe, The Mummy, directed by Alex Kurtzman. Let's take a moment to run through everything that we know about the creatures at the forefront of the movement -- and the creators who will attempt to bring them back from the cinematic dead.

The Mummy

Alex Kurtzman's The Mummy will be the first monster movie out of the gate for this refreshed monster universe, with a June 9 release date. This new Mummy movie will have no connection to the Brendan Fraser Mummy movies. We have since learned that the plot will focus on a team of Navy SEALs on a mission to Iraq who infiltrate a tomb thinking it's housing terrorists... only to learn it's housing the corpses of grave robbers. And the movie has star power. Tom Cruise leads the ensemble. The first trailer introduced Russell Crowe as this universe's Dr. Jekyll. And that's Kingsman villain Sofia Boutella pictured above as the contemporary version of The Mummy. It does seem like Universal is content to use Kurtzman's upcoming movie to launch this new creature-feature endeavor. What does that say about Dracula Untold? Read on.

Dracula

Most of us were under the impression that 2014's Dracula Untold would be the start of the Dark Universe at Universal. In fact, there's a final act "twist" at the end of Gary Shore's movie that finds Luke Evans' Count Dracula moving through modern times, under the watch of the menacing Master Vampire (Charles Dance). Here's where things get murky. Dracula is mentioned as one of the main characters in this developing universe (as he should be). But there is no mention in the THR story about Dracula Untold. And the specific wording calling Alex Kurtzman's Mummy the "first movie out of the monster universe gate" for The Dark Universe has us wondering if the bloodsucking fiend is in for yet another reboot in the next few years... as Untold gets jettisoned from the canon.

The Bride of Frankenstein

We know the next movie in The Dark Universe, and it's an unusual choice. Bill Condon will direct a movie based on the Bride of Frankenstein, which is due in theaters in February 2019. The character was first introduced in a sequel to James Whale's classic Frankenstein film. And while Universal has mounted numerous attempts to try and remake a story based on this character, none of them have been able to get off the ground. The idea of a Bride of Frankenstein movie seems to have to spin off of a successful Frankenstein, and the recent news linked Javier Bardem to that lead role. Beyond that, though, we don't have very many details... or a bride!

Frankenstein

As mentioned, Javier Bardem is on the list of recent casting for The Dark Universe, and will play Frankenstein's monster. But where? In what movie? Likely Bill Condon's Bride of Frankenstein movie, though that has not been confirmed. One question that I really want answered about these movies is "when" they will take place. Because the only time that Dracula Untold became interesting is when Vlad (Luke Evans) was stalking through our times... and if each of these movies are going to be set in the past, the Universe might have a slower-than-average ramp up speed. The Mummy has a modern setting, though, so I'm hopeful they'll all be contemporary.

The Invisible Man

The Invisible Man is on the list of upcoming Universal horror stories, and there has even been some casting movement on it. Johnny Depp has been confirmed for the role, which is BIG news. Except... Depp also just surfaced as a key role in the Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them franchise. Does that mean he will be tied up in THAT universe, and unable to play in Universal's monster sandbox for long? Also, the tone of these horror stories could slightly shift in genre when this one finally comes out. Initially based on a sci-fi story by H.G. Wells, The Invisible Man has inspired sci-fi, horror and comedy installments. His story also has been accounted for on the stage, and on radio. It's hard to know the film's direction until a director takes the reigns, though, and given who comes before him, it could be years until we "see" the Invisible Man on screen.

The Wolfman

There is a bit more clarity when it comes to the Wolfman, as the initial THR story that explains this universe notes that Aaron Guzikowski specifically has been hired to usher the hairy anti-hero back to the big screen. The character has been around for decades, first appearing in 1941 with Lon Chaney Jr. in the howling lead. Benicio Del Toro tried to bring The Wolfman back in 2010, but this will be the first time in recent memory that Universal will attempt to use the creature in a larger tapestry of tales. Will he have "nards?" We can only hope.

Van Helsing

Finally, the last name on Universal's wish list is the most intriguing of the bunch. The studio claims to want to mount a new Van Helsing movie -- and by the time they do, enough time should have passed to help us forget the Hugh Jackman debacle directed by Stephen Sommers. Van Helsing is a monster hunter, and the idea behind a Van Helsing picture should be to team all of the previously introduced Universal creatures in one movie, against a charismatic rogue. So far, Arrival screenwriter Eric Heisserer has been hired to write a treatment, and he told us exclusively that his story is a part of Universal's larger tapestry, so that's exciting. This project might be a long way off, but if Universal plays its cards right and builds its Dark Universe properly, then Van Helsing could be the Avengers-esque culmination of their work.

Director Alex Kurtzman's The Mummy is definitely taking the classic Universal Monster franchise in directions it's never gone, but one very notable change is that the titular creature is no longer male. Within the film, it's an element that opens new narrative avenues and approaches, but it may surprise you to learn that it wasn't the direction Kurtzman originally planned. The Mummy was initially going to be played by a man in the reboot, but that idea got derailed when the writer/director saw his exact vision featured in the post-credits scene of Bryan Singer's X-Men: Days Of Future Past.

With the first trailer for The Mummy premiering this past weekend, I had the pleasure of talking with Alex Kurtzman over the phone this morning to talk about his latest blockbuster, and it was during our interview that he revealed the impact that Days of Future Past had on his approach. I asked him if he had always planned on having The Mummy be a woman in the film, but he explained that his original ideas were totally different. Said Kurtzman,

Odd skin pigmentation and living in ancient Egypt? Remind you of anyone, X-Men fans?

The image above is a screencap from the post-credits scene of X-Men: Days of Future Past, showing a young Apocalypse -- with white/blue skin - being praised like a god. When Alex Kurtzman saw this on the big screen back in 2014, he immediately had to start backtracking on his ideas for The Mummy. He explained,

Alex Kurtzman told me later in the interview that his version of The Mummy will still feature the same aforementioned relatable and understandable elements of the eponymous character -- in the tradition of the Universal Monster movies -- but deciding to make "him" a "her" (played by Kingsman/Star Trek Beyond actress Sofia Boutella) forced other changes in his approach.

Looking back on it, Kurtzman explained that he felt that seeing X-Men: Days Of Future Past use his developing ideas actually wound up being the best thing for The Mummy, in that it pushed him to go in directions he wouldn't have otherwise gone in:

The Mummy will be arriving in theaters on June 9th, and be sure to stay tuned for more from my interview with Alex Kurtzman!

Usually it takes a while for TV projects to go through the development process before a network or cable channel officially picks them up. However, there’s been a clamoring for a new Star Trek series for a while, and on Monday the “next chapter” of the Star Trek franchise has officially been announced by CBS. The network said this morning that a brand new Star Trek series is moving forward at CBS and is expected to hit the schedule in January of 2017. Yes, that does seem a little far away at this point. On the bright side: new Star Trek is imminent! How could we not be excited?

Here’s what we know about the upcoming series. First, Alex Kurtzman, who co-wrote Star Trek and Star Trek Into Darkness, is going to be signed on to the new series as an executive producer. It’s good and well to have Star Trek experience, but Kurtzman is also a big-name producer in the TV realm. He’s behind such hits as Sleepy Hollow, Hawaii Five-0 and Limitless. In addition Heather Kadin is also on board as an executive producer. We’re a little too far out to know who will be cast in the new series and what its basic premise will be, but we do know a new cast of characters will be introduced "to explore strange new worlds" and "to seek out new life and new civilizations." Plus CBS has already worked out exactly how the series will air, and it totally looks as if the network wants the new Star Trek to help make the network’s streaming site more prominent by making it a streaming exclusive. The new Star Trek will also be distributed globally, which is great news if you don't live in the US.

CBS is noting that regular cable subscribers will get the premiere episode of the new Star Trek first, but then the show is heading directly to CBS All Access—otherwise known as that annoying streaming service that charges you $5.99 a month for access to shows like The Big Bang Theory and 2 Broke Girls. In the future, it will also be the home of Star Trek’s latest TV venture, and CBS says they are producing the series directly to appeal to users or potential future users of the CBS All Access service. Yes, this means that after the premiere, all first run episodes of Star Trek will only be available through the streaming service. More details on that here.

This isn’t the first time that we’ve heard rumblings about a potential TV series, but it is the first time we’ve actually gotten definitive news that a TV series is moving forward. About 7 months ago, we heard CBS might have a new show in the works. The possibility made sense. A wide audience tends to enjoy the new Star Trek films even if some strong fans are less enamored. Plus, with the Star Trek 50th Anniversary set to be a thing next year, fan excitement over Star Trek should theoretically be at an all-time high.

Even though the plot is pretty scarce at this point, there are two big things we can take out of CBS’ big announcement. First and foremost, Star Trek isn’t just in development. It’s happening and it’s happening sooner rather than later. Secondly, this will be the first time that fans will get to see the Star Trek universe on the small screen since 2005 when Star Trek: Enterprise went off of the air. Yes, it’s another reboot/revival/continuation headed to television, but it is one we are very, very excited to see shape itself and move forward to series.

We’ll let you know as soon as CBS reveals any new information related to the series. In the meantime, here’s William Shatner's fun former idea for a Star Trek 50th Anniversary special.

Although the Amazing Spider-Man movies may be earning the big bucks, the series has been struggling creatively. The Amazing Spider-Man 2 earned mixed-to-negative reviews back in May, and Sony has since shifted their plans for the Wall-Crawler’s cinematic universe. The Amazing Spider-Man 3 has been delayed until 2018, and Spidey’s rogues gallery will band together sooner than anticipated when Sinister Six is released in 2016. Although Sony also has a solo female spinoff planned, it’s clear they're having trouble figuring out future steps and are struggling to reformat their future plans, which may mean drastic changes - possibly involving the announced Venom movie.

A new article from Badass Digest says that Sony may have some dramatic plans in the works, revealing inside information that the Venom spinoff, set to be directed by Alex Kurtzman, is "functionally dead again." Venom is one of the few villains in the Spider-Man family that can function on his own, primarily because he’s more of an antihero (or if you’ve read him in the past couple years, an actual superhero). Despite his close relationship to Spider-Man, Venom is a character that could go off and have his own Spider-free adventures - so to hear that the spinoff may be kaput is troublesome.

This wouldn’t be the first time have a Venom spinoff has bit the dust. In 2008, producer Avi Arad said that a Venom movie was in the works featuring Eddie Brock, which is strange considering that Brock bit the dust in Spider-Man 3 The film was in production for years until the reboot series killed it. Of all the Amazing Spider-Man spinoffs announced, Venom sounded the most promising, so if it is dead, that just proves how bad things are at Sony. And perhaps the worst part is that we’ll still have Topher Grace's interpretation as the sole live-action Venom, and that’s a shame in itself.

Sony has been planning this project for a while and there was a even brief reference to Venom on OsCorps’s computers in The Amazing Spider-Man 2, so it's clear that the studio wants the film to happen. It just seems to be having a lot of trouble moving forward. One of the primary problems with a Venom spinoff is choosing who should be the symbiote’s host. Many have worn that pesky alien slime creature over the years, but the its primary wearers have been Eddie Brock and Flash Thompson. While Eddie Brock makes an interesting antihero, because of his hatred of Peter Parker and Spider-Man, it would be difficult to create a spinoff without at least establishing that animosity in a film beforehand - and there have been no announcements of Venom being part of the Sinister Six.

Flash Thompson, on the other hand, has already been introduced in The Amazing Spider-Man, and if done well, there may be no need to have Spidey involved with his origin. Like in the comics, Flash is a huge Spider-Man fan, so it would be interesting to see Flash fight the dark urges the symbiote feeds him and try to become a hero in his own right.

Of course, all of this only matters if the Venom movie actually happens. We'll just have to wait and see how this rumor pans out.

While it has not yet been set on the release date calendar, Sony Pictures is in fact making a Venom movie set in the world of The Amazing Spider-Man. The project was announced at the same time as Drew Goddard's in-development Sinister Six film, and while we don't know much about it outside of the fact that it's being written and directed by Alex Kurtzman, it is indeed being made. It will probably be a while until we actually hear any firm big details about the movie, so at this point we are latching on to anything we can find. Take, for example, Kurtzman's recent comments about what we can expect both in terms of the portrayal of the titular anti-hero character and the tone of the feature.

Speaking with MTV at an event for his upcoming CBS show Scorpion, Kurtzman dug into what we can expect to see from a Venom movie - in a very vague way - and even provided some insight to some of the impetus behind the film. Explained the director,

Anyone familiar with the character of Venom is probably nodding in agreement with this statement right now. Born from an alien symbiote that latches on to a host body and brings out their darkest qualities, Venom is a tremendously scary, dangerous character in Spider-Man comics, and one of the hero's all-time biggest threats (it helps that the symbiote also knows all of the wall-crawler's dirty little secrets, including the fact that he is Peter Parker, and possesses all of the same powers). But while he was introduced as a villain in the Marvel Comics world, Venom has also been known to occasionally fight for the side of good - especially when his psychotic spawn Carnage is involved:

Rumors have suggested that Carnage will be a part of the Venom movie, but what we still don't know is exactly which incarnation of the eponymous character we're going to see. The most famous Venom host is Eddie Brock and would be the most obvious choice, but it's possible that producers may balk at that because of his much maligned presence in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man 3 (played by Topher Grace). If we're looking at the history of comics, could it possibly be Mac Gargan who ends up covered in the evil black goop? What about Flash Thompson, who has already been introduced in the Amazing Spider-Man universe and is being played by Chris Zylka?

Venom doesn't currently have a release date, but you can be sure we'll keep updating you as more information arrives about the project.

The Mummy is just the latest title to earn a reboot from Hollywood eager to repackage familiar names to us. The latest version of the legend is set to bow May 22nd, 2016, but has been director-less for awhile. Fortunately, the studio is eager to team with a man who mixes blockbuster experience with a totally fresh eye behind the camera. Yep, Universal's calling to the bullpen, and Alex Kurtzman is coming out.

The Wrap reports that screenwriter Alex Kurtzman has been selected to helm the new version of The Mummy for Universal. This is a new vision of the character, distanced completely from the high adventure of the 1999 reboot and its sequels, and more indebted to the horror origins of the character. This new vision would harken back particularly to the movies from the silent and early talkies era that branded the Mummy as one of Universal's classic monsters like the Wolfman and Dracula. What, you thought there wasn't a franchising opportunity in place?

Len Wiseman (Underworld) was originally tasked with guiding this Mummy to the screen. After he dropped out, the inexperienced Andres Muschetti (Mama) was in charge of beginning a brand new Brendan Fraser-free edition of the classic fable. Since Muschetti has also bailed, the production turned inward: Kurtzman and writing partner Roberto Orci were already on-board as producers.

There seems to be some disagreement as to what angle the film will pursue. Originally the talk was centered on bringing the character and the legend back to its roots. But when Muschetti pitched a more horror-specific angle, suddenly Universal opted for a more family-friendly "four-quadrant blockbuster" angle. For those who are unfamiliar, these are terms used by men in suits with too little problems and too much contempt for the people who made them rich. I feel icky just typing them.

Fortunately for Universal, Kurtzman is the king of "four-quadrant blockbuster." With Orci, the scribe has logged credits penning mass-appeal films like Transformers and Star Trek. Kurtzman has only one film to his name as a director, the frankly-not-very-good People Like Us, but had engendered enough goodwill in the industry that Sony had booked him to be a major influence on the Amazing Spider-Man franchise and to write and direct a Venom movie.

Roberto Orci's hiring onto Star Trek 3 combined with his comments that he's not involved in The Amazing Spider-Man 3 (which he and Kurtzman were meant to write) and the latest Mummy news suggest Kurtzman has also exited the Spidey franchise. There's also a good chance that this is the last we've heard about a Venom movie for now, and Sony is likely going to begin the search for a new Amazing Spider-Man 3 writing team, as The Mummy gears up for 2016.

When it comes to blockbuster filmmaking, writer/producers Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci have seemingly always come together as a package deal. First working together in the late 1990s as writers on the TV series Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, they took their act to the big screen in 2005 with Michael Bay's The Island and have been Hollywood mainstays for big-budget summer action ever since. But now it appears that their partnership in features is coming to an end. Variety is reporting news that Kurtzman and Orci are "parting amicably" and will be moving forward in different directions with their future feature efforts.

The cause for the split is that both filmmakers want to start pursuing different directing opportunities. Kurtzman has already made his directorial debut, having helmed the family drama People Like Us, and he is currently attached to make the Amazing Spider-Man spin-off movie Venom. Orci, meanwhile, is apparently "laser focused" on directing the upcoming Star Trek 3, which recently hired Patrick McKay and John D. Payne to pen the script. His years of service in blockbuster movies - not to mention his work writing the last two films in the franchise - has apparently earned him the favor of both the folks at Bad Robot and Skydance, but Paramount right now seems to be hesitant about the idea.

Most recently, Kurtzman and Orci paired up to write The Amazing Spider-Man 2, which has already started opening around the world and will be arriving in theaters next week.

But Star Trek and The Amazing Spider-Man is far from the full extent of their reach in modern blockbusters. They also collaborated on the script for Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen:

Wrote J.J. Abrams' Mission: Impossible III:

And even did the sequel The Legend of Zorro back in 2005:

For those of you concerned about Kurtzman and Orci's work on the small screen, don't fret - they will stick together on television. In addition to being executive producers on Hawaii Five-O, they are also working on new shows with CBS, CW and Robert Rodrigeuz's El Rey network.