Alex Kurtzman to helm Star Trek franchise expansion under new 5-year deal

Last Updated on August 5, 2021

The STAR TREK franchise is about to boldly go where no one has gone before with the news that Star Trek: Discovery co-creator/executive producer Alex Kurtzman has entered into a five-year deal with CBS Studios to expand the time-honored brand. As per the deal, Kurtzman will work toward the development of a new Star Trek series, mini-series and other content, including animation. While CBS Studios has yet to confirm the details of any projects related to the expansion, sources close to the interstellar initiative have said that an eight-episode limited series could launch the beginning of the five-year plan. Fans looking forward to more news about the future of Star Trek should set their sites on this year's San Diego Comic Con, where Kurtzman & Co. are likely to reveal more of what's in store for one of science fiction's most beloved properties.

Meanwhile, production on Season 2 of Star Trek: Discovery continues with Kurtzman, who directed the premiere episode, as the program's solitary showrunner. For those of you who'd missed the news, Kurtzman recently took up residency as the Captain of Discovery after Gretchen Berg and Aaron Harberts jettisoned themselves from the program. While no official reason for their departure was given, it's to be believed that tension in the writer's room lead to their abrupt exit.

“There is a very short list of writer-producer-directors that every film and television studio wants to be associated with, and Alex and his Secret Hideout team are always at the top,” said David Stapf, President, CBS Television Studios. “His talent, taste and ability to shepherd a successful project is unparalleled. Alex has done remarkable work for our Studio, dating back seven years to the launch of Hawaii Five-O, and we are thrilled that he, Heather and their team will be partnering with us for a long time to come.”

In accordance with the new deal, Secret Hideout has vowed to expand its production operation, and will strive to add new voices to their influential and forward thinking identity.

“Heather, Aaron and I are thrilled to continue Secret Hideout’s amazing partnership with CBS Television Studios,” Kurtzman remarked. “Since our first collaboration with Hawaii Five-O almost a decade ago, Les, David and the full team at CBS Studios have been our foremost collaborators and champions, treating each project with integrity, supporting the creative visions and working breathlessly to make each episode of every show the best it can be. CBS has also allowed us the great pleasure of reintroducing the world of Star Trek audiences new and old, and we are very excited to keep working alongside them to expand that world.”

Tell us your ideas for how STAR TREK can explore their rich sci-fi tapestry below. Would you like more movies based on the property, or does the idea of a new and exciting animated series set your phaser to stun? Sound off, and may you all live long and prosper.