Bryan Fuller wanted to make Star Trek: Discovery an anthology series

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

Bryan Fuller originally had a very different idea on the path that Star Trek: Discovery would take, which included exploring multiple eras throughout the history of the franchise by turning Discovery into an anthology series. While speaking with Entertainment Weekly, Fuller said that "the original pitch was to do for science-fiction what American Horror Story had done for horror. It would platform a universe of Star Trek shows." The series would have begun with Star Trek: Discovery, before moving through the eras of The Original Series, The Next Generation, and even further into the future.

It seems that CBS wasn't overly keen to commit to that plan, after all, there's an enormous cost in setting up a Star Trek series, and to do that at the beginning of every season wasn't something they wanted to agree to. It was decided that they would see how the first season performed, but this was only the beginning of tensions with the network. CBS set David Semel to helm the Star Trek: Discovery pilot, but Bryan Fuller didn't agree with that call, believing that he was wrong for the job. One of the directors who Fuller approached before Semel was selected was Edgar Wright (BABY DRIVER), so just wrap your mind around how great that would have been.

There were also disagreements over the release date of Star Trek: Discovery, which CBS hoped to launch by February 2017. CBS had already delayed the series once and were forced to again when Bryan Fuller cast Sonequa Martin-Green as the lead. AMC wouldn't release the actress until the current season of The Walking Dead has concluded, which necessitated the further delay.

The network was also frustrated with how much time Bryan Fuller was spending on American Gods for Starz, and in October, they asked him to step down. After Fuller's exit, the chance of Star Trek: Discovery anthology series may have left with him. Several other of Fuller's ideas were also scrapped, such as "the more heavily allegorical and complex story-line to his choice of uniforms," which were said to be "a subdued spin on The Original Series trio of primary colors." However, Bryan Fuller isn't too broken up by the experience, saying that he "got to dream big." As a life-long Star Trek fan, I'm certainly excited for Discovery, but the thought of a Star Trek anthology series is quite exciting, particuarly as it would have moved us past eras which have already been explored.

Star Trek: Discovery will debut on CBS on September 24, 2017 before moving to CBS All Access.