Alex Kurtzman To “Expand” Star Trek Presence On Television
by Erik Amaya
Alex Kurtzman is the new commander-in-chief of Star Trek‘s TV fleet.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Kurtzman and CBS Television Studios have extended their relationship through 2023 to the tune of $25 million. Besides taking the creative reins of Star Trek: Discovery, Kurtzman will also “expand” the brand by “developing new series, miniseries and other content, including animation.”
Kurtzman recently became the sole showrunner on Discovery following the departure of season 1 showrunners Gretchen Berg and Aaron Harberts. The pair were fired after allegations of abusive behavior became known to CBS and Kurtzman. The second season of the series was gearing up for a planned production hiatus, with Kurtzman presumably taking over with the sixth episode. The program is expected to return in 2019.
As for the other Star Trek offerings he may develop, rumors persist that Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan director Nicholas Meyer — who also served as a consultant on Discovery in its first season — is working on a prequel centered around Khan Noonian Singh. The genetically enhanced war criminal from Earth past was played by Ricardo Montalban in an episode of the original Star Trek and the Meyer-directed film. He was also played by Benedict Cumberbatch in the less warmly received Star Trek Into Darkness. Other rumors indicate Patrick Stewart may also return as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in a new Star Trek spinoff of his own.
Outside of Star Trek, Kurtzman will also develop series for CBS across its area of broadcast, cable and streaming platforms.