The Star Trek television universe is expanding, and that might include the return of a beloved captain

By: H&I Staff     Posted: June 20, 2018, 1:15PM    Tags: Star Trek

CBS has signed Alex Kurtzman to a new five-year deal according to Variety. The recently announced new showrunner for Star Trek: Discovery will also oversee all things Star Trek at the network. We are likely to see at least four — yes, four — new series and/or mini-series in the near future, including one set at the Starfleet Academy, one based on The Wrath of Kahn, and another animated series.

While that's exciting news, we're burying the lede here a bit. One of the rumored new series involved the return of Patrick Stewart in his role as Jean-Luc Picard. As reported in The Hollywood Reporter, Kurtzman and Akiva Goldsman are attached to the Stewart-led reboot, a sequel series to The Next Generation

This new deal adds to Kurtzman’s Star Trek portfolio. He co-wrote the screenplays for Star Trek (2009) and its sequel Into the Darkness. He also worked as a producer on the three recent Trek motion pictures.

Kurtzman’s production company, Secret Hideout, is also a part of the deal. CBS will have exclusive rights to both Kurtzman’s and the company’s created and developed content over the five-year period. This brings Secret Hideout’s president, Heather Kadin, and senior vice president of television, Aaron Baiers along for the journey. The team will be working on non–Star Trek original series as well.

“Heather, Aaron and I are thrilled to continue Secret Hideout’s amazing partnership with CBS Television Studios,” said Kurtzman. “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.”

Look out for more info as these series’ develop! Maybe Patrick Stewart will “have good cause” to fill us in very soon.