Star Trek: Producer confirms new series in the Star Trek universe

Star Trek: Producer confirms new series in the Star Trek universe

Star Trek

There is a definite shortage of fresh material for fans of Star Trek right now and in the near future. Producer Alex Kurtzman, who recently announced a completely new series, is responsible for this. In an interview with the New York Times, Kurtzman revealed that a series about the Starfleet Academy is being worked on.

The focus of the plot is apparently the academy, its students and events around this institution. According to initial information, the previously nameless series is intended to appeal to a slightly younger audience. The production is in a very early phase, however, further details are not yet known - not even about the characters who will play an important role. The only thing that is certain is that the series will be produced for Paramount +. Furthermore, there is so far no information about whether the new project will be a live action or an animation series.

Alex Kurtzman knows his way around the Star Trek universe very well. Among other things, he has already worked as a producer on the new movies and the Star Trek Picard series. He's also got his hands on the upcoming Star Trek: Prodigy and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds series. Furthermore, the production on the series Star Trek: Section 31 is already running, in which the actress Michelle Yeoh will slip again into the role of Philippa Georgiou. Section 31 is a kind of secret organization that works undercover and does the dirty work for the Federation - without being bound by its rules and ideals.

Source: New York Times




Star Trek Voyager's Robert Duncan McNeil Has Pitched A Captain Proton Project, And It Needs To Happen

Published: Aug. 4. 2021 6:19 AM


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:


Yeah, I did pitch to them. I've had this idea for a number of years about doing a Captain Proton, on the Holodeck only. Get our cast back together, do like a serialized-like the old Flash Gordon's- do like short little stories that add up to a bigger story. And I thought about trying to produce it as a podcast, or in COVID I thought it would be fun to do an old radio drama with Captain Proton. But get our actors back together and actually talk to Kurtzman's company and those guys about producing either a podcast version of Captain Proton or a web series, or Short Treks kind of version with just Captain Proton.


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:


People really love that Holodeck, and I love doing that character. I just think the fans would really love the show within a show kind of idea of Captain Proton commenting on sci-fi generally and Trek sci-fi tropes and things, it's just a lot of fun.


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.

  • Mick Joest

    Mick Joest

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    Mick likes good television, but also reality television. He grew up on Star Wars, DC, Marvel, and pro wrestling and loves to discuss and dissect most of it. He’s been writing online for over a decade and never dreamed he’d be in the position he is today.