Posted on 11/02/2015 9:48:55 AM PST by Red Badger
Just in time for its 50th anniversary, Star Trek is returning to the small screen.
Prolific producer Alex Kurtzman is developing a new take on the beloved sci-fi classic for TV, The Hollywood Reporter has learned. The new Star Trek has been picked up straight to series at CBS, with the premiere slated for the network in January 2017. Subsequent episodes will air on its digital and VOD platform, CBS All Access. The premiere and all subsequent episodes will then be available in the U.S. on CBS All Access, the network’s digital subscription video on demand and live streaming service. Star Trek marks the first original series developed specifically for CBS All Access. The new Star Trek will introduce new characters seeking imaginative new worlds and new civilizations, while exploring the dramatic contemporary themes that have been a signature of the franchise since its inception in 1966.
The cross-platform streaming service, which hosts thousands of episodes from CBS' roster (both past and present) is available for $5.99 per month. Included in the fee is the ability to stream the local network live. All previous Star Trek series are currently available on CBS All Access. CBS Studios International will distribute the series for TV and multiple platforms around the world.
The drama is set up at CBS Television Studios and Kurtzman's Secret Hideout banner. Kurtzman and development head Heather Kadin will exec produce. A search is under way for a writer to take on the cult hit. The franchise is poised to celebrate its 50th anniversary as the original series debuted Sept. 8, 1966.
The new Star Trek TV series continues Kurtzman's relationship with the beloved franchise. He produced the Star Trek feature film series, co-writing 2013's Star Trek Into Darkness and 2009's franchise revival. The fourth in the franchise set for 2019, though Kurtzman is not attached.
CBS TV Studios distributed the original series, which was produced by Paramount Television and Desilu Productions. Created by Gene Roddenberry and starring William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy, the series ran for three seasons and 79 episodes from 1966-67 on NBC and became a monster hit via syndication. It spawned an animated series (1973-74), a series of feature films — starting in 1979 — and four TV follow-ups including The Next Generation (1987-1994), Deep Space Nine (1993-99), Voyager (1995-2001) and Enterprise (2001-05).
News of a new Star Trek TV series comes as the franchise has been mired in rights issues between CBS and Paramount after Viacom merged with CBS in 2000. CBS Corp. absorbed Paramount for television, while Paramount Studios — the company that distributed the films — went to Viacom.
The Star Trek revival comes as reboots and follow-ups continue to be in high demand on broadcast (and cable/streaming). Kurtzman — and frequent partner Roberto Orci, who is not attached to CBSTVS' Star Trek — is behind CBS' follow-up to Bradley Cooper's Limitless and also exec produces the network's veteran Hawaii Five-0 reboot. The K/O banner currently has four shows on the air — Hawaii, Limitless and sophomore drama Scorpion as well as Fox's Sleepy Hollow. K/O is repped by CAA and Gendler Kelly. "This new series will premiere to the national CBS audience, then boldly go where no first-run Star Trek series has gone before — directly to its millions of fans through CBS All Access,†said Marc DeBevoise, executive vp and GM at CBS Digital Media. “We’ve experienced terrific growth for CBS All Access, expanding the service across affiliates and devices in a very short time. We now have an incredible opportunity to accelerate this growth with the iconic Star Trek, and its devoted and passionate fan base, as our first original series.â€
...Star Trek Continues series in which they have new actors but it features the total 1960s look...
YES! Better than everything else combined!
I don’t believe they’ve ever had a married captain or a chaplain.
“I want the last two years of the original five-year mission.”
After the script they dredged up for Turnabout Intruder and Shatner filing his nails in a staff meeting, and the hippies a few episodes earlier in the third year, I kind of thought we’d had a reprieve.
But after DSN, I suppose they were real gems.
That's ultimately what it's about. That and the acting.
Surprising how well the original series still holds up almost 50 years (!!!) later.
Star Trek has always been a vehicle to introduce liberal concepts to the nerd population... multiculturalism, feminism, mixed race sexuality (controversial in the 60’s). I have not doubt that they will go full throttle on same sex, tranny sex, and pedophilia with this latest installment.
Would be nice if, in finally ONE of the idiotic series of “socialism in space” series... someone finally writes in HOW the Federation is able to make... starships, high tech, energy derivation, mineral rights with planets... by PRIVATE business interests that aren’t relegated to the “Ferengi” (the metaphorical jews of the universe... literally with all kinds of assumptive stereotypical behaviour of those “nasty” jews in the characters... including that nasty “profit” motive and result).
Also, just why in HELL would anyone join the Federation “military” other than to enrich themselves. None of this “do it for the benefit of the prime directive” joke.
Why this is one of the most idiotic series ever written. At least “Dune” got it right- with a Guild, the “Spice” (analogous to oil) and a semblance of Euro-monarchical constructs.
The only Star Trek worth watching were the one’s from the ‘60’s with Captain James Tiberius Kirk and crew. Retro TV is great although I’ve not seen any for a while. They are on YouTube though.
Bet since the actor that played Sulu in the original is gay, they’ll have Sulu completely out for this one.
“I don’t believe they’ve ever had a married captain or a chaplain.”
Kirok married in S3E3.
That was my first though too.
Boldly going where no decent man would dare to go.
Fast-forward to 2015: enough with Star Trek already...
T
SocJus. . . the final frontier...
These are the crusades of the Starship . . . Sarkeesian.
It’s eternal mission. . .
To seek out strange new privileges, and demean them. . .
To go, with affirmative consent, where no heterosexual while males exist.
Episode 1: Encounter with Milo. . . . .
You are correct, but they will do it ‘cuz...just ‘cuz.
No, I don’t think they’re going to have a Muslim chaplain. Remember, in the Star Trek future, they’ve gone “beyond the need for” religion.
No, I don’t think they’re going to have a Muslim chaplain. Remember, in the Star Trek future, they’ve gone “beyond the need for” religion.
They’ve doomed this before they get started. Fewer people will pay for TV.
And again ...we fall for the trap of looking forward to our childhood favorites ruined by PC, diversity and liberal messages. Really...who cares about this? Its just going to be crap.
I smell Faux Trek.
Yep, their dedication to preserving the original look and feel, including sound effects and music, is spot on. Acting could use some work but the performers are die-hard officiants to TOS and are doing it out of love, not to build a resume. I especially love Chris Doohan regenerating the role of Scotty. His voice is a dead ringer for his Dad’s.
Seeing what has happened to the comic book industry after these people go hold of it, I’m more than certain it will be worse.
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