Paramount+ and Skydance have finalized their merger, which means some changes for several long-standing IPs are coming. It’s already well known new CEO David Ellison is a fan of the iconic ”Star Trek” Paramount franchise. It appears the studio has already heard a few pitches for possible shows within the universe.
Let’s take a look at four of the big pitches.
“Star Trek: Year One”
Created by “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds” executive producers and co-showrunners Akiva Goldsman and Henry Alonso Myers, “Star Trek: Year One” is reported to be a spin off of “Strange New Worlds” (which begins shooting its fifth and final season this fall). The series would follow Captain James T. Kirk’s (Paul Wesley) first year commanding the Starship Enterprise.
While we cannot stress enough that these series are all theoretical at this point, this one does have some strong arguments to make it happen. Mainly that it can reprise the roles from “Strange New Worlds,” to keep the continuity of the current cast. This includes key parts like Wesley’s Captain Kirk, Mr. Spock (Ethan Peck), and Lt. Uhura (Celia Rose Gooding). Not to mention they could reuse the USS Enterprise sets, keeping costs down.
“Star Trek: United”
Created by “Star Trek: Enterprise” producer Michael Sussman and actor Scott Bakula. This show would be inspired by “Star Trek: Picard,” and have Sir Patrick Stewart return as Jean-Luc Picard. Bakula would reprise his role as Captain Jonathan Archer, who is now the President of the United Federation of Planets. Given Archer’s role as president, this show would be a ‘political thriller.’
A few years ago, “United” was pitched to Kurtzman’s Secret Hideout. (Kurtzman has overseen the “Star Trek” franchise on Paramount+ since 2017.) Secret Hideout brought it to Paramount, who ultimately passed. But Sussman believes he has refined the show, and “the current climate is just right for a series like this.”
“Live-Action Star Trek Comedy”
Created by “Star Trek: Lower Decks” actress & “Star Trek: Starfleet Academy” writer Tawny Newsome and writer/director Justin Simien, this proposed series has been kicking around since San Diego Comic-Con 2024. It will be a workplace comedy set in the early 25th century about the employees of a pleasure planet outside the Federation.
“Hollywood’s in a place, and we’re waiting to hear,” Newsome told TrekMovie during STLV 2025. “We wrote the thing, and we’re waiting to hear… I think everyone in the business is sort of waiting to see if anyone ever sells a show again, not to be bleak, but nothing’s guaranteed.”
One of the neat ideas in this pitch is setting it in the 25th century, which would allow “Star Trek” legacy actors to guest star as their age-appropriate characters. Not to mention possible “Lower Decks” crossovers given Newsome’s relationship with the cast.
This idea hasn’t been re-pitched since the merger, and it’s unclear if they will try again. However, this idea has had a lot of fan support so it’s hard to imagine that Paramount is unaware of the positive reception to the idea.
“Star Trek: Legacy”
Created by “Picard” season 3 showrunner Terry Matalas, this series would continue the voyages of the USS Enterprise-G under Captain Seven of Nine (Jeri Ryan). Despite very loud fan, cast and crew support for this spinoff, it never quite made it into development.
During Creation Entertainment’s annual STLV convention, Matalas confirmed there is still no movement on the project. He did not say if he would pitch the show again now that the merger is over. But he did say he has written 30 pages of a “Legacy” pilot, so it could maybe still happen.
We’ll keep you posted on news about all things “Star Trek” as it develops.
