CBS has signed Alex Kurtzman to a new five-year overall deal that will see him supervising the expansion of the 'Star Trek' franchise for television.
- Jun 20, 2018
AceShowbiz - Alex Kurtzman is staying in "Star Trek" galaxy after executive producing "Star Trek: Discovery". The co-creator behind the CBS All Access series has signed a new five-year overall deal with CBS Television Studios that will keep him with the studio through 2023. His previous deal will expire this year.
Under the new pact, Kurtzman will serve as the "Star Trek: Discovery" lone showrunner after taking over from Aaron Harberts and Gretchen Berg, who were recently fired from the series. He will also supervise the expansion of the "Star Trek" franchise for television, developing new series, mini-series and other content, including animation.
"There is a very short list of writer-producer-directors that every film and television studio wants to be associated with, and Alex and his Secret Hideout team are always at the top," says CBS Television Studios president David Stapf. "His talent, taste and ability to shepherd a successful project is unparalleled. Alex has done remarkable work for our studio, dating back seven years to the launch of 'Hawaii Five-0', and we are thrilled that he, [Secret Hideout president] Heather [Kadin] and their team will be partnering with us for a long time to come."
Kurtzman also says of his new deal, "Heather, Aaron and I are thrilled to continue Secret Hideout's amazing partnership with CBS Television Studios. Since our first collaboration with 'Hawaii Five-0' almost a decade ago, Les [Moonves], David and the full team at CBS Studios have been our foremost collaborators and champions, treating each project with integrity, supporting the creative visions and working breathlessly to make each episode of every show the best it can be. 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."
There are several "Star Trek" projects which reportedly are already in development. One is a new series centering on Patrick Stewart's "Star Trek: The Next Generation" character Capt. Jean-Luc Picard. The actor is expected to reprise his role on the new series. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Kurtzman and Akiva Goldsman, who left "Discovery" after season one, are attached to the Stewart-led project.
Another project in the works is allegedly a series set at Starfleet Academy from Stephanie Savage and Josh Schwartz ("Runaways", "Gossip Girl"). There are also two potential limited series, one of which is based on the "Wrath of Khan" story, and an animated series which are reportedly in development.
