Star Trekmay appear as if it has peaked, but I believe more patience than what has been required in the last few years could reveal a brighter future.Star Trek Day 2024 marks 58 years sinceStar Trek: The Original Seriespremiered.No one could have guessedStar Trekwould still be going strong in 2024, with 13 movies, a dozen TV series, and more still on the way. Yet there seems to be a dark cloud hanging overStar Trek’s future as the franchise downsizes through what looks to be an uncertain time.
In 2022,Star Trekachieved heights it hadn’t seen since the 1990s. Star Trek on Paramount+ had five series that were bona fide hits with fans. 2022 even saw a new episode ofStar Trekpremiere almost every Thursday of the calendar year. 2023 saw the final season ofStar Trek: PicardandStar Trek: Strange New Worldsseason 2, which ranked on Nielsen’s streaming top 10. But as the streaming business model changed, and actors and writers went on strike, Star Trek on Paramount+ canceledStar Trek: Prodigy(which went to Netflix), and announced theend ofStar Trek: DiscoveryandStar Trek: Lower Decksin 2024.Where doesStar Trekgo from here?
Every Upcoming Star Trek Movie & TV Show
Star Trek is ending series like Discovery and Lower Decks but renewed Strange New Worlds while setting up new streaming and theatrical movies.
What Star Trek’s Immediate Future Looks Like
Fewer shows, but movies are coming back
Star Trek on Paramount+ has scaled back significantly. 2024 will end withStar Trek: Lower Decks' final season, closing out the first-ever Star Trek animated comedy. WithStar Trek: Prodigypossibly not being renewed by Netflix, it marks theend of a brief, 4-year golden age ofStar Trekanimation. This is a huge shame asLower DecksandProdigyhave proven to be some of the most innovative and genuineStar Trekproduced sinceStar Trek: Discoveryreignited the franchise in 2017.
Production onStar Trek: Prodigyseason 3 could take 2 years if Netflix renews it.
In 2025,Star Trek: Section 31premieres, as doesStar Trek: Strange New Worldsseason 3.Both projects are all Star Trek on Paramount+ has on tap next year.Star Trek: Section 31is the first made-for-streamingStar Trekmovie. Sequels and moreStar Trekstreaming films on Paramount+ hinge onSection 31’s success. Meanwhile, the popularStrange New Worldshas become Star Trek on Paramount’s flagship series now thatStar Trek: Discoveryis over.
2026 Could Be When Star Trek’s Future Gets Brighter
Just in time for Star Trek’s 60th anniversary
2026 will likely see two Star Trek on Paramount+ series:Star Trek: Strange New Worldsseason 4, which goes into production next year, andStar Trek: Starfleet Academy,which just started filming. However, Paramount Pictures, which controls theStar Trektheatrical movies, is targeting anUntitled Star Trek Originprequel movie from director Toby Haynes to hit movie screens. All of this wouldmarkStar Trek’s 60th anniversary.
Tawny Newsome and Justin Simien are developingStar Trek’s first live-action comedy, although there is no known release date.
However, 2026 could also be when all of the dust settles fromParamount’s sale to Skydance.Star Trekis being understandably cautious with so much uncertainty surrounding its parent company’s sale. ButStar Trekis also acknowledged as a crown jewel I.P. that is extremely valuable to Paramount. While 2025 may reveal what directionStar Trekwill take going forward, a new course taking the franchise into the next decade could be set by 2026.
What I Want For Star Trek’s Future
Star Trek movies, TV, and animation need to be equal
Patience and a clear understanding of the choppy waters of the next couple of years ought to lead to the clouds parting andabright new day forStar Trek.I hope thatStar Trek: Strange New Worldsgets renewed for season 5; but, ideally, I wantStrange New Worldsto run for as long asexecutive producers Akiva Goldsman and Henry Alonso Myersplan for the show to run. I also hopeSection 31is a hit, andStar Trek: Starfleet Academycontinues the bold innovation and pushing of boundaries that the best ofStar Trek: Discoverydid for the franchise.
What I really want is for Star Trek 4 to finally break out of development hell.
I would love forStar Trekmoviesto become a powerhouse again, in theatrical and in streaming, makingStar Treka force in both mediums. The jury is out on theStar Trekprequel movie, but I obviously hope it’s good. What I really want is forStar Trek 4to finally break out of development hell and bring back Chris Pine’sStar Trekcast. As for streaming movies, if that is how we can finally get Captain Seven of Nine (Jeri Ryan) headliningStar Trek: Legacy,thencount me in for a made-for-streaming movie about the USS Enterprise-G.Of course, a full-blownStar Trek: Legacyseries would be even better.
What a shame it would be ifStar Trek: Lower DecksandStar Trek: Prodigy’s last gasps happened in 2024. I dearlyhopeStar Trek: Lower Decksmoves to another streaming service likeStar Trek: Prodigydid. I also hope Netflix renewsStar Trek: Prodigy,if not for season 3, then for an animated feature. I would also likeStar Trekanimation to be given equal treatment to live-actionStar Trek, and for every aspect of the franchise to keep delivering the high quality we’ve seen in the last few years. Another golden age forStar Trekcould be right around the corner, and we can get there, but we just need to be patient asStar Trekdecides its future.
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy
Cast
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy follows a group of cadets as they embark on their journey to become Starfleet officers. Facing the challenges of friendship, rivalry, and romance, they confront a new enemy endangering the Academy and the Federation under the guidance of their rigorous instructors.
