Following its blockbuster rebirth in theaters, a brand new version of Star Trek will be transported back to the small screen in 2017. CBS Television announced it will air the premiere episode on CBS and then make all other first-run episodes available through its streaming service, CBS All Access.
Prolific film and television producer Alex Kurtzman, who co-wrote Star Trek (2009) and Star Trek Into Darkness (2013), will executive produce the series. According to CBS, the Star Trek update “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.”
CBS’ timing is perfect: the Star Trek franchise will turn 50 in 2016.
“There is no better time to give Star Trek fans a new series than on the heels of the original show’s 50th anniversary celebration,” said David Stapf, president of CBS Television Studios. “Everyone here has great respect for this storied franchise, and we’re excited to launch its next television chapter in the creative mind and skilled hands of Alex Kurtzman, someone who knows this world and its audience intimately.”
Created by Gene Roddenberry, the original Star Trek series ran on NBC from 1966 to 1969 before becoming a cult phenomenon in syndication. The series spawned a massive film franchise and four TV spin-offs: Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Star Trek:Voyager and Star Trek: Enterprise.
The new series will be not associated with the upcoming Justin Lin-directed film Star Trek Beyond, which launches in 2016.
