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Variety reports that Kurtzman has inked a $25 million deal with CBS as part of a five-year plan to bring more Trek shows to TV in the wake of Discovery’s success. According to the site, five series are currently in early development:

A teen-oriented series set at Starfleet Academy from Stephanie Savage and Josh Schwartz, the duo behind the recent Dynasty reboot and Marvel’s Runaways adaptation.
A limited series with a currently confidential plot.
A limited series based around the beloved character Khan, from the original Star Trek and the classic film The Wrath of Khan—something that’s been rumored for a while as being spearheaded by Wrath of Khan director Nicholas Meyer.
An animated series with another currently confidential plot.

However, The Hollywood Reporter might have details on at least one of those mysterious limited series. The trade reports that one show in Kurtzman’s new deal could bring back one of Trek’s most beloved characters: Sir Patrick Stewart’s Captain Jean-Luc Picard. According to THR, both Kurtzman and producer Akiva Goldsman (who departed Discovery after its first season) are attached to the series, which would be lead by Stewart reprising his role as Picard.

Although a new post on the official Star Trek website has confirmed that a new deal has been signed for Kurtzman to “extend the Star Trek franchise for television, developing new series, mini-series and other content opportunities, including animation,” it doesn’t mention any of the above details about what those series may entail. We’ve reached out to CBS for a comment regarding the rumors surrounding Kurtzman’s new deal—we’ll update this post if we hear more.

The Romulan Republic wrote: ↑2018-06-19 09:57pm The sad truth is, I don't think that there's much interest in televised Trek, now. Oh, it still has its loyal fan base, but mostly they're loyal to the series from thirty years ago, not what's on the air now. I'd guess CBS wants an MCU-style franchise, with multiple interconnected series... but basically no one has managed to make that work besides the MCU (well, okay, there's a DC shared universe on TV that isn't a total flop). Certainly, I don't think there's that much excitement over Trek right now.

They need to actually make a hit before they can justify spin-offs.

Crazedwraith wrote: ↑2018-06-20 03:42am Kurtzman again, ugh.

Sea Skimmer wrote: ↑2018-06-24 11:43pm Yeah really no reason he can't be old and on the show, Trek was supposed to have major human life extension technology after all. Also seems like its a push for a miniseries with him, so it could pretty much come down a a 'Admiral Picard comes back on the bridge one last one' kind of plot.

The Romulan Republic wrote: ↑2018-06-25 04:32pm So, besides Picard, which TNG-era characters would you like to see return?

Elheru Aran wrote: ↑2018-06-25 05:04pm I have to say I would find it peculiar to be mixing characters from different shows. I also don't know how the hell they would try to reconcile it, if any, with Discovery and the nu-Trek storylines.

One benefit of alien characters, the ones that used heavy makeup anyway, is that it's easy enough to hide aging. Michael Dorn still looks pretty good, and there's so much rubber on a Ferengi that you probably wouldn't see much change on Armin Shimerman, for example. Human-norm characters would be much harder to pull that off though. Like Data... I'd love to see Data, but Brent Spiner doesn't look much like he used to. Worse actually than Robert Picardo (in terms of general wear and tear, not 'man he looks terrible').

The Doctor is an easy enough explanation though-- 'oh I'm trying out this human thing of aging, I look dignified don't I? Is twenty-some years about right?" Insert gag of him aging/de-aging excessively.

Honestly something of a STO gimmick where old cast just show up as supporting characters would be my preference. USS Applepies goes on a mission to the Delta Quadrant, stops along of DS9, Character A gets a new outfit at Garak's shop, trips over a banana peel and has to stop by Medical and there's a portrait of Bashir on the wall, goes and gets a drink at Quark's before he has to leave, and Morn is *still* at the bar, but Quark is actually a holograph now... something like that.

Elheru Aran wrote: ↑2018-06-25 06:15pm Ugh... I haven't tried to follow Discovery much at all, so I have no idea. Just continuing with the prime universe is good enough for me.

While STO isn't canon (as far as I know), honestly it's the approach that makes the most sense, plot elements like the Undine and Iconians and the Klingons and Federation being at war again aside. There's no reason most of the TNG-era characters couldn't still be around in the interim period; they already gave us Worf and La Forge in STO, after all. Simply advancing the plot post-Voyager to some vague era in the late 24th-early 25th century would probably be fine.

The primary thing I'm really concerned about is the writing. Trek, particulary TNG and DS9, has a certain flavor that's hard to find these days.

Elheru Aran wrote: ↑2018-06-25 06:30pm I understand changing to fit the times... I just don't really want to lose the spirit of the show. Of course, that's hard to define because each individual show had its own take on Trek-- TNG was probably the closest to TOS, while DS9 went grimdark and long-form, and Voyager was all about that general "we've gotta get home but it's a big quadrant" feel. Part of the problem with Enterprise, IMO, is that for the first couple seasons they didn't really know where they wanted to go with it, so you got a mishmash of episodes varying from pretty decent to lousy.

I'm afraid though that Discovery will sour the whole business of Trek shows. It hasn't been super-popular from what I understand, and having to pay to watch it probably isn't helping.

Crazedwraith wrote: ↑2018-06-25 04:50pm Yes, just set the new primeverse series that same amount of time later in-universe that it has been in reality since Nemesis. Or even more if you wish to imply humans age slowly/remain active longer in the future.

Elheru Aran wrote: ↑2018-06-25 07:12pm Not necessarily sure if you can call it an 'ensemble cast' if you mean 'a lot of famous people all together'-- at least that's generally what I think when I heard 'ensemble cast'. If you mean a show with multiple protagonists and antagonists, then yeah, that would fit Trek well enough.

Optimism would be nice, but I fear dark is all the thing these days, unless you get into comedy and while I have no doubt you could do comic Trek (there's always been a parody episode or two in the mix) a whole series that's a comic take on would be a bit hit-or-miss. Of course, that's pretty much what The Orville is, and that's doing well enough as I understand it, so...

Honestly given that TNG seems to be enjoying a pretty decent showing on Netflix and streaming media, I'd say it's a good bet that a TNG-style, flavor, whatever, Trek show might do well enough. The response to Orville vs. Discovery is suggesting that to me, at least.

Elheru Aran wrote: ↑2018-06-21 04:26pm A little bit surprised, I'll admit, to see Patrick Stewart possibly involved with one of these. Didn't think he was particularly interested in returning. He's also noticeably older than even Insurrection's Picard; he's well preserved, but it shows. They'll have to account for that somehow, though I wouldn't be surprised if they do something like make him an Admiral and the Enterprise-whatever his flagship.

Retired Picard tootling about various archaeological sites would be an interesting take, though...

Elheru Aran wrote: ↑2018-06-25 05:04pm I have to say I would find it peculiar to be mixing characters from different shows. I also don't know how the hell they would try to reconcile it, if any, with Discovery and the nu-Trek storylines.

bilateralrope wrote: ↑2018-06-27 12:51am I think Ambassador Picard would be more appropriate than Admiral Picard. Transporting him to some talks that various parties don't want him to attend could make a good episode.

Discovery is easy to deal with. It's a prequel, but has never been mentioned in any episode set after its time period. Which means there is some reason why nobody talks about it. As for why, that's up to the writers of the prequel to figure out. So just avoid any situation where the spore drive might be useful and put the rest of the responsibility for continuity on the Discovery writers.

Abrams Trek is a different story. Sure, most of it takes place in an alternate universe and can be completely ignored. But there is one big event that did occur in the prime timeline: The destruction of Romulus. Everyone else swarming in to claim what they can of the Romulan Empire has lot of potential for stories.

Crazedwraith wrote: ↑2018-06-20 03:42am Kurtzman again, ugh.

bilateralrope wrote: ↑2018-06-27 12:51am

Elheru Aran wrote: ↑2018-06-21 04:26pm A little bit surprised, I'll admit, to see Patrick Stewart possibly involved with one of these. Didn't think he was particularly interested in returning. He's also noticeably older than even Insurrection's Picard; he's well preserved, but it shows. They'll have to account for that somehow, though I wouldn't be surprised if they do something like make him an Admiral and the Enterprise-whatever his flagship.

Retired Picard tootling about various archaeological sites would be an interesting take, though...

I think Ambassador Picard would be more appropriate than Admiral Picard. Transporting him to some talks that various parties don't want him to attend could make a good episode.

Elheru Aran wrote: ↑2018-06-25 05:04pm I have to say I would find it peculiar to be mixing characters from different shows. I also don't know how the hell they would try to reconcile it, if any, with Discovery and the nu-Trek storylines.

Discovery is easy to deal with. It's a prequel, but has never been mentioned in any episode set after its time period. Which means there is some reason why nobody talks about it. As for why, that's up to the writers of the prequel to figure out. So just avoid any situation where the spore drive might be useful and put the rest of the responsibility for continuity on the Discovery writers.

Abrams Trek is a different story. Sure, most of it takes place in an alternate universe and can be completely ignored. But there is one big event that did occur in the prime timeline: The destruction of Romulus. Everyone else swarming in to claim what they can of the Romulan Empire has lot of potential for stories.