What Happened to Star Trek?

The Star Trek franchise, originating in 1966, has seen a remarkable resurgence and expansion in the 21st century, particularly with its move to streaming services. The 'Kurtzman era,' spearheaded by executive producer Alex Kurtzman, brought a wave of new series to CBS All Access, later Paramount+, starting with 'Star Trek: Discovery' in 2017. This period marked a strategic shift to episodic, serialized storytelling, diverging from the more episodic nature of earlier iterations.

Key turning points in recent years include the conclusion of several flagship streaming series. 'Star Trek: Discovery' wrapped its five-season run, with its final season premiering in April 2024 and concluding in May 2024. Similarly, the animated comedy 'Star Trek: Lower Decks' aired its fifth and final season from October to December 2024. 'Star Trek: Picard,' which brought back Sir Patrick Stewart, concluded its critically acclaimed third season in 2023, leaving fans hopeful for a 'Star Trek: Legacy' spin-off, though this project has since been deemed unlikely by cast members due to industry ageism and the dismantling of sets.

In 2025, the franchise expanded with the direct-to-streaming film 'Star Trek: Section 31,' starring Michelle Yeoh, which premiered on Paramount+ in January 2025. However, the film received largely negative reviews. The critically praised 'Star Trek: Strange New Worlds,' a return to episodic storytelling, saw its third season premiere in July 2025. It is slated for a fourth season in July 2026 and will conclude with its fifth and final season, which finished filming in December 2025.

2026 has been a pivotal year. 'Star Trek: Starfleet Academy,' a young adult-focused series set in the 32nd century, premiered its first season on Paramount+ in January 2026, concluding in March 2026. While a second season has been filmed, it was announced in March 2026 that it would be the series' last, expected to premiere in 2027. This marks a significant winding down of the current slate of Star Trek television productions, with no new live-action series currently in active production as of June 2026.

On the cinematic front, Paramount announced at CinemaCon 2026 in April that a new Star Trek movie is in development. This film will feature an entirely new cast and story, explicitly separate from the 'Kelvin timeline' films (starring Chris Pine), which are now reportedly concluded. Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley are attached to write and direct this new cinematic endeavor. This signals a fresh start for Star Trek on the big screen, moving away from the long-stalled fourth Kelvin timeline film.

Further complicating the franchise's future is the potential merger between Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery, which could lead to Star Trek content moving to a new mega streaming service, potentially under the HBO brand. There are also ongoing rumors of a settlement to release Alex Kurtzman from his creative oversight, potentially ushering in a new era of management. As Star Trek celebrates its 60th anniversary in 2026, with events like a Rose Parade float and new merchandise, its future is characterized by both significant conclusions and the promise of new beginnings across different media.