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We've been so consumed with Star Wars lately that we almost forgot about that other universe of intergalactic heroes, villains, and rogues: Star Trek. (William Shatner didn't, though.) Well, it won't be long before we can obsess over them simultaneously because Trek is coming back to TV. Well, sort of. And not in a way you might expect.
CBS announced today that it is developing a new Trek series for its subscription VOD platform, All Access, that will roll out in January, 2017. The new Trek, which comes amidst the franchise's 50th anniversary next year, will premiere on CBS and have all subsequent episodes debut on All Access.
But here’s the interesting thing: The series won't be tied into the forthcoming film, 2016's Star Trek Beyond. Instead, the forthcoming Trek series "will introduce new characters seeking imaginative new worlds and new civilizations," according to an announcement from CBS. (The show, however, is being developed by Alex Kurtzman, who has been a writer/producer on the recent JJ Abrams-helmed Star Trek movies but who isn’t involved with Beyond.)
It’s fascinating because most of the various generations of Trek have connected their small-screen and big-screen stories, but also because worldbuilding and creating a cross-platform universe is standard operating procedure now. Marvel does this with its cinematic universe and TV offerings on ABC and Netflix. DC does this with its CW shows. And it looks like Star Wars aims to do this with its upcoming slate of features films like Star Wars: The Force Awakens and anthology flicks like the "young Han Solo" movie. For Trek to not follow suit seems odd. This is a chance for the Trek universe to get back into full swing and it’s actively separating itself from that notion.
Or maybe Trek doesn't want to seem like it's hopping on the multi-platform-universe bandwagon. For all of the effort and care put into building full universes for every franchise these days, keeping fans interested and involved in all aspects of those worlds has proven challenging. Just ask anyone (read: me) trying to keep up with all the Marvel movies and the adventures on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Agent Carter. Maybe CBS wants to keep viewers locked into their own little House of Picards (sorry, had to) and leave the movies to themselves.
Then again, this might be temporary. It’s possible the new series could lead to future movies, but it’s curious that today’s announcement makes a point of saying the new Trek won’t be connected to Beyond. It also could be an indication that Trek movies and TV will forever be separate following CBS' split from Viacom in 2006 (Viacom owns Paramount, which holds the film rights). It's cool that we're getting a new Trek—and one that’s focused on a fresh cast of characters in this era of reboots—but it also seems ... illogical.
