Star Trek franchise boss hasn’t been secretive about plans to expand the Trek universe to appeal directly towards new demographics, and today his January comments about a new kid-friendly Trek animated series got some new momentum — and a potential new home.
Revealed today by Variety — as well as Deadline and The Hollywood Reporter — the next chapter in Trek toons looks to be aimed for cable network Nickelodeon, which would be the first non-CBS All Access home for a television series since the days of Star Trek: Enterprise — as the CBS All Access streaming service is distinctly targeted towards older audiences.
Back in January, Kurtzman described the show as one featuring younger characters who haven’t yet “decided who they are,” rather than “fully-formed adults already in Starfleet,” as a way to “reach younger kids” in a way previous Trek shows hadn’t specifically targeted.
It’s important to me to find a way to go back and reach younger kids in a way that ‘Trek’ should and never really has.
Nickelodeon, of course, is owned by the other half of the CBS / Viacom split which divided the Star Trek franchise in 2006, so it’s too surprising a choice for a television destination; especially as long-brewing rumors of a reconciliation and merger of the two companies continues to bubble along.
While little is known about the plans for this kid-centric show, here’s what Variety has to say about the project:
Plot details on the new series are being kept under wraps, but it hails from writers Kevin and Dan Hageman. The Hagemans are known for their work on animated shows such as “Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu” and “Trollhunters.” They also worked on the story for the films “Hotel Transylvania,” “The Lego Movie,” and “The Lego Ninjago Movie.” They are repped by WME and Underground Management.
Should the project move forward, it would mark the first new “Star Trek” TV project to debut outside of All Access with an eye for it to serve as a tent pole series at Nickelodeon. The series would mark a major get for new Nickelodeon president Brian Robbins, who was brought in in October to lead the kid-centric Viacom brand amid declining linear ratings and shifting viewing habits.
This still-untitled Trek series — which has not been officially announced by CBS — would be the second animated show in CBS Television Studio’s production pipeline, after the adult-oriented Star Trek: Lower Decks show currently on track for a 2020 debut.
What do you think about this new development, and the concept of a kid-targeted Trek show in this modern era? Sound off in the comments below!