While it’s been somewhat assumed up until this point since his name was announced as part of the Star Trek: Picard development team last year, today CBS has made it official: writer and executive producer Michael Chabon is serving as the showrunner of the upcoming Star Trek: Picard series now in production.
In a formal press release from the studio sent out this morning, Trek franchise boss Alex Kurtzman sang praise for Chabon’s talents, sharing his appreciation for the writer who joined the Trek franchise by writing last year’s “Calypso” entry in the Star Trek: Discovery Short Treks series.
June 27, 2019 – Pulitzer Prize-winning author Michael Chabon has been named Showrunner of the upcoming STAR TREK: PICARD series. Chabon is working closely on the day-to-day production of the series with Academy Award winner and veteran “Star Trek” writer and producer Akiva Goldsman, and Alex Kurtzman, who continues to oversee the expansion of the growing “Star Trek” universe for CBS Studios.
“Daring, lyrical, humane, whimsical, celebrated: words that describe both Jean-Luc Picard and the literary genius of Michael Chabon,” said Alex Kurtzman. “Despite a laundry list of accomplishments most writers only dream of, Michael shines with the heart and soul of a Trekkie who’s finally found his dream job. We’re so fortunate to have him at the helm as we explore this next chapter in the great captain’s life.”
“‘Star Trek’ has been an important part of my way of thinking about the world, the future, human nature, storytelling and myself since I was ten years old,” said Michael Chabon. “I come to work every day in a state of joy and awe at having been entrusted with the character and the world of Jean-Luc Picard, with this vibrant strand of the rich, intricate and complex tapestry that is ‘Trek.’”
Michael Chabon is the bestselling and Pulitzer Prize-winning author of the novels “The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay,” “Moonglow,” “Wonder Boys,” “The Yiddish Policeman’s Union,” “Telegraph Avenue,” “The Mysteries of Pittsburgh,” “Summerland,” “The Final Solution,” “Gentlemen of the Road;” the short story collections “A Model World” and “Werewolves in Their Youth;” and the essay collections “Maps and Legends,” “Manhood for Amateurs,” “Pops: Fatherhood in Pieces” and “Bookends.” Chabon’s screenplays and teleplays include “John Carter,” “Spiderman 2,” “Unbelievable” – which he wrote with his writing partner and wife, the novelist, essayist and television writer Ayelet Waldman – the STAR TREK: SHORT TREKS episode “Calypso” and “Q&A” among others. In addition to the Pulitzer Prize, Chabon has won the Hugo, Nebula, Mythopoeic, Sidewise and Ignotus awards (Spain’s Hugo Award) and many others.
The first two hours of the show were directed by Star Trek: Discovery vet Hanelle Culpepper, with the second pairing of episodes directed by longtime Trek contributor Jonathan Frakes.
Keep checking back to TrekCore for all the latest news about the show as it breaks!