We’re still more than a month away from the official CBS All Access changeover into Paramount+, the revitalized streaming service emerging from the ViacomCBS merger of 2019 — but promotion has kicked into full gear, with Star Trek helping to lead the way.
Last week, online imagery began to update across the platform’s social media accounts, putting both Star Trek: Discovery’s Michael Burnham and Star Trek: Picard’s Jean-Luc Picard at the front of their group of featured characters and content.
In addition to those graphic updates, Paramount+ television commercials began airing on Sunday night in the United States.
Quickly making their way online after initial broadcasts, the commercials — narrated by the just-vaccinated Patrick Stewart — Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’ Captain Pike (Anson Mount) and Lt. Spock (Ethan Peck) joining some of the ViacomCBS family of performers in a climb up the “Paramount mountain.”
(For those of you facing region-locking issues, you can watch the videos here on Instagram.)
Both videos appear to be brand-new footage of Mount and Peck, filmed specifically for the promotion, including Captain Pike giving The Jersey Shore’s Snooki some side-eye in response to former Pittsburgh Steelers coach Bill Cowher (part of CBS’s The NFL Today team), and Spock hiking through the snow with gloves on, as MTV’s Beavis & Butthead follow.
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In a video chat with fan @jemabean1 on Twitter this weekend, Star Trek: Voyager star Kate Mulgrew — returning to the franchise as the voice of Kathryn Janeway in the upcoming animated series Star Trek: Prodigy — indicated that her work on the first season of the show has been completed.
Had another amazing chat with @TheKateMulgrew!! SHE’S THE ABSOLUTE BEST!! 😍🥰❤️Thank you for another wonderful experience!@galaxyconlive !!! #Janeway #StarTrekVoyager pic.twitter.com/eBxYWq5wXd
— Jema ❤️ #WhereisChakotay? #JCdeservesProdigy (@jemabean1) January 23, 2021
Prodigy was ordered with a two-season commitment, and the recently-vaccinated Mulgrew says that here that she “certainly enjoyed” revisiting Janeway for the project, and that she think’s “we’re going in to next season very soon.”
The animated series is expected to debut sometime in 2021 on Nickelodeon.
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Star Trek: Lower Decks finally began its international distribution late last week, and as fans around the world started to enjoy their chance to watch last year’s new animated series, the team behind the show weighed in on the reactions from abroad.
Series creator and showrunner Mike McMahan, and series producer Brad Winters:
Dang I love seeing all the people tweeting love for Lower Decks from the international release. Thank you all so much- the whole team is working hard on season two! 🖖
— Mike McMahan (@MikeMcMahanTM) January 24, 2021
It’s so fun getting to see international fans react to Lower Decks. Plus, I’m learning so many new German words.
— Brad (parody) (@BradinLA) January 23, 2021
Series lead Tawny Newsome (Mariner) also had kind words to say about fan reaction, and hinted that there’s some exciting guest star performances coming in Season 2.
Thanks to our international fans for their support and patience! I shall measure in litres and put the date DD/MM/YY all day in your honor. Now kindly send me clips of Mariner saying “What am I Kirk? Is this the 2260s” in as many languages as possible.🖖🏾 #StarTrekLowerDecks
— Tawny “My Name is Tawny” Newsome (@TrondyNewman) January 22, 2021
Since we’re talking #StarTrekLowerDecks , the only lil tidbit about S2 I can say is that these guest stars are wild. And @MikeMcMahanTM and I are now so in sync that I guessed one of them before they were cast because it was the only choice and a perfect choice.
— Tawny “My Name is Tawny” Newsome (@TrondyNewman) January 22, 2021
The second season of Star Trek: Lower Decks is expected in the second half of 2021.
In the United States, Paramount+ will be the ongoing homes for Star Trek: Discovery, Star Trek: Picard, Star Trek: Lower Decks, and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. A fifth Paramount+ series, Star Trek: Section 31 with Michelle Yeoh, is in development now.