2021 marks the 55th anniversary of the Star Trek franchise, and the first milestone event for this emerald anniversary is a new behind-the-scenes documentary series set to cover the full range of Trek history.
Coming from The Nacelle Company and creator/director Brian Volk-Weiss, who we talked to in 2018 ahead of his fun The Toys That Made Us docuseries, new eight-part documentary The Center Seat will be “the ultimate deep dive into the world of Star Trek.”
The news was first reported through Deadline this week. Set to debut on The History Channel later in 2021, the show will cover everything from the initial days of the Original Series during its Desilu days in the 1960s, all the way through the current Paramount+ television series — including the all films, series, and failed projects (like Star Trek: Phase II) along the way.
“Star Trek, from before I was 10 years old, gave me the closest thing I have to a code to follow in my life,” Volk-Weiss said. “If it wasn’t for the words ‘I don’t believe in the no-win scenario,’ I’d be very alone, broke, and miserable in this world. So to say this is a passion project would be a tremendous understatement.”
Along with Volk-Weiss, showrunner Ian Roumain, and Nacelle Company president Cisco Henson, The Center Seat will also have The Next Generation star Gates McFadden and Mark A. Altman — longtime Trek interviewer, historian, and co-writer of The 50 Year Mission — serving in executive producer roles.
No specific release-date information has yet been announced, though we’re estimating around September for the franchise’s anniversary month.
Once we know when The Center Seat will be arriving on The History Channel, we’ll be sure to let you all know.