Star Trek: Prodigy only just took its first flight this morning, but it’s already setting a course to what may be a potential big-screen destination — if the new animated show finds success in the way Alex Kurtzman and Paramount Pictures hope.

Kurtzman and recently-installed Paramount Pictures CEO Brian Robbins — who green-lit Prodigy when he was head of Nickelodeon — spoke about the series in a new interview published at The Hollywood Reporter today, where the pair discussed the origins of the show, and where they each hope it may take the Star Trek franchise in the future.

As Kurtzman explains, the beginning of the show’s development began before the long-building ViacomCBS merger of 2019.

Alex Kurtzman: “[CBS Studios president David Stapf] and I and I went to see Brian Robbins and [Nickelodeon animation head] Ramsey Naito when the company was still bifurcated. It was an instant connection. We felt comfortable given their vast knowledge of the children’s landscape but also the infrastructure that they have in Nickelodeon was so specific and we knew we needed that. Our great hope was that there would be a merger down the line and it would make things easier for everybody.

What told Brian and Ramsey that we felt that it was important to make it a cinematic experience to make it special for kids. There was no hesitation on their part about that. The lack of a merger didn’t stop Brian from saying yes in that moment.

We felt that the key was to invest both in children and their parents in these characters and to take the time at a deeper level to get to know them, get to love them. The creators, Dan and Kevin Hageman, had this brilliant concept from the start, which was the idea that these children don’t understand each other for the first part of it.

It wasn’t until they’re around a universal translator that they suddenly realize that all their preconceived notions about who they were, were all wrong. That is a core message of ‘Star Trek. I don’t think’ the impact of that revelation would have worked if we hadn’t been able to take the time to set those characters up that way.”

The franchise foreman also hinted that while Prodigy may be the first Star Trek series specifically aimed towards kids, it’s not the only idea for a younger-skewing project:

Kurtzman: “I won’t spoil them, but we’ve talked about a bunch [of ideas]. If ‘Prodigy’ is a success and works for everybody, then hopefully there will be lots of conversations about how to build it out from there, because it’s just going to make sense for the company.”

The conversation shifted towards the Prodigy’s own future as Robbins and Kurtzman shared some of their own hopes that the adventures of the USS Protostar crew may one day warp into movie theaters — building on the cinematic look of the animated series.

Brian Robbins (CEO, Paramount Pictures): “The data [on measuring ‘Prodigy’ as a success] is pretty obvious. We’re going to be patient because we think the show is fantastic and creatively just exceeds all expectations. I have no doubt that we’ll be doing more. Alex and I have talked about what the theatrical film version of this show is and the likes of that. We’re really excited. Ramsey and our Nick team could not be more thrilled to explore more.”

THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER: So a ‘Prodigy’ animated kids movie?

Robbins: “I wouldn’t say kids. My bet would be that that’s a four-quadrant family movie.”

THR: For an animated ‘Star Trek’ film?

Kurtzman: “Potentially, yes. ‘Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse’ is still one of the best movies over the past decade, animated or not. It’s just an unbelievable piece of artistry. I went with my whole family and another family and we all sat there with our jaws on the floor.

Ultimately, ‘Star Trek’ is about family, it’s about these giant universal themes. Getting to tell a story like that, especially given the level of cinema we’ve already brought to the television show is a wonderful opportunity. It would thrill me to do that.”

THR: Brian, part of your plans for Paramount+ is building out a movie slate that’s exclusive for the streamer and now you’re also running the Paramount film studio. Would a hypothetical ‘Star Trek’ animated film be a theatrical release or a Paramount+ debut?

Robbins: “To be honest, we’ve talked about it as a theatrical movie. I can’t lie, when I sat there at [New York] Comic-Con, I wished it was.”

Expanding the discussion past Star Trek: Prodigy, Robbins also spoke briefly about the state of Star Trek as a feature film property — one that’s had many false starts in the five years since Star Trek Beyond left theaters.

While there’s a mysterious, still-untitled film set to be helmed by director Matt Shakman coming in 2023 — produced by J.J. Abram’s Bad Robot company — the breadth of televised Trek on Paramount+ is overseen by Kurtzman’s Secret Hideout, an entirely separate entity.

If the two halves of the Star Trek franchise are going to find a way to come together, Robbins will be right in the middle — and it’s clear there are still many questions to be answered on that front — as he deftly avoided giving any specifics on the two-front state the Trek world.

THR: What are you looking at in terms of growth potential and where this franchise goes next?

Robbins: “Where we go with the franchise next theatrically is crucial to the health of the overall franchise. There’s no doubt that big theatrical movies are the beacon that ignite franchises. We’re in it and I don’t really have anything to say because I’m waiting for the development to be delivered. I can’t wait to get going on it, but we’re not there yet but we need to get there soon.”

THR: Are you speaking specifically about the animated feature?

Robbins: “I’m talking about what could be the next live-action movie.”

THR: Is that something that would involve Alex or is that a J.J. Abrams thing?

Robbins: “We don’t know enough yet. We’re working on several fronts and obviously Alex is the key for the franchise [on Paramount+]. J.J. has been the keeper of the franchise on the film side. We hope that as a company that we do what’s right for the franchise altogether.”

THR: Are you getting scripts for a live-action feature from both camps?

Robbins: “There’s a lot going on and I’m just going to leave it at that.”

THR: How does the data you have from Paramount+ impact what you want to do next with ‘Trek?’

Robbins: “The idea is what do we do next for the franchise that’s going to work for the next five and 10 years, not just one movie at a time like Alex has talked about. That’s what we really have to figure out.”

Kurtzman: “That’s the ball game. It’s not just about the one thing that comes next. It’s about laying out a strategy for the next decade.”

THR: How far along are in planning are you?

Robbins: “Well, I’ve been in a job for seven minutes, so not that far (laughs).”

While it’s clearly too early to be discussing Prodigy as a theatrical certainty, it’s quite fascinating to hear these two speak so openly about their desire to see the show make the leap to the big screen — though as the last several years have proven, it’s always better to not get too excited about Star Trek movie news until some concrete movement takes place.

What are your thoughts on this interview, and the idea of an animated family Star Trek movie? Let us know in the comments below!