Last updated: 20 September 2025 (Europe/London).
Reporting for Movieversalfilm.online.
Key Takeaways for Star Trek Fans
- Deal closed: Skydance Media and Paramount Global completed their merger on Aug 7, 2025, forming Paramount Skydance Corporation. David Ellison is CEO/Chair, Jeff Shell is President.
- Studios & TV structure: Post-merger, the company runs two major TV studios (CBS Studios and Paramount Television Studios) and reorganised into studio, DTC (Paramount+ & Pluto TV) and TV media divisions—relevant because Star Trek TV remains at CBS Studios.
- Movies back on the slate: Paramount has Star Trek films in active development, including the Toby Haynes–directed “Star Trek: Origin” and a separate new-cast Trek film on the studio priority list.
- Streaming & series:
- Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 3 launched July 2025; Season 4 arrives 2026 (the showrunners say S4 is their “best work”).
- Lower Decks ended with Season 5 (final) in 2024.
- Prodigy Season 2 dropped on Netflix (July 1, 2024); licensing windows have shifted since, but S2 is released and canon.
- Starfleet Academy premieres early 2026 on Paramount+; first teaser released July 26, 2025.
- 60th anniversary (2026): Paramount is staging a year-long slate (events, LEGO collaboration, YouTube “Star Trek: Scouts,” a scripted “Khan” podcast, cruises) to keep Trek culturally loud as the merger settles.
Why the Skydance–Paramount Merger Matters for Star Trek
1) Clearer green-light lanes = faster movie decisions
Skydance now controls the consolidated studio. In the first week post-close, reporting placed Star Trek back among top feature priorities—alongside Top Gun 3. That is a practical change: Trek films have languished in development since 2016’s Beyond. A unified owner with a cleaner capital structure historically speeds “go/no-go” calls. Toby Haynes’ “Star Trek: Origin” remains in development, and another Trek feature with brand-new characters is also moving.
2) TV remains stable under CBS Studios
Inside the reorganised TV group, CBS Studios (long-time Trek home) continues under David Stapf, while Paramount TV Studios is led by Matt Thunell. That preserves the shop that runs Strange New Worlds and shepherds Starfleet Academy. Stability here means existing series continue without a disruptive hand-off during the merger year.
3) Paramount+ still needs premium, recurring franchises
Paramount+ is central to the DTC division; Trek is one of its few global tentpoles. With Lower Decks wrapped and Discovery already ended, the platform needs fresh Trek to maintain churn-reducing loyalty. Enter Starfleet Academy (2026) and a revved-up film pipeline that can cross-promote into streaming.
4) A marketing runway to the 60th anniversary
AP confirms a coordinated 2026 60th anniversary programme (events, LEGO, Scouts kids’ series, Rose Parade float, cruise) — that’s a corporate signal that Star Trek is a priority brand under the new regime, not an afterthought.
Alex Kurtzman’s Future in Trek: What Is Known
Kurtzman’s Role via Secret Hideout
Alex Kurtzman founded the production company Secret Hideout, which has been involved in virtually every major Star Trek project since 2017. Through his overall deal with CBS Studios, Kurtzman has served as a key overseer of Trek television, shaping the modern era of the franchise across shows like Discovery, Picard, Lower Decks, Prodigy, and Strange New Worlds.
Statements from Kurtzman Himself
In earlier interviews, Kurtzman explained that his current creative focus remains on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, which is confirmed to end with Season 5. He has also mentioned that—at least up to now—he has had no direct discussions with Skydance leadership (either before or after the merger) about the long-term direction of the franchise. That means, as of today, there have been no official announcements of leadership changes for Kurtzman under the new Paramount Skydance structure.
“Year One” as a Dream Future Project
The showrunners of Strange New Worlds, Akiva Goldsman and Henry Alonso Myers, have openly discussed their ambition to create a sequel series titled Star Trek: Year One, focusing on Paul Wesley’s James T. Kirk during his first year as captain of the Enterprise. While Kurtzman is part of the executive producing team connected to this idea, Year One remains aspirational only — it has not been officially greenlit or announced by Paramount Skydance.
Bottom Line on Kurtzman
As of September 2025, Alex Kurtzman remains actively involved in Star Trek. He is attached as co-showrunner on Starfleet Academy (set for early 2026) and his Secret Hideout overall deal with CBS Studios runs through 2026. Beyond that, no changes in leadership or direction have been confirmed. The most realistic expectation is that Kurtzman continues to guide Trek in the near term, while Skydance and Paramount reassess long-term strategy as the 60th anniversary approaches.
The Current Star Trek Slate (Fall 2025)
Films
- “Star Trek: Origin” (Toby Haynes) — in development.
- Untitled Trek feature (new characters) — also in development.
Series
- Star Trek: Strange New Worlds — Season 3 aired July 2025; Season 4 due 2026.
- Star Trek: Starfleet Academy — premieres early 2026 on Paramount+.
- Star Trek: Lower Decks — concluded with Season 5 (2024).
- Star Trek: Prodigy — Season 2 released July 2024 on Netflix; available on home media.
