New ‘Star Trek’ Movie Could End the Franchise’s Modern Era

by

The latest news suggests that Star Trek is aiming for a big comeback at the box office, but this might mean moving away from recent Star Trek films and shows. According to Variety, Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley—the team behind Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves and Spider-Man: Homecoming—will be writing and directing a new Star Trek movie. This announcement comes after Paramount officially canceled J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek 4, effectively ending the Kelvin Timeline series.

As a huge Star Trek fan, I’ve been following Alex Kurtzman’s work with the franchise since J.J. Abrams’ 2009 film. He’s been a really central figure ever since, and his production company, Secret Hideout (founded in 2014), has been behind every Star Trek show starting with Discovery. I was reading on TrekCentral that their deal with Paramount is up in 2026, and people are wondering if it will be renewed. If not, it could mean a big shift in direction for the upcoming Star Trek movie – though honestly, things were already heading towards some changes anyway.

Paramount’s Next ‘Star Trek’ Movie Won’t Connect To Previous Shows


Paramount

While the new Star Trek movie isn’t a sequel to Star Trek Beyond, the interview with Variety also revealed it won’t connect to any existing Star Trek films or TV shows. Given that Secret Hideout has introduced many new characters and time periods, this limited approach is a bit unexpected. However, if Paramount doesn’t renew their deal, it might be hard for the new movie to recognize the storylines and characters established during Kurtzman’s time with the franchise.

If the next Star Trek movie completely avoids connections to J.J. Abrams’ Kelvin timeline films and doesn’t reference older series or movies, the story has limited options for when it can take place. The period between Star Trek: Enterprise and Star Trek: Discovery is mostly unexplored, making it a logical setting for the new script by Goldstein and Daley. However, some characters from Enterprise would still be alive at that time, so it’s uncertain whether actors like Scott Bakula might reprise their roles in cameos.

Considering how different the new Star Trek movie seems from previous installments, it’s unlikely we’ll see any returning characters. The filmmakers appear to be deliberately avoiding connections to past series like Enterprise. Plus, characters created for Discovery by Secret Hideout might not be able to reappear if Paramount doesn’t renew their contract next year. While much of this is still just guesswork, it doesn’t look like Kurtzman’s Star Trek stories will continue for much longer.

There Are Still Two Active Kurtzman-Era ‘Star Trek’ Shows


Paramount+

For a while, it seemed like a new Star Trek show was coming out constantly, but the number of TV series has decreased recently. Star Trek: Picard, Star Trek: Lower Decks, and Star Trek: Discovery have all finished, and it’s unlikely we’ll see a third season of Star Trek: Prodigy. However, fans can still look forward to two more seasons of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds before it ends. And in January 2026, Star Trek: Starfleet Academy will premiere, giving Strange New Worlds another show airing alongside it.

A second season of Starfleet Academy is confirmed, and there’s talk of even more episodes after that. It’s expected to finish around the same time as Strange New Worlds. Currently, Secret Hideout isn’t involved in any further Star Trek plans beyond these two shows. If their involvement ends in 2026, the next Star Trek movie might act as a fresh start for the franchise. It probably won’t erase everything that came before, but the timeline established by shows like Discovery might become less important – or even be ignored – moving forward.

Most Kurtzman-Era ‘Star Trek’ Is Far Too Good To Move on From Completely


Paramount+

Every ‘Star Trek’ Show With Secret Hideout’s Involvement:

  • Star Trek: Discovery (2017-2024)
  • Star Trek: Short Treks (2018-2019)
  • Star Trek: Picard (2020-2023)
  • Star Trek: Lower Decks (2020-2024)
  • Star Trek: Prodigy (2021-2024)
  • Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (2022-)
  • Star Trek: Starfleet Academy (2026-)

After more than ten years, Star Trek: Discovery revived the space opera on television, but it was a significant departure from previous series. With its ongoing storylines and impressive visual effects, some fans felt it didn’t quite fit within established Star Trek history, even suggesting it belonged to an alternate timeline. While not without flaws, Discovery still brought some fresh and exciting elements to the Star Trek universe.

While some recent Star Trek shows have faced criticism, others have been quite popular. Star Trek: Lower Decks became a surprising hit with fans, cleverly expanding the Star Trek universe while also playfully poking fun at it. Strange New Worlds has successfully blended the classic feel of early Star Trek with the strengths of the more recent series. The one clear failure was the 2025 film Star Trek: Section 31, which received overwhelmingly negative reviews. It would be disappointing if Paramount decided to end its partnership with Secret Hideout after Strange New Worlds and Starfleet Academy conclude, as they’ve contributed positively to the franchise.

Read More

2025-11-20 18:38