SkyDance Might Kill Star Trek Again – Fans Fear Paramount’s Biggest Mistake

Approaching Star Trek’s 60th anniversary in September 2026, a fresh rumor circulates that the new management at Paramount, following their merger with SkyDance Media, might consider shelving the studio’s longest-running franchise for a significant period. It’s important to note that Star Trek has taken breaks before, but if SkyDance Media were to follow through on this plan, they would repeat a costly mistake made by Paramount twice in the past. Moreover, such an action could potentially harm the momentum the universe has gained since its reintroduction in 2017. Star Trek was initially owned by Desilu Studios, but it became part of Paramount Studios when Lucille Ball sold the company in the late 1960s.

Following its cancellation by NBC, Star Trek: The Original Series was virtually forgotten by Paramount. However, in syndication, it became the most watched scripted rerun for over a decade. When Paramount sought to challenge Star Wars with a space franchise, they returned to Star Trek, which spawned ten films and established the first modern “cinematic universe.” Additionally, it was a mainstay on television for an unparalleled 18-year stretch, including two shows that served as the cornerstone for the United Paramount Network. Before owning CBS, this was achieved. When launching their streaming service, Paramount+ (originally CBS All Access), Star Trek was again their primary choice. However, as the studio approached bankruptcy due to this investment and a string of box office failures, they looked for a buyer. It seemed logical that a company focused on producing high-quality films and TV would be interested. A recent report indicates that this assumption might have been misguided.

Despite Frequent Mismanagement, Star Trek Continues to Defy Hollywood Odds

It Went From a Failed Sci-Fi TV Series to Paramount’s Most Profitable Franchise

Initially, Star Trek started as a longshot when NBC declined it. However, after another attempt, the series was accepted by the network and gained popularity, but it was costly to manufacture. When viewers learned about NBC’s intention to cancel the show after its second season, a letter-writing crusade, spearheaded by Bjo and John Trimble, managed to save it. However, minor conflicts between Roddenberry and network executives led NBC to relegate the show to Friday nights, when most of its young audience would be elsewhere.

Despite being cancelled by NBC, fans refused to let Star Trek fade away. Not only did it achieve impressive ratings in syndication, but devoted fans took the initiative to produce fanzines and organize conventions – a unique phenomenon for a single property at the time. These passionate supporters also staged protests demanding more episodes, leading NBC to commission The Animated Series. Although produced on a shoestring budget, it delivered engaging stories that eventually earned Star Trek its only Emmy Award for storytelling.

As the show’s audience grew, Paramount’s management came to recognize their initial error. They invited Gene Roddenberry back to create a new series titled “…” Despite running significantly over budget, “The Motion Picture ” ended up being profitable for the studio. Following its 1979 release, “Star Trek” became a movie franchise and, eventually, a television franchise that lasted nearly another quarter-century.

2005 saw a brief hiatus for Star Trek, as a fresh team of executives overlooked its value. However, this pause was short-lived. In 2009, the J.J. Abrams film titled Star Trek was released and garnered significant attention, albeit with some controversy. Unfortunately, Paramount’s mishandling, particularly the high budgets allocated for the films, led to the demise of the new movie series. More recently, they decided to remove all classic Star Trek series from platforms like Netflix, Amazon, and others when launching their own streaming service.

They’ve enclosed it within a paywall and unveiled a collection of contemporary series. Just like every fresh iteration of Star Trek, these have stirred up controversy. Unlike the shows from the TNG era, these third wave series aren’t accessible on regular television. Although keeping the original shows on Paramount+ might be logical, the new Star Trek series should venture to places where new viewers can discover them.

A Report Suggests SkyDance Media Wants to Cancel Star Trek TV After the Merger

This Repeats a Near Fatal Paramount Mistake by Not Spreading the New Shows Far and Wide

Despite delays in finalizing their merger and potential resistance from the Trump Administration, the new executives are brainstorming future strategies for Star Trek. One possibility under consideration is to phase out the franchise. The current production agreement with Alex Kurtzman’s Secret Hideout might not be renewed when it ends in 2026, and Paramount SkyDance may choose not to initiate new projects, particularly on television, as suggested by reports. However, it’s important to note that this decision is not yet finalized, but with the merger taking longer than anticipated, it could be a cost-cutting measure they might consider.

In a new phase of Star Trek storytelling, shows like Discovery and Lower Decks have gained an audience, yet Alex Kurtzman’s tenure with Star Trek hasn’t been without debate. However, the main misstep in this third wave can be traced back to Paramount. They should have reverted to a strategy that proved successful – introducing The Next Generation in first-run syndication allowed a wider audience beyond just classic Star Trek fans to enjoy the show. While its spinoffs had their fair share of controversy, they too found an audience.

Prior to the onset of the third wave, “Star Trek” classic series were widely available across all streaming platforms. As usual, devoted fans re-watched these shows, but so did a new group of viewers. Even lesser-liked series such as “Star Trek: Voyager” and “Enterprise” received renewed admiration from the fanbase. However, Paramount drew an erroneous conclusion from this phenomenon. Though the “Star Trek” fan community would undoubtedly subscribe to their streaming service, the upcoming generation of fans were unlikely to pay for Paramount+ to watch a series they weren’t yet familiar with. SkyDance should have been more astute than making such a mistake.

The Star Trek Fan Community Historically Grows When New Viewers Can Discover It

From Syndication to Licensed Streaming, the More Places the Shows Air, the Better

Ever since the initial airing, my mother developed a strong affection for “The Original Series”. Due to its widespread distribution in syndication, it became a common part of our lives for as long as I can recall. Although she watched it for just three years, the subsequent films featuring the original cast, the introduction of “Star Trek: The Next Generation” and its subsequent spin-offs kept me immersed in Star Trek until I was 25. This prolonged exposure continued even when I was deployed to Iraq with the U.S. Army.

The vastness of the universe was something that people in my generation often overlooked due to its familiarity. However, newer shows have sparked criticisms among long-term fans, but this isn’t true for my mother. When she streams Paramount+, she usually opts for the classic “Star Trek” movies or an old episode of “The Original Series.

Upcoming Star Trek Project	Status
Strange New Worlds	In production for Season 4
Starfleet Academy	In production for Season 2
Untitled Star Trek Prequel Movie	In development
Star Trek 4 (Kelvin Timeline)	In development
Untitled Star Trek Comedy Series	In development

For many fans who appreciate shows like “Strange New Worlds” and “Picard”, as well as other series, there’s always a draw back to the classics, particularly when these new shows reference past episodes or storylines. There exists a group of enthusiasts for whom “their Star Trek” is “TNG” or “Deep Space Nine” and so on. By keeping these latest series confined to their streaming service, Paramount limits the audience to only those viewers who may have grown weary of Taylor Sheridan’s continuous stream of Tough White Guy™ shows. In earlier days, on networks like UPN or later on services such as Netflix or Prime, fans unaware that they enjoyed Star Trek could discover these series. One series leads to another, followed by the films, and thus a fan is born.

Regardless of whether SkyDance opts to continue its partnership with Secret Hideout or creates fresh series on their own, a pause in Star Trek production seems like a questionable decision. The timeless appeal of the classic series and films remains unchanged, consistently garnering positive responses. By introducing new shows, even on their free platform PlutoTV, a new legion of enthusiasts could be attracted. As they become enamored with the novel characters, they might subsequently discover the allure of the original series, as we did in the 80s and 90s. Paramount overlooked Star Trek’s history of success when it embarked on its third wave of films and productions. SkyDance Media could potentially commit an even more significant blunder by overlooking the oldest, dearest, and most profitable asset in its possession.

As a die-hard Star Trek fan, I’m thrilled to share that come July 17, 2025, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 3 will be gracing our screens! And the best part? You can catch it right here on Paramount+, alongside a wealth of other films and series from this beloved universe. Can’t wait!

2025-06-03 00:21