Star Trek

Star Trek has put most of its energy into hyping the upcoming Beyond over its 2017 return to TV (or streaming, anyway), but that’s no reason to lose excitement. To wit, the CBS streaming series adds another notable name from Trek canon to its ranks, placing Star Trek: Voyager novelist and continuity expert Kirsten Beyer on the staff.

Hey, remember that fancy new Bryan Fuller-helmed Star Trek series streaming on CBS All-Access in 2017? The one that hasn’t cast a single actor, let alone shot a scrap of footage? Well, now it has a teaser! And a logo! In pog form!. Okay, it’s just a teaser.

Apart from the excitement of a new TV Star Trek series on the horizon, Trekkies had to wonder how CBS might structure the new All-Access series after its network premiere. Rest assured, CBS intends to keep to the weekly model over Netflix’s binge drop, while network brass hopes to debut even more new All-Access series in the years to come.

Bryan Fuller’s new CBS Star Trek has yet to confirm any real production details beyond the creative talent involved, but the streaming sci-fi series may yet explore strange new worlds, seek out new life and new civilizations up north. We’re talking of Canada, of course, as rumor has it the new series will diverge from its predecessors with a Toronto production.

Among the many questions raised by CBS’ announcement of a new All-Access streaming Star Trek for 2017 under Hannibal creator Bryan Fuller, fans had to wonder if a TV return would follow the J.J. Abrams reboot films, return to the original timeline, or perhaps exist independent of both. Now, reports suggest that not only is the original continuity back in play, we know which Star Trek properties the new CBS iteration will fall between.

The tough thing about using someone else’s ideas to make money is that it’s not entirely legal. This lesson had to be learned the hard way this past weekend by Alec Peters, producer of an independent film titled Prelude to Axanar. The Star Trek fan film drew quite a bit of ire from copyright holders Paramount after a crowdfunding effort on Indiegogo brought this grassroots DIY production over half a million dollars last summer. The promise to make a “studio-quality” film including characters, settings, and other elements from the heavily-licensed Star Trek franchise with no engagement from the relevant studio spelled doom for the Axanar team, and now the chickens have come home to roost.

It’s going to be a big year for Star Trek. Not only is the beloved sci-fi series returning to television (or the streaming TV equivalent), and not only is Trek celebrating its 50th anniversary with special conventions and events, but there’s also the third installment of the new Star Trek movie series, Star Trek Beyond, which comes to theaters later this summer. Apparently, though, what exactly STB will look like is still being finalized.

Star Trek fans have likely heard of some disparity between the movie and TV branches that kept the franchise off regular TV in recent years, seemingly broken by CBS All-Access’ 2017 launch of a new Bryan Fuller series. That said, the two were apparently required to keep six months’ distance, which could spell a questionable future for the film franchise.

Early buzz around Hannibal creator Bryan Fuller’s 2017 return to Star Trek for CBS All-Access has seen Wrath of Khan director Nicholas Meyer joining the project’s old-school appeal, and the legacy of Gene Roddenberry will be kept intact as well. The legendary Star Trek creator’s son Rod Roddenberry has now joined the project as producer.

We still don’t have the clearest picture of what Bryan Fuller’s CBS All-Access Star Trek could look like in 2017, but out of the Mutara Nebula comes a familiar face. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan writer/director Nicholas Meyer will return to the franchise for its newest TV iteration, both as writer and producer.

Late last year, Mezco revealed the Star Trek license would be part of its One:12 Collective series, beginning with the most memorable science officer in fiction, Mr. Spock. Though not due to arrive on shelves until later this spring, Mezco surprised us with a pre-release version at Toy Fair earlier this month. Though it doesn't come with all the accessories, the Spock we got was the final figure version, which gives a strong enough idea of what to expect from the complete release. As we'd expected from the production photos shared in December, the One:12 Collective Mr. Spock is another fine entry into what is quickly becoming Mezco's signature figure line. Out of the box, this pre-release Spock includes the base figure, the posing stand and a Starfeet insignia base matching Spock's rank. The retail version will come with an alternate head, multiple alternate hands, a phaser, tricorder and communicator. Kudos to Mezco for thinking to include the "Live long and prosper" salute hand in this version though. The simple hands would have been fine, but at least now we can honor the man the way he should be remembered forever--as a kind, smart man who wanted nothing but peace and prosperity for all life.

CBS has kept mum on details of a new Star Trek TV series since the announcement that it would debut on CBS All-Access in 2017, and its first announcement brings mostly good news. First off, Hannibal and American Gods showrunner Bryan Fuller will return to his Star Trek past to topline the new series!