Alex Kurtzman praises the “amazing experiment” of Star Trek: Short Treks, would like to see more, including a musical episode
AUGUST 11, 2020 - In a video interview with Gold Derby, executive producer Alex Kurtzman sat down to discuss the recent Emmy nomination for Star Trek: Short Treks in the category of Outstanding Short Form Comedy or Drama Series. We can all be excited to see where this unique branch of the Star Trek franchise will go next, but Kurtzman just might be more excited than most. With his finger on the pulse of Star Trek: Short Treks, audiences might even get to see a Star Trek musical.
With their elements of comedy and tragedy, animated stories and surprising twists, the Short Treks are a kind of playground for the creative team. This affords them the opportunities to explore, as Kurtzman says, “different tones and different styles and start pushing at the boundaries of what Star Trek feels like it can be.” But it isn’t all about creating something different for audiences. Calling the Short Treks an “amazing experiment”, Kurtzman acknowledged the provenance of Star Trek and its importance moving forward in working to “maintain what is essentially Star Trek, which is this hard-won vision of optimism that is so essential to Gene Roddenberry‘s vision of the future.”
But will we get to see more Star Trek: Short Treks coming from the franchise?
“Thanks to the Emmy nomination, I’m really hoping so,” Kurtzman said in the interview. With so many directions a versatile show like Short Treks can go in, it seems the possibilities are endless. Kurtzman suggested one possibility which would certainly be new for the franchise - a Star Trek: Short Treks musical. There are many different types of musicals out there and while Kurtzman didn’t give any details about what his musical entry to Star Trek would be like, anything is possible.
Who knows? Maybe we’ll get to see a Klingon opera.
Check out the full video interview with Alex Kurtzman on GoldDerby.com and be sure to catch all of the Star Trek: Short Treks, streaming now on CBS All Access.
Chris Peterson is a contributing writer for Daily Star Trek News on the Roddenberry Podcast Network. An outdoor enthusiast and a fan of film and literature, he is also an actor, singer and musician with stage credits including CATS, Fiddler on the Roof, The Rocky Horror Show and The Producers.