Co-showrunner Michelle Paradise on the “incredible” logistical challenges of creating Star Trek: Discovery

"The Hope That is You, Part 2" -- Ep#313 -- Pictured (L-R): Mary Wiseman as Ensign Tilly, Ian Alexander as Gray, Wilson Cruz as Dr. Hugh Culber, Sonequa Martin-Green as Commander Burnham, Oyin Oladejo as Lt. Joann Owosekun, David Ajala as Book and Kenneth Mitchell as Aurellio of the CBS All Access series STAR TREK: DISCOVERY. Photo Cr: Michael Gibson/CBS ©2020 CBS Interactive, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

FEBRUARY 9, 2021 - Being the showrunner of a hit television series like Star Trek: Discovery may sound like a glamorous position, and, perhaps that might be true. But Michelle Paradise knows there are two sides to every coin. In an interview for the latest issue of Star Trek Magazine, an excerpt of which was published on StarTrek.com, the Discovery co-showrunner gave a heartfelt look at the enormous responsibility and dedication required to help lead Discovery into the 32nd century.

Paradise joined Star Trek: Discovery midway through the second season, diving into a full-time job that would often see her committing 80 hours a week. With the third season seeing the U.S.S. Discovery sent more than 900 hundred years into the future, there were many new details to consider, and that takes a lot of planning. Paradise shared just a few of the considerations for changes to the series in season three, posing the questions, “What does the future look like in 930 years? How does it feel? What are the new things that we see? What are the new technologies? Who are the alien species? How do the aliens we are familiar with change or shift alliances, or whatever that may be, 930 years later?” Paradise emphasized that all of these decisions (and more) needed to be made while still honoring the look, feel and quality storytelling that Star Trek is known for. 

While Paradise may work hard, she didn’t claim all the credit and was quick to praise the entire production staff for their hard work and dedication. “The logistics are really incredible of shooting a show of this size with six or seven sound stages and hundreds of people,” Paradise said in the interview, adding, “It’s a very, very big show. There’s a lot that goes into that. We’re so fortunate to have a team of people who truly love, not just this show, but Star Trek itself, and are super-passionate about this world [...] We really pour our hearts into this and we hope that people feel that.”

To read the full interview with Discovery co-showrunner Michelle Paradise, pick up issue #79 of Star Trek Magazine from wherever you get your magazines.