Star Trek boss Alex Kurtzman has laid out plans for the franchise through 2027

"Alex Kurtzman" by Gage Skidmore is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

OCTOBER 12, 2020 - For those of you wondering whether or not there is a “plan” for the future of Star Trek, there is.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter podcast TV’s Top 5, Star Trek Executive Producer Alex Kurtzman revealed that there is not only a plan, but a “10 year plan” that’s been in the works since 2017.

Radio Times picked up on the interview, bringing readers a look at the planning required to not only keep a series on track, but relevant to the viewers.

“Heather Kadin and Aaron Baiers, who work with me at Secret Hideout – we literally just got off a call with the network mapping out [plans for Star Trek] through 2027,” Kurtzman said in the interview. It’s important to note that this “10 year plan” is not “set in stone”, as Kurtzman said, but it is, instead, more of an outline of the various television productions and their release over the coming years.

With so many Star Trek series in production, it takes considerable forethought to ensure  productions run smoothly, especially in the wake of unprecedented events such as the COVID-19 pandemic. “You have to plan so far in advance now in different kinds of ways [like safety and budget] to seem loose and improvisational,” Kurtzman said, “but there’s nothing loose and improvisational about it.”

He also relayed some of the challenges faced by production teams when it comes to planning ahead. “Consider the fact,” Kurtzman said, “that it takes a year from inception – from starting production – to airing, you have to plan way, way, way in advance to get these things done, and you have to stay on top of the zeitgeists and make sure that what you’re doing is relevant.” This is almost certainly referring to deliberate commentary on current social issues which have been repeatedly addressed by the Star Trek franchise in its 54-year history.

While Star Trek fans may not know what’s coming in the future for the television franchise, rest assured, there is a plan. To catch the full interview, check out the latest episode of The Hollywood Reporter’s TV’s Top 5, available wherever you get your podcasts.