The Writers' and Actors' Strikes Will Cause Paramount to Rethink Its Plans For 'Star Trek'

Image: AP Photo/Chtis Pizello.

JULY 16, 2023 - The entertainment industry is about to face a significant upheaval as the SAG-AFTRA actors' union has called for a strike against Hollywood studios, including Paramount Global, which represents Star Trek. This marks the first general actors' strike in decades and comes after extended negotiations failed to reach a new agreement. The actors' guild believes that their members are facing an existential threat, with the studios refusing to acknowledge the detrimental impact of industry and economic shifts on those who work for them.

The actors' strike follows the Hollywood writers' strike that began in May, and while there are some shared concerns, the actors also have unique issues regarding AI and likeness rights, pay minimums, and audition costs. With both the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and SAG-AFTRA on strike simultaneously, the industry is bracing for significant consequences in terms of production and promotion, including the Star Trek franchise.

According to TrekMovie.com, one immediate and evident impact of the double strike is the delay in live-action Star Trek productions. Several upcoming projects, including the third season of Star Trel: Strange New Worlds, the Section 31 streaming movie, and the first season of the new Starfleet Academy series, were scheduled to begin production soon. However, with the strikes in effect, production based on existing scripts is not possible, and casting for these projects is disallowed. Consequently, the release of these projects on Paramount+ will likely be pushed back to 2025.

The fifth season of Star Trek: Discovery has already completed production, but the SAG strike prevents actors from doing additional dialogue recording, known as ADR. Although the release of the final season was planned for early 2024, it remains uncertain whether any dialogue that needs fixing can be addressed. Producers may have already completed as much ADR as possible prior to the strike. Thus, Discovery may be the only live-action Star Trek content released in 2024.

Animation projects, such as Star Trek: Lower Decks and Star Trek: Prodigy face a more complex situation. Writing for the fourth season of Lower Decks is reportedly complete, but it is unclear if SAG members can continue working on animated shows, affecting voice work. As for Prodigy, voice work for the second season is believed to be mostly finished, although the show has been removed from Paramount+. However, the studio is still working on the seasons and shopping them to other platforms, meaning the release schedule is more tied to licensing negotiations than the strikes.

The extended double strike could also prompt Paramount to reevaluate its Star Trek plans, particularly due to scheduling conflicts with actors like Michelle Yeoh, who is in high demand following her Oscar-winning performance in Everything, Always, All At Once. Paramount may also consider scaling back the franchise's plans to reduce costs, following in the footsteps of Disney's recent announcement of a pullback on Marvel and Star Wars content.

In addition to affecting production, the actors' strike also prohibits promotion and publicity for previously completed film and television projects. This includes interviews, panels, and other promotional events. Consequently, the San Diego Comic-Con Star Trek Universe panel, scheduled to take place next week, will proceed without SAG actors or WGA writers. However, studio executives, producers, and directors who are not part of the striking unions may attend, and new trailers and key art may be released.

Furthermore, the strikes will likely impact fan conventions, including the 57-Year Mission convention in Las Vegas, set for the first weekend of August. While photo ops and autographs are still permitted, panel appearances by actors from upcoming projects will likely be affected. The situation regarding previous work by legacy Star Trek actors is still being clarified, leaving the conventions in flux.

As a result of the strikes, there will be fewer Star Trek television content releases in 2024 than originally planned, and the scarcity of new content may extend into early 2025. Feature films, such as the long-awaited "Star Trek 4," face even greater obstacles beyond the strikes, pushing back their release by at least a couple more years.

The impact of the actors' strike is far-reaching, affecting both the production and promotion of Star Trek projects. As fans eagerly await new content, they will have to endure delays and a reduced presence of Star Trek in the entertainment landscape. However, the industry and studios may seize this opportunity to reevaluate and strategize the future of the beloved franchise.