The Star Trek universe expands further with the announcement of a new series! Star Trek: Lower Decks is a half-hour animated sitcom that will, according to Deadline, “focus on the support crew serving on one of Starfleet’s least important ships.” (Much like the now-classic Star Trek: TNG episode of the same name focused on some of the support crew on one of Starfleet’s most important ships.) CBS All Access has given the series, from Rick and Morty head writer and dedicated Trek fan Mike McMahan, a two-season order.
Star Trek: Lower Decks is the latest series to come from Alex Kurtzman, who signed a five-year contract to expand the Star Trek universe with a number of series of varying lengths and styles. That includes a new Captain Picard series and the mini-episodes Star Trek: Short Treks; for the latter, McMahan wrote “The Escape Artist,” which sees the return of Harry Mudd and will premiere on January 3, 2019. In addition to Kurtzman, other executive producers for Lower Decks include Heather Kadin (from Kurtzman’s production company Secret Hideout), Roddenberry Entertainment’s Rod Roddenberry and Trevor Roth, and former Cartoon Network executive Katie Krentz.
“Mike won our hearts with his first sentence: ‘I want to do a show about the people who put the yellow cartridge in the food replicator so a banana can come out the other end,’” Kurtzman said in the official announcement. “His cat’s name is Riker. His son’s name is Sagan. The man is committed. He’s brilliantly funny and knows every inch of every Trek episode, and that’s his secret sauce: he writes with the pure, joyful heart of a true fan. As we broaden the world of Trek to fans of all ages, we’re so excited to include Mike’s extraordinary voice.”
“As a life-long Trekkie, it’s a surreal and wonderful dream come true to be a part of this new era of Star Trek,” McMahan said. “While Star Trek: Lower Decks is a half-hour, animated show at its core, it’s undeniably Trek—and I promise not to add an episode at the very end that reveals the whole thing took place in a training program.”
