After a break, the Star Trek franchise is returning to Netflix. The global streamer has picked up the animated kids series for the U.S. and most international territories in a deal with CBS Studios.
It follows Paramount+’s decision in June to remove a number of originals, including Star Trek: Prodigy, off the platform in a cost-cutting content write-down, and to not proceed with the previously commissioned second season of the animated show.
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Season 1 of Star Trek: Prodigy, which was previously available on Paramount+, will be released on Netflix later in 2023. The second season, currently in production, will debut on Netflix in 2024. Excluded from the deal are Canada, where Prodigy is carried by CTV.ca and the CTV App, and in SkyShowtime’s European territories: the Nordics, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and Central and Eastern Europe.
The series that launched the current Star Trek universe on Paramount+ (then CBS All Access), the 2017 Star Trek: Discovery, started with a lucrative Netflix deal, which took all international territories outside the U.S. and Canada for a hefty license fee that largely covered the budget for the sci-fi series. That arrangement came to an end in 2021 when Paramount+ took over as the exclusive global home of the series.
Prodigy’s departure non-withstanding, Paramount+ remains the main streaming destination for the Star Trek franchise with originals Discovery, Picard, Stramge New Worlds, the animated Lower Decks and the upcoming series Section 31 and Starfleet Academy — both slated to begin production soon — as well as the vast Star Trek library.
This marks the third home for Prodigy, which originated as a Nickelodeon series given its younger skew that does not match the rest of the franchise. The series then migrated to Paramount+.
Star Trek: Prodigy follows a motley crew of young aliens who must figure out how to work together while navigating a greater galaxy, in search of a better future. These six young outcasts know nothing about the ship they have commandeered – a first in the history of the “Star Trek” franchise – but over the course of their adventures together, they will each be introduced to Starfleet and the ideals it represents.
The series was developed by Emmy winners Kevin and Dan Hageman (Trollhunters), along with Star Trek universe chief Alex Kurtzman and his team at Secret Hideout. Star Trek: Prodigy is from CBS Studios’ Eye Animation Productions; Nickelodeon Animation; Secret Hideout; and Roddenberry Entertainment. Kurtzman, Heather Kadin, Aaron Baiers, Rod Roddenberry and Trevor Roth serve as executive producers, alongside co-showrunners Kevin and Dan Hageman. Ben Hibon directs, executive produces and serves as the creative lead of the animated series. Aaron Waltke and Patrick Krebs also currently serve as co-executive producers.
The Star Trek: Prodigy voice cast includes: Kate Mulgrew (Hologram Kathryn Janeway), Brett Gray (Dal), Ella Purnell (Gwyn), Rylee Alazraqui (Rok-Tahk), Angus Imrie (Zero), Jason Mantzoukas (Jankom Pog), Dee Bradley Baker (Murf), John Noble (The Diviner) and Jimmi Simpson (Drednok). Also featured in the series are recurring voice cast members Daveed Diggs (Commander Tysess), Jameela Jamil (Ensign Asencia), Jason Alexander (Doctor Noum), Robert Beltran (Captain Chakotay) and Billy Campbell (Thadiun Okona).
The series received a 2023 TCA Award nomination for Outstanding Achievement in Family Programming.
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