News? Stories from Dubious Sources

[Cap'n Calhoun]

"We're talking to a lot of writers" tells me that it's very likely Kurtzman's contract won't be renewed.

What a regrettable end to the last decade.

I have the same instinct, but to be fair it could be Wiseman, Parnell, and Kurtzman talking to a lot of writers, like that meeting they had with Andy Weir a few years back.

The fact that Kurtzman isn't mentioned by name isn't a great sign, especially compared to mentions of Taylor Sheridan or Tyler Perry. Then again, for those two they are the brand, and for Kurtzman Star Trek is the brand, so it may all be meaningless.

 

[Ricky Spanish]

"We're talking to a lot of writers" tells me that it's very likely Kurtzman's contract won't be renewed.

What a regrettable end to the last decade.

It was a solid run. I’m someone who would rather move on to whatever is next vs. Kurtzman hanging around for near twenty years like Berman did.

 

[Danja]

"We're talking to a lot of writers" tells me that it's very likely Kurtzman's contract won't be renewed.

What a regrettable end to the last decade.

I have the same instinct, but to be fair it could be Wiseman, Parnell, and Kurtzman talking to a lot of writers, like that meeting they had with Andy Weir a few years back.

The fact that Kurtzman isn't mentioned by name isn't a great sign, especially compared to mentions of Taylor Sheridan or Tyler Perry.

Had Paramount really wanted to get rid of Kurtzman, they would've just issued a press release stating that they were not renewing their agreement with Kurtzman and Secret Hideout -- and that would've been the end of it.

I doubt they would've just strung him along.

Why would they get rid of him? He's had more hits than misses (He's brought four Star Trek series -- Disco, Lower Decks, Picard, SNW -- to successful conclusions).

The fact that a certain section of the fandom is pining to go back to the weekly graduate seminars of the Berman era is not grounds for getting rid of Alex Kurtzman.

 

[Cap'n Calhoun]

It was a solid run. I’m someone who would rather move on to whatever is next vs. Kurtzman hanging around for near twenty years like Berman did.

I dunno. This probably isn't a popular opinion, but I kind of feel like after some rough starts with early Discovery and early Picard, we just got him trained, and now he's (possibly) leaving?

Why would they get rid of him? He's had more hits than misses (He's brought four Star Trek series -- Disco, Lower Decks, Picard, SNW -- to successful conclusions).

I generally want to agree with you, but I have to acknowledge that technically Picard is the only modern Trek series that wasn't cancelled prematurely, albeit with some caveats.

• Discovery was cancelled after filming the season 5 finale. They were permitted to shoot some additional footage to make it a series finale.
• Lower Decks was cancelled while making season 5. They were permitted to expand out the season finale to make it a series finale.
• Strange New Worlds was cancelled during the making of season 4, I think. They were generously permitted to make an extra six episodes to wrap things up.
• Prodigy was cancelled during the making of season 2. It was eventually picked up by Netflix and then simply not renewed, which comes out to being cancelled.

That said, the shows you mentioned all had respectable runs by modern standards, and they did well enough that Paramount showed some flexibility in handling their cancellations. So I guess "successful conclusions" holds up reasonably well, even if it feels like it deserves a footnote.

 

[CampBOO!]

It’s more likely we would see an announcement of renewal of Kurtzman’s contract and allow any ceasing of contract to go quietly. As disappointed I am in that, I think he’s done.

 

[Danja]

I generally want to agree with you, but I have to acknowledge that technically Picard is the only modern Trek series that wasn't cancelled prematurely, albeit with some caveats.

• Discovery was cancelled after filming the season 5 finale. They were permitted to shoot some additional footage to make it a series finale.
• Lower Decks was cancelled while making season 5. They were permitted to expand out the season finale to make it a series finale.
• Strange New Worlds was cancelled during the making of season 4, I think. They were generously permitted to make an extra six episodes to wrap things up.
• Prodigy was cancelled during the making of season 2. It was eventually picked up by Netflix and then simply not renewed, which comes out to being cancelled.

That said, the shows you mentioned all had respectable runs by modern standards, and they did well enough that Paramount showed some flexibility in handling their cancellations. So I guess "successful conclusions" holds up reasonably well, even if it feels like it deserves a footnote.

Five years is a long run for a streaming series.

They might only give him a two- or three-year deal, but I can't see them getting rid of him unceremoniously.

 

[Cap'n Calhoun]

It’s more likely we would see an announcement of renewal of Kurtzman’s contract and allow any ceasing of contract to go quietly. As disappointed I am in that, I think he’s done.

There may not be a press release, but I'd be shocked if the trades didn't report on the deal not being renewed.

 

[Danja]

have the same instinct, but to be fair it could be Wiseman, Parnell, and Kurtzman talking to a lot of writers, like that meeting they had with Andy Weir a few years back.

Duffer Brothers? Matalas?

 

[Steve Roby]

If I'm not mistaken, Kurtzman's job is with CBS Studios. This interview was with someone from Paramount Plus. I don't know how much we can read into this article.

 

[CampBOO!]

Duffer Brothers? Matalas?

The Duffers have got a lot on their plate.
Please god no on Matalas.

 

[Ricky Spanish]

If I'm not mistaken, Kurtzman's job is with CBS Studios. This interview was with someone from Paramount Plus. I don't know how much we can read into this article.

I thought he ran Secret Hideout who make the shows in conjunction with CBS Studios?

 

[Steve Roby]

You're probably right, but either way he's not working for P+.

 

[Detached Nacelle]

• Discovery was cancelled after filming the season 5 finale. They were permitted to shoot some additional footage to make it a series finale.
• Lower Decks was cancelled while making season 5. They were permitted to expand out the season finale to make it a series finale.
• Strange New Worlds was cancelled during the making of season 4, I think. They were generously permitted to make an extra six episodes to wrap things up.
• Prodigy was cancelled during the making of season 2. It was eventually picked up by Netflix and then simply not renewed, which comes out to being cancelled.

Academy cancelled after the filming of season 2, no opportunity for any sort of resolution just dropped.

Five years is a long run for a streaming series.

They might only give him a two- or three-year deal, but I can't see them getting rid of him unceremoniously.

It's less unceremonious than it might seem since it is simply the expiration date of his contract. It's just a shame that's it's come with every production of this era being cut off by a guillotine.

I can't say I'm all that fussed about who takes over. A reboot is of no interest to me anyway and those above Kurzman's pay grade have left me with a lot of bitter feelings about the company.

 

[Fire(BOO!)]

The Duffers have got a lot on their plate.
Please god no on Matalas.

And after the final season of Stranger Things, I’ll pass on the Duffers, too.

 

[Phoenix219]

"We're talking to a lot of writers" tells me that it's very likely Kurtzman's contract won't be renewed.

What a regrettable end to the last decade.

what a regrettable last decade.

 

[Ricky Spanish]

what a regrettable last decade.

Some of the stuff worked, some didn’t. Like pretty much every other Trek decade.

 

[Phoenix219]

Some of the stuff worked, some didn’t. Like pretty much every other Trek decade.

Ehh, i'd put it at 70/30 in the wrong direction. enjoyed the first half of SNW (forever changed by the end of season 2 when it stopped taking itself seriously), all of lower decks, picard season 3, small parts of most seasons of discovery (lorca was great until the reveal, truly enjoyed season 5, it found its footing just as it ended. s3 was nothing but wasted potential. s4 was boring. s2 was victim of the writing change. at least s1 had an identity.)

 

[CampBOO!]

Ehh, i'd put it at 70/30 in the wrong direction. enjoyed the first half of SNW (forever changed by the end of season 2 when it stopped taking itself seriously), all of lower decks, picard season 3, small parts of most seasons of discovery (lorca was great until the reveal, truly enjoyed season 5, it found its footing just as it ended. s3 was nothing but wasted potential. s4 was boring. s2 was victim of the writing change. at least s1 had an identity.)

Nope.

 

[Phoenix219]

Nope.

Yup.

 

[Turtletrekker]

I will take all of Kurtzman over Voyager and Enterprise. And the success of TNG and DS9 lay in hands other than Berman's (Piller, Behr), so Kurtzman > Berman.