Bryan Fuller Stepping Back From Showrunner Role on ‘Star Trek: Discovery’

[donners22]

http://variety.com/2016/tv/news/bryan-fuller-showrunner-star-trek-discovery-cbs-1201901398/

A portion:

Bryan Fuller is stepping back from the showrunner role of CBS’ “Star Trek: Discovery” as he juggles production responsibilities on two other series, Variety has learned exclusively.

The decision was made late last week to hand the day-to-day showrunning reins to “Star Trek” exec producers Gretchen Berg and Aaron Harberts as “Discovery” gears up for the start of filming next month and a May premiere date. Fuller, who will remain an executive producer, will still be involved in breaking stories, and the show will continue to follow his vision for the universe that this latest “Trek” series will inhabit. Writer-director Akiva Goldsman is also expected to join “Discovery” in a top creative role. He’s envisioned as serving as producing support for Berg and Harberts, Fuller and exec producer Alex Kurtzman as they juggle the demands of the series that CBS is counting on to be the marquee selling point for subscriptions to its CBS All Access SVOD service.

Sources said there had been some strain between “Star Trek” producer CBS Television Studios and Fuller over the progress of production on the show, as Fuller is also juggling the final weeks of shooting and post-production duties on Starz’s upcoming drama “American Gods” and prepping a reboot of “Amazing Stories” for NBC. Fuller has penned the first two scripts for “Discovery” and has hammered out the broader story arc and mythology for the new “Trek” realm. But it became clear that he couldn’t devote the amount of time needed for “Discovery” to make its premiere date and with production scheduled to start in Toronto next month. In September, CBS pushed the “Discovery” premiere back from January in order to give the team more time to work out stories and ensure sufficient time for production of visual effects.

 

[MarsWeeps]

Probably good news. Now maybe we'll get more than 10 episodes per season.

 

[Shalashaska]

I did not expect to see this news at all today...

Disappointing. Hope he can at least step back in for the second year, I can't imagine he'd give up DSC, the show he's been waiting to make for years, for American Gods which, with all due respect, doesn't seem as important in my eyes or his from what I've seen.

I was really banking on this show being great just with his name in the credits as showrunner. He was the perfect pick for showrunner of a new Trek series. His withdrawal really kills a bit of the hype I had for this show. Don't get me wrong, I still think it'll be good, I just really wanted to see his vision and not "Aaron Harberts and Gretchen Berg"'s. They've worked on some good shows, but they've never been in that kind of role before, they're an unsure bet.

And to make matters worse, they hire Akiva Goldsman in a "top creative role". You know... the guy who wrote Batman & Robin (not kidding), wrote and produced the terrible Lost in Space remake as well as numerous other bad films including three of the many Paranormal Activity sequels and is currently writing one of the Transformers movies.

Fuller still seems to be quite heavily involved thankfully, but there's a big difference between writing episodes on a day-to-day basis and breaking stories for others to write. Hopefully he'll return as showrunner next season.

 

[Shalashaska]

Probably good news. Now maybe we'll get more than 10 episodes per season.

More episodes =/= better.

Good shows in 2016 do not have more than thirteen episodes a year. Hell, even thirteen is pushing it.

 

[timtonruben359]

When I heard the showing was being postponed I was worried, now I'm disheartened. There is clearly major creative issues going on behind the scenes.

 

[BillJ]

...for American Gods which, with all due respect, doesn't seem as important in my eyes or his from what I've seen.

It'll likely be a much bigger hit than Discovery. Especially if my wife is any indication.

 

[BillJ]

Maybe CBS wasn't happy with the direction after all?

 

[MarsWeeps]

Maybe CBS wasn't happy with the direction after all?

Or maybe he asked for another few months extension.

 

[Shalashaska]

Maybe CBS wasn't happy with the direction after all?

Read the article:

Sources emphasized that CBS execs have been happy with the material that Fuller has developed to date but became increasingly concerned that he had too much on his plate and there was no willingness to delay the premiere date once more. Given that “Star Trek” is one of the Eye’s crown-jewel franchises, there’s no question that CBS has a lot at stake with “Discovery.” The show’s budget is said to be approaching the $9 million per episode range.

I think it was just bad timing with American Gods wrapping shooting and production soon. That's when the heavy workload comes.

I don't think it's a creative fallout where he's leaving the show permanently, he'll still be heavily involved. There's a good chance he could be back next season as showrunner if they manage to work out the schedules and such with American Gods.

 

[jla1987]

It just doesn't seem like much good news has come out of Discovery for a while. The lack of hype reminds me of the lack of hype for Beyond and sadly, we know how that turned out (great movie that nobody knew was coming.) :/

 

[Borgminister]

Dang.

 

[Aeronnaex]

When I heard the showing was being postponed I was worried, now I'm disheartened. There is clearly major creative issues going on behind the scenes.

"Clearly"? Really? There's no indication of that from the article. Furthermore, production has been underway for so long already that a major creative change would have been sorted out by now.

Honestly, Star Trek fans have turned into a bunch of babies lately! I don't know what you do for a living, but where I work there's no super mega bad news or drama if someone gets shifted off a program due to workload concerns (even if those concerns never really manifest). Jeez......

 

[Shalashaska]

It'll likely be a much bigger hit than Discovery. Especially if my wife is any indication.

The book is quite popular, that's for sure. The only thing holding it back (not in quality, but in amount of eyes seeing the show) is that it's on Starz.

 

[Aeronnaex]

It just doesn't seem like much good news has come out of Discovery for a while. The lack of hype reminds me of the lack of hype for Beyond and sadly, we know how that turned out (great movie that nobody knew was coming.) :/

I'm missing the connection. What you describe for Beyond is a marketing failure. Discovery is nowhere near that point yet.

 

[jla1987]

I didn't think that through. I just don't want the series to also be a failure in the US. A lot is riding on it.

 

[F. King Daniel]

Seems like it's all still going to be based on his concepts and story, and he's still involved. Not too fussed.

 

[Shalashaska]

Akiva Goldsman in a "top creative role" is what I'm worried about.

Just don't let him in the writer's room.

 

[Cox of Seagulls]

Akiva Goldsman

writer of

Batman & Robin
a Transformers movie
Paranormal Activity
90s Lost in Space

Bloody hell.

 

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[AntonyF]

More episodes =/= better.

Good shows in 2016 do not have more than thirteen episodes a year. Hell, even thirteen is pushing it.

Totally agreed. And how a show that is behind schedule and now the show runner has been booted (sorry decided to step back) for lack of delivery that someone will think that means we'll get MORE output is positively baffling.