Star Trek: Discovery Showrunner Steps Down

Bryan Fuller will no longer serve as the Star Trek: Discovery showrunner, but he’s still at the helm

There has been a change of command at CBS All Access as Variety today brings word that former Star Trek: Discovery showrunner Bryan Fuller is “stepping back” from the role. Fuller fans need not fret, however, as it sounds like Star Trek: Discovery is still very much Fuller’s ship. However, due to his commitments to both STARZ‘s American Gods and NBC‘s Amazing Stories reboot, Fuller will step away from the Star Trek: Discovery showrunner role. He remains aboard as executive producer, however, and the series is moving forward based on his original plans.

Although no specific Star Trek: Discovery showrunner has been named, plans now call for Academy Award winner Akiva Goldsman to join the show’s creative team alongside Fuller and fellow executive producers Gretchen Berg and Aaron Harberts.

UPDATE: Fuller chimed in on Twitter with an update that suggests Berg and Harberts will both be sharing the Captain’s chair:

Riker spent 7 years of TNG unready for Captaincy, @GretchenJBerg @AaronHarberts are ready. Thrilled to see them in command of the Bridge.

— Bryan Fuller (@BryanFuller) October 27, 2016

Previously scheduled for January 2017, the new Star Trek series was already delayed until next May to accommodate additional development. According to today’s trade report, much of the show’s casting has already taken place in secret. However, the show’s lead role, a female Lieutenant Commander, has still not been cast. Expect that to change very soon, as production on Star Trek: Discovery is aimed to begin next month in Toronto.

Also of interest is the trade’s note that the series has been budgeted at roughly $6-7 million an episode. That’s higher than the budget of Star Trek: Enterprise and roughly on par with HBO‘s Game of Thrones.

Following its May 2017 premiere on the CBS Television Network, all episodes of Star Trek: Discovery will be available in the U.S. exclusively on CBS All Access. Continuing the worldwide appeal of the franchise, each episode of the series will be available globally within 24 hours of its U.S. premiere, presented on Netflix in 188 countries and through Bell Media platforms in Canada.

How do you feel about Bryan Fuller stepping down as the Star Trek: Discovery showrunner? Let us know in the comments below.

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