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James McAvoy Pitched a Young Picard Star Trek Series
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Franchise Hub
Star Trek
Star Trek shows and movies, from the original series to the modern Paramount+ era.
Total Apex Take
Currently in its best creative stretch in over a decade, after a rocky start to the streaming era.
“Strange New Worlds” is widely regarded as the strongest live-action Trek since the 1990s, largely because it went back to episodic, crew-focused storytelling after “Discovery” and early “Picard” leaned hard into serialized, high-stakes arcs that alienated longtime fans expecting the franchise's traditional rhythm. That course correction mirrors what Star Wars did with Andor — going back to genre fundamentals rather than chasing prestige-TV trends.
“Section 31” taking a harder, more R-rated direction with Michelle Yeoh's character was a notably different bet than the rest of the current Trek slate, and its reception has been more divisive than the mainline shows, a useful signal about how far this fanbase will follow tonal experimentation.
Our take: Paramount+'s multi-series Trek strategy finally found its footing by letting each show have a distinct identity — Strange New Worlds episodic and optimistic, Lower Decks comedic, Discovery serialized — rather than forcing one tone across the whole franchise.
About Star Trek
Star Trek is a science-fiction media franchise created by Gene Roddenberry, debuting as a television series in 1966 and growing into one of the most expansive franchises in entertainment, spanning numerous TV series, films, books, and games. Set largely aboard starships exploring the galaxy, Star Trek is known for its optimistic vision of humanity's future and its influence on real-world science and technology discourse.
Paramount has continued expanding the franchise through a slate of modern Paramount+ series exploring different eras and tones within the Star Trek universe, alongside its long-running film series.
History
1966–1969
The Original Series
Star Trek debuts, following the crew of the USS Enterprise and establishing the franchise's core characters and ideals.
1987–2005
Next Generation era
The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise expand the franchise across multiple concurrent series.
2009–2016
Kelvin timeline films
J.J. Abrams reboots the film franchise with a new cast in an alternate timeline, beginning with Star Trek (2009).
2017–present
Streaming era
Star Trek: Discovery launches a new wave of Star Trek series produced for Paramount+, including prequels and spin-offs across different tones.
Key People
Gene Roddenberry
Creator of Star Trek, debuted the original series in 1966
Alex Kurtzman
Executive producer overseeing the modern Star Trek television universe
Key Star Trek Releases
| Title | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Star Trek: The Original Series | 1966 | Launched the franchise |
| Star Trek: The Next Generation | 1987 | A long-running and widely acclaimed successor series |
| Star Trek (2009) | 2009 | Rebooted the film series with a new cast |
| Star Trek: Strange New Worlds | 2022 | A modern series praised for returning to episodic storytelling |
Financials
| Debuted | 1966 on NBC |
|---|---|
| Recognition | Guinness World Records has recognized Star Trek as the most successful science-fiction TV franchise |
| Parent company | Paramount Skydance |
How It Compares
| Compared To | Key Difference |
|---|---|
| Star Wars | Star Trek favors episodic, idea-driven science fiction exploring philosophy and diplomacy, while Star Wars centers on serialized mythic adventure and space opera. |
| Stargate | Both are long-running sci-fi TV franchises built around exploration, though Star Trek's much larger media footprint includes films, games, and a far longer broadcast history. |
Trivia & Fan Culture
Nearly canceled after one season
The original Star Trek series struggled in the ratings and was nearly canceled after its first season; a fan letter-writing campaign is often credited with helping it survive into a third season.
Introduced one of TV's first interracial kisses
A 1968 episode featured a scene between Captain Kirk and Lieutenant Uhura widely cited as one of American television's first scripted interracial kisses.
A franchise spanning decades of spin-offs
Since the original series, Star Trek has spawned numerous spin-off shows and films spanning from The Next Generation in the 1980s to Discovery and Strange New Worlds in the streaming era.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the best order to watch Star Trek in?
Many fans start with The Original Series or The Next Generation to follow the franchise's classic continuity, while others begin with newer entry points like Strange New Worlds before exploring further.
Are the Kelvin timeline films connected to the TV shows?
The 2009 film and its sequels take place in an alternate timeline created within the story, separate from the continuity followed by most Star Trek television series.
Who created Star Trek?
Gene Roddenberry created Star Trek, which debuted on NBC in 1966.
How many Star Trek series are there?
Counting the original series, its spin-offs, and modern streaming-era shows, Star Trek spans more than a dozen television series.
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