At New York Comic Con, before Alex Kurtzman gave his update on all the Star Trek coming to Paramount+, he first addressed the one Star Trek show no longer on the streamer: Prodigy. That animated series has found a new home on Netflix and the executive producer believes the #SaveStarTrekProdigy camping helped make it happen.
Kurtzman talks Prodigy
Right at the top of the Star Trek Universe Panel at NYCC, the man in charge of the Trek TV franchise talked about Prodigy, building on last week’s big news that the show has been picked up by Netflix. Kurtzman began the panel by giving the crowd (and by proxy all Star Trek fans) credit for their role in helping save the show:
Before we get started I want to just clear the elephant in the room. Star Trek: Prodigy is back! And Star Trek: Prodigy is back because you guys brought it back. What you did has not been since since TOS. Star Trek belongs to two entities: Gene Roddenberry and the fans. That’s it. And it is because of you, because of your almost 35,000 signatures on that petition, a plane over Netflix, and they heard you.
Kurtzman was referring to the active #SaveStarTrekProdigy campaign including a change.org petition which quickly grew after Paramount+ announced the show’s removal in late June. Kurtzman’s comment about a “plane over Netflix” referred to an August fan-funded aerial banner with the message “# SAVE STAR TREK PRODIGY” which flew over the Hollywood offices of Netflix as well as other potential new streaming homes for the show. In addition to the online advocacy, fans also rallied to support Prodigy by purchasing both parts of the first season home media releases. Part 1 initially sold out from retailers shortly after the June streaming removal and Part 2 recently debuted on the Media Play Top 20 Sales Chart.
(Photo: Aaron Harvey)
Before introducing Kid Cudi and moving on to the rest of the Star Trek Universe panel, Kurtzman offered thanks to the fans on behalf of everyone who worked on Prodigy, saying:
So from the bottom of my heart, because we love Star Trek: Prodigy so much, and Dan and Kevin Hageman, and Kate [Mulgrew] and the entire cast and crew, I just want to be able to thank you. Thank you so much for what you did, it was incredible, truly.
Kurtzman talking up Prodigy at New York Comic Con is a bit of a homecoming. Just a couple of weeks ahead of the series premiere, Kurtzman was at NYCC 2021, joined by the Hageman brothers along with Kate Mulgrew and the Prodigy cast for the show’s first big panel and rollout. There was even an interactive Paramount+ Prodigy booth where fans could get a picture on the bridge of the USS Protostar. Now two years later Prodigy lives again, coming to Netflix soon.
From New York Comic Con 2021: Dee Bradley Baker, Kevin Hageman, Ben Hibon, Kate Mulgrew, Dan Hageman, Brett Gray and Rylee Alazraqui seen at Star Trek Prodigy display (Photo: Monica Schipper/Getty Images/Paramount+)
Work on season 2 progress as we await Netflix details
Netflix will be debuting the first season of Star Trek: Prodigy later this year, which would include all 20 episodes that were removed from Paramount+ in June. Work on the second season is still underway, and Netflix has announced they plan to release Season 2 in 2024. Hopefully, we will have more details soon regarding how the show will be rolled out on Netflix. Unlike Paramount+ which generally releases episodes weekly, Netflix usually releases seasons all at once. However, it’s unlikely Netflix will release all 20 episodes of season 2 all at once. A good guess is that season two will be split into two 10-episode releases (just like season 1 was), as the series is written with 10-episode arcs.
Today Prodigy co-executive producer Aaron Waltke gave a quick update on season 2, teasing how it is “looking and sounding fantastic.” He also said the team will soon work on the final mix for the episodes and he is excited for fans to see them on Netflix in 2024.
For those curious, Season Two of #StarTrekProdigy is looking and sounding fantastic — we’ll soon begin working on the final mix for the last quarter of the episodes.
Excited for you to see what we’ve been up to when S2 drops on Netflix in 2024! pic.twitter.com/G2LTd3sJid
— Aaron J. Waltke (@GoodAaron) October 17, 2023
More from NYCC
Check out the rest of our Star Trek Universe at New York Comic Con coverage including Alex Kurtzman’s Star Trek Universe update, Mike McMahan talking Lower Decks season 4 finale and season 5 as well as the first part of our NYCC interview with McMahan. We also reported on the Kid Cudi x Star Trek reveal at NYCC. Check back for even more updates on Star Trek from NYCC.
Keep up with news about the Star Trek Universe at TrekMovie.com.
Doesn’t the Star Trek Legacy petition have more signatures than Strange Nee Worlds & Prodigy combined? So what’s with the Starfleet Academy over STL pre-production? It couldn’t be egos could it? *gasp* [clutches pearl necklace]
Egos have nothing to do with this. Prodigy is an existing show. So is Strange New Worlds. And Starfleet Academy has been in the works for years. All of these exist and aren’t just hypothetical shows people have suggested. With Legacy, it’s a different story since Legacy is just a “Wouldn’t it be cool?” idea in the minds of writers and fans. CBS has never indicated interest in doing it. That show doesn’t exist, which puts it in an entirely different category. Petitions to save shows are one thing, and they have a small chance at succeeding. Petitions to CREATE shows? That’s entirely different, and not overly realistic. That’s just not how Hollywood works. It’s not a matter of ego–it’s a matter of practicality.
My gosh, Mr. Dune, that strikes me as a very perceptive analysis.
Ms. Dune, actually. :)
But thank you! I work in the film and TV industry, so I have some knowledge about this sort of thing. I frequently see people complaining about how there’s no news about Legacy, or about how impatient they are for CBS to give it the greenlight, despite the fact that Legacy isn’t and never has been a show on CBS’s docket. It’s the Captain Sulu and Captain Worf shows all over again–a project championed by the stars and some fans as though it were actually a thing, but entirely unconnected from the studios’ plans. A lot of people don’t have an understanding of how shows are made, and so they have unrealistic ideas of what should or shouldn’t happen. No TV show has ever been CREATED due to a petition, and it’s doubtful one ever will. That simply isn’t how such decisions are made, and for good reason.
That’s not an appropriate comparison; there was an entire ten-episode season that was a dry run for LEGACY, and it was (mostly) well-received critically, and it was definitely well-received from a business standpoint. So there is at least some data to look at when evaluating the project.
None of this was true for Captain Worf or Captain Sulu. Worf former had absolutely nothing in the way of a pilot episode. Sulu had a single appearance in VOY “Flashback” (and even there he wasn’t the focus of the episode; Tuvok was), which was poorly received both critically and in terms of audience numbers.
Actually, it’s a very appropriate comparison.
I like that you think of PS3 as a ‘dry run’ for a spinoff, but for different reasons. It was dry, all right. Very dry.
The ratings for “Flashback” were solid – 5.2 Nielsen rating, making it the 6th highest rated episode of season 3. I would categorize the critical and fan reception as “mixed-positive.”
But go figure, if you want to make a successful backdoor pilot, maybe don’t spend half the time just recreating scenes from a 5 year-old movie.
I work in the industry as well and have been in more than a few meetings as it related to viewer feedback and petitions to continue, spin-off or produce a one-off to wrap up a series (and we did all three for a handful of shows).
We have no idea what’s being discussed behind the scenes. Kurtzman said the fans have been heard as it relates to Legacy, which pretty much echoes what he said about a Pike series (Strange New Worlds wasn’t on the docket either until it was). The infrastructure is already in place but, unlike five years ago, limitless resources are no longer available and everyone is cutting back.
The last two major announcements were on Starfleet Academy and Section 31 and at the time both were basically just waiting on official press releases. What comes next is hazy at best.
What comes next is indeed, hazy….. Until it’s announced.
Indeed.
People signing petitions are not (necessarily) the same as mass market impact and revenue.
I also think people seem to forget that actors, creatives, resources have to all be available in the right place at the right time, there has to be a good enough pitch. Would you still feel as keen on Legacy if say Seven and Jack weren’t part of it because they couldn’t get those actors, or if Terry Matalas had moved on?
It’s complicated.
Never mind that the strikes would make it difficult even if Paramount/Bad Robot has decided to start working on a series. Matalas has been on strike, actors are still on strike, I think even Kurtzmann will have been striking from some duties.
And so on.
There isn’t a magic “decide what Legacy is and make it and make it good button” some exec just pushes.
I’d be more keen on it if Jack Crusher were absent, yes.
Me too, by lots. I actually think the LEGACY name oughta go as well, because that still sounds like it is designed to ride on coat-tails when it should be standing on its own.
Of course for me to really get behind it, I’d have to know that they’d be using some 85 year-old cinematographer who was too wise to have any interest in delivering pre-trashed mushy imagery like we got on at least half of PS3. (have given up all hope by now that the space VFX will approach the clarity of late-90s VFX or that the writing will in any way approach the levels of, say, DS9 years 3 through 7, so don’t say I’m asking for the moon here, I’m barely asking for a stable orbit, not even geosynchronous at that. )
I figure Starfleet Academy has always been a part of their plans as a spin-off of Disco, and I don’t think that’s changed. However, I think the Legacy petition is what led to the decision to reconfigure the season 5 finale into a series finale with reshoots. This way, we’ll still have a live-action series in every major era: SNW for 23rd century, LEG for 25th century, SA for 32nd century. I could be wrong though. I just don’t think Starfleet Academy is actually the Disco replacement like we think it is.
Discovery was a victim of rising costs, declining viewership and now limited resources for producing original content after years of unlimited resources at Paramount+ and elsewhere.
Discovery’s cancellation took the cast by surprise so Starfleet Academy wasn’t intended to replace Discovery but now inadvertently has. There was likely money for one series, not both.
No egos at all. The Legacy petition could have a million signatures, it doesn’t mean s**t to your point. S31 and STA were months away from principal photography prior to the labor actions. That means there were sets, costumes, casting, FX, and IP work going on. PIcard wrapped almost two years with no conversations AT ALL about Picard spin offs, let alone any soft pre production work on a Nepo Jack spinoff. If they greenlit it today, you’re two years away from principal photography. That’s what’s up with it….
It being “almost two years” from PIC production wrap means very little in this context. CBS had, at best, mixed reviews for seasons 1 and 2. It wasn’t until after S3 aired and got significant notice and positive feedback that considering any kind of Picard spin off would have even been conceivable. And with the strikes, there has been no real chance to develop the idea yet.
But you are right about being a ways away from any potential actual production. If it happens and follows SNW’s development trajectory, next Spring/Summer we could get an official announcement, with an air date for 2025.
I personally don’t have any inside info on any of this, but if I had to guess the odds of a Legacy show, I would put it at about 40%.
Almost two years means everything. SNW’s production trajectory had infrastructure and creative types in place to work with, that translated into a relatively short development window. A Picard spin off (or 4th season) has none of that. Except for the E-D bridge, everything else has been struck. Props and costumes are gone. The soundstages didn’t sit empty, there’s other productions in them now. The actors are still on strike, and that may not resolve itself for a while. And all this presumes that P+ (or Netflix) can find an investor willing to pony up tens of millions for a concept that hasn’t been fleshed out much beyond the closing credits scene with Q.
Personally, S3 was the last we’ll see of Picard. Or his kid. If P+ does dip it’s bucket back into that well, it’s 2026 at the earliest, and I wouldn’t even hazard a guess what streamer it ends up on, given that P+ is still a failing business venture at this point.
Did they really strike the main bridge set? Why not fold and hold?
There have got to be other productions with cash that would want to utilize it — with different non-Trek graphics playing back — during the interim (though I would tear out those steep steps as a serious fall hazard.)
I would put it somewhere closer to 15-30%
Keep in mind that we are now in an era where series are shelved after they’ve actually been completed. Until they actually start shooting, there’s no longer any guarantee that a project is actually moving forward.
If Legacy ever gets made hope it goes the Strange New Worlds and Lower Decks route. Stand alone episodes or two partners instead of season long plots.
This would be precisely the wrong approach, and we have seen it fail for much of SNW season two.
Have we?
“Before we get started I want to just clear the elephant in the room. Star Trek: Prodigy is back! And Star Trek: Prodigy is back because you guys brought it back.” – nobody saved anything or brought it back from anywhere. They were still spending money to have it produced, it was going to land somewhere.
If it was in the can and this was about a new season 3 then the narrative would be more believable. This is just accounting shell games spun to make it seem like more than it is
“nobody saved anything or brought it back from anywhere.”
That is an inaccurate statement.
He’s right. The show was mostly finished and no reason not to make some money of it from another streaming company. Let’s see if a season 3 becomes a reality before you all start patting yourselves on the backs for doing absolutely nothing.
I don’t expect there to be a third season, but what’s wrong with a little happiness among the show’s fandom? From the looks of things, Netflix still might have declined, even when it was probably a pennies-on-the-dollar sort of deal.
Not a ton was done, but I wouldn’t have labeled this a sure thing.
I doubt Netflix will spend money on a show they don’t have the rights to. Especially a franchise show like Star Trek.
Netflix does have the rights to Star Trek: Prodigy. As they have stated elsewhere, Netflix has the license to order more seasons, which they may do as a way to keep a piece of a popular IP that has done well on their platform.
it’s entirely accurate. Netflix picked up a series that was already in the process of wrapping production, giving it a streaming home. Netflix has not committed to a continuation of the series.
Thank you to everyone who makes Prodigy for making outstanding Star Trek.
👍
YES!
Prodigy, wherever you go, we go!!
Absolutely love this show and bought season one a few days after they announced it’s cancelation to show my support.
Prodigy is a tier one show for me which means not just my favorite shows but the ones I rewatch constantly. That also includes all the other 24th century shows TNG, DS9, VOY and LDS. And lastly Picard season 3. These are my go to shows and they all capture this time period of Trek which is my favorite. I really didn’t think I would be including a kid’s show but it’s all around amazing Star Trek. Season 2 looks even better with all the VOY tie ins and The Doctor back. I’m hoping B’Elanna, Tuvok or Harry also show up next season too.
As Janeway always says, Do it!!! 😎🖖
More smoke up the …….
As devastating as it was when Prodigy was cancelled and removed from Paramount+, it was honestly pretty great and heart-warming to see all the love and support the show got online. And I was right there with almost all of it. Sadly I couldn’t contribute to the plane funds, but was thrilled to see others step up like that. It was a similar campaign which ensured Star Trek itself continued, and thrives to this day, so it’s great knowing the spirit continues to burn bright in its fans. After these last few months, I’m more than ready for season 2 next year. And hopefully it’s successful enough to continue even beyond that.
I think Kurtzman overstates the fan response’s impact on their decision.
While I’m sure it helped to some degree, the fact that a second season was practically complete made this a no brainer for Netflix, who can now attract Trekkies with exclusive content, while adding two seasons to their library of children’s content, which is a huge part of their service’s appeal.
For Paramount, they could make more by selling that second season than by airing it.
Clearly. People are seriously arguing that an airplane banner really carried any weight with Netflix?
This was an extremely low-risk decision for Netflix.
Glad Prodigy is back. Much better platform/model for this show, will reach a much bigger audience of all ages, fans and no fans, It’s a win-win for everyone.
Hope more seasons get a green light next year. The quality of this show is superb from episode 1. Still upset at the executives who took this decision to erase it, but very happy Netflix have adopted one of my favorite ever Star Trek production.
I hope so too Jay! :)
It’s such a great show and I was hoping it get five seasons at first lol. Now I’m just happy we will get at least second season but hopefully a third will happen too.
Kurtzman is as Kurtzman does.