Star: Trek Discovery Series Delay Requested by Creative Team

Bad news for Star Trek fans. According to a Deadline report, the new, highly anticipated Star Trek: Discovery series will be delayed, and will not be launching in January, as previously planned. The 13 episode first season for the series will now debut in May 2017.

Details on the Star Trek: Discovery Series Delay

So, why the delay? Well, the request came from the producers. Deadline says that three episodes of the series have been fully scripted, and the first season is mapped out. And the show has reportedly been meeting it’s production schedule so far, but the producers are making a proactive request for more time for pre-production, filming, and post.

In a prepared statement, showrunner and producer Bryan Fuller and producer Alex Kurtzman said this:

“Bringing ‘Star Trek’ back to television carries a responsibility and mission: to connect fans and newcomers alike to the series that has fed our imaginations since childhood. We aim to dream big and deliver, and that means making sure the demands of physical and post-production for a show that takes place entirely in space, and the need to meet an air date, don’t result in compromised quality. Before heading into production, we evaluated these realities with our partners at CBS and they agreed: Star Trek deserves the very best, and these extra few months will help us achieve a vision we can all be proud of.”

Which, I have to say, as far as reasons for a delay go, that’s not a bad one. I’d rather they get it right than rush out something that “coulda been.” This is actually the same reason that Westworld announced a delay this last January.

Reaction From CBS Studio Head

So, what about the work that has been done? Well, according to CBS Television Studios President David Stapf, “The series template and episodic scripts that Alex and Bryan have delivered are incredibly vivid and compelling.” He also added that the studio is behind Fuller, Kurtzman, and the Discovery team. Sounds good to me.

The Star Trek: Discovery series will air in May on CBS first, before heading to CBS All Access, as one of the two first shows for the new digital platform.

Featured Image: CBS