New "Star Trek" Series in Works

A new series in development is going where no Star Trek series has gone before – into live-action comedy. 

The project for Paramount+ was announced during the Star Trek Universe panel at Comic-Con by moderator Justin Simien and Tawny Newsome, voice actor from "Star Trek: Lower Decks".

The two are co-writing the half-hour comedy with the steward of the Star Trek franchise, Alex Kurtzman, who will be making his half-hour writing debut.

No title or format have been revealed for the comedy, in which Federation outsiders serving a gleaming resort planet find out their day-to-day exploits are being broadcast to the entire quadrant.

Sources have said the series may have workplace comedy tones of "The Office" or "Parks and Recreation".

Kurtzman, Simien, and Newsome executive produce alongside Aaron Baiers, Rod Roddenberry, and Trevor Roth. 

The project comes from the studio behind the Star Trek universe, CBS Studios, where Kurtzman’s Secret Hideout is based.

While Star Trek has ventured into animation a number of times over the years, currently with "Lower Decks", and "Prodigy", this would be the first live-action comedy in the franchise.

The project, if it goes to series, would join a line-up of live-action and animated series that includes "Strange New Worlds", "Lower Decks", and the upcoming "Starfleet Academy".

This marks Simien’s first Star Trek involvement though he has been a longtime vocal fan of the franchise.

He gained attention for his racial satire "Dear White People", which proved to be a hit on the festival circuit. It was later adapted into a television series that lasted four years on Netflix. 

Simien also wrote and directed the 2020 horror comedy "Bad Hair " and 2023’s "Haunted Mansion".

Newsome is an actor-comedian who appeared on the IFC comedy "Brockmire" and Netflix’s high-profile but short-lived comedy "Space Force". She voices ensign Beckett Mariner, one of the lead characters in "On Lower Decks".

In addition to her voiceover work "On Lower Decks", Newsome is a writer for the upcoming "Star Trek: Starfleet Academy."