The Protorstar’s mission is imperilled, but there’s still hope for the show’s second season.
As the Paramount+ streaming service prepares to fully integrate with Showtime, news has broken that a number of its shows are being cancelled.
I guess we all knew that the streaming bubble was unsustainable and would burst at some point. In a tough financial climate, premium entertainment options come well down on the list of essentials.
With Netflix streamlining its sharing settings, Disney+ hoovering up shows and premium providers like HBO looking at licensing their formerly exclusive content, we would appear to be in a contraction, or at least consolidation phase. Now, taking a leaf out of the Warner Bros. Discovery playbook, Paramount+ is pruning its offerings.
So, what’s happening at Paramount+?
The Game, Queen of the Universe and Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies are all for the chop. Surprisingly, so is the children’s animation series Star Trek: Prodigy. The show, which features a gang of new characters alongside familiar franchise names – including Kate Mulgrew as Star Trek: Voyager’s Kathryn Janeway – had been recommissioned for a second series that is still in the works.
What’s more worrying is that these shows will be removed from the streamer too, some as soon as next week. This apparently reduces the ongoing costs as they don’t have to keep playing residuals to the programme creators.
A representative for the streamer told The Hollywood Reporter:
“This is consistent with our content strategy since launch and across our business, which ensures we make smart, efficient choices, informed by audience data and insights. We are removing select programming as we look to optimize Showtime’s robust slate of premium originals.”
A future for Star Trek: Prodigy?
However, there may be hope for the animated show, as CBS Studios has nearly completed the second series and is seeking a new home for it. The show’s executive producer Aaron J. Waltke took to twitter to say…
Obviously, there is not much I can say. Everyone on the cast and crew loves #StarTrekProdigy deeply.
I have noticed some misleading headlines, so all I can do is point to this particular part of the press release.
We are completing season two on schedule and seeking a new home! pic.twitter.com/YJBsssxAuo
— Aaron J. Waltke (@GoodAaron) June 23, 2023
So much for the Paramount+ excitement this spring, about bring the whole Star Trek universe under one umbrella! When they released posters like this…
Naturally, there’s a healthy #SaveStarTrekProdigy campaign springing up on social media – watch this space!
NB. Paramount+ points out that it is maintaining its commitments to the announced YA Starfleet Academy series and the Michelle Yeoh-fronted Star Trek: Section 31 “special movie event”.