Star Trek franchise returns to Netflix with animated series Prodigy
After a brief hiatus, the Star Trek franchise is making a comeback on Netflix. The streaming platform has acquired the animated kids series Star Trek: Prodigy for the United States and most international territories in a deal with CBS Studios.
The decision comes after Paramount+ removed several originals, including Star Trek: Prodigy, from its platform as part of a cost-cutting content write-down. In addition, the previously commissioned second season of the animated show was canceled.
Season 1 of Star Trek: Prodigy, which was previously available on Paramount+, will be released on Netflix later in 2023. The second season, currently in production, is set to debut on Netflix in 2024. However, the deal does not include Canada, where Prodigy is carried by CTV.ca and the CTV App, or SkyShowtime’s European territories such as the Nordics, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and Central and Eastern Europe.
Star Trek: Discovery, the series that launched the current Star Trek universe on Paramount+ (formerly CBS All Access), initially had a lucrative Netflix deal that covered international territories outside the US and Canada. However, this arrangement ended in 2021 when Paramount+ became the exclusive global home of the series.
Despite Prodigy’s departure, Paramount+ remains the primary streaming destination for the Star Trek franchise. It is home to other originals such as Discovery, Picard, Strange New Worlds, the animated Lower Decks, and the upcoming Section 31 and Starfleet Academy, as well as the extensive Star Trek library.
The animated series Star Trek: Prodigy is the third show to find a home, initially starting as a Nickelodeon series before migrating to Paramount+. It follows a group of young aliens who stumble upon a ship and must learn to work together as they explore the galaxy. Along the way, they discover the values and ideals of Starfleet.
Star Trek: Prodigy was developed by Emmy winners Kevin and Dan Hageman, alongside executive producers Alex Kurtzman and his team at Secret Hideout. The show is produced by CBS Studios’ Eye Animation Productions, Nickelodeon Animation, Secret Hideout, and Roddenberry Entertainment. Kevin and Dan Hageman serve as co-showrunners, with Ben Hibon directing and serving as the creative lead. The voice cast includes Kate Mulgrew, Brett Gray, Ella Purnell, Rylee Alazraqui, Angus Imrie, Jason Mantzoukas, Dee Bradley Baker, John Noble, and Jimmi Simpson.
In a joint statement, Kurtzman and the Hageman brothers expressed their gratitude to the Star Trek: Prodigy fans and their excitement for the upcoming second season. The series has already received a nomination for Outstanding Achievement in Family Programming at the 2023 TCA Awards.
Star Trek: Prodigy’s arrival on Netflix continues to expand the reach of the beloved franchise, introducing it to new audiences and furthering its legacy in the realm of science fiction.