Star Trek: Prodigy, Grease Series Canceled and to Be Removed From Paramount+ Ahead of Showtime Integration; The streamer also shared that Queen of the Universe and The Game will not return for new seasons
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| "Star Trek: Prodigy" (Credit: Paramount+) |
Four Paramount+ originals — Star Trek: Prodigy, Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies, The Game and Queen of the Universe — have been canceled by the streaming service and are set to be removed as the streamer prepares to merge with Showtime, TheWrap is reporting.
Update (6/27) - Paramount+ has removed Star Trek: Prodigy from its programming library in the U.S., however, it's still available on Paramount+ services internationally, including in the U.K. Additionally, Star Trek: Prodigy will still continue to air on Nickelodeon channels internationally, including Nickelodeon UK & Ireland, for the foreseeable future.
Interestingly, Nickelodeon Movies' recent Snow Day remake and original movie Fantasy Football have also now been removed from the service.
“As we prepare to combine Paramount+ and Showtime later this month in the U.S., we are refining our content offering to deliver the best streaming experience for subscribers,” a spokesperson for Paramount+ told TheWrap. “The Paramount+ series Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies, Star Trek: Prodigy, Queen of the Universe and The Game have completed their runs on Paramount+ and will not be returning to the service. We want to extend our thanks to our tremendously talented cast and crew and our producing partners for their passionate work and dedication on these programs and we wish them all the best on their future endeavors.”
According to an individual with knowledge of the situation, although Star Trek: Prodigy had aired on Nickelodeon in addition to Paramount+, it will not be returning to Nickelodeon - which has still to air the remaining episodes of season one - either, reports Variety. Those on the show will complete post-production on Season 2 and then CBS Studios will be free to shop it to other outlets.
According to an individual with knowledge of the removals, the decision was data-driven, though Paramount did not share any specific data that highlighted why these shows are being canceled and removed. Financial concerns and discoverability on the service are thought to have played into Paramount+’s decision to completely remove these series rather than simply cancel them. The company will announce the financial impact of these changes during a later earnings call.
Nickelodeon and CBS Studios will have the option to shop Star Trek: Prodigy to other networks, just as Paramount Television Studios will have the option to shop Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies and CBS Studios will have the option to license The Game elsewhere.
Of the four, the least is known about the potential future of World of Wonder’s Queen of the Universe. The final four episodes of the series premiered on June 22 with the series expected to be removed on June 30.
The Star Trek: Prodigy cancelation and removal is arguably the most shocking and devastating, considering the series from Kevin and Dan Hageman had previously been ordered for two seasons. Season 2 of the animated show for younger audiences was expected to premiere later this year. Season 1 of the series will be removed from Paramount+ shortly. In the meantime, Season 2 is currently in post-production, and the studio is currently looking for a new home for the series.
“Star Trek: Prodigy will not be returning for the previously announced second season. On behalf of everyone at Paramount+, Nickelodeon and CBS Studios, we want to thank the Hagemans, Ben Hibon, Alex Kurtzman and the Secret Hideout team, along with the fantastic cast and crew for all their hard work and dedication bringing the series to life,” a spokesperson for Paramount+ said.
Even with this removal, it does not seem as though Paramount+ has severed its relationship with Alex Kurtzman’s Star Trek universe. The company said that “continues to be invested in growing the Star Trek franchise”. The young-adult focused Star Trek: Starfleet Academy and the movie event Star Trek: Section 31 are still in the works. Additionally, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds has been confirmed for a Season 3, Star Trek: Lower Decks was confirmed for Season 4 and the final season of Star Trek: Discovery is still in the works.
Though it’s happening as the streamer prepares to combine with Showtime, Paramount+ removing its originals continues an alarming trend in streaming. The move comes a few months after Paramount+ removed a slew of other titles from its service including The Fairly OddParents: Fairly Odder, Coyote, No Activity, Guilty Party, The Harper House, The Real World and The Twilight Zone. Last year, several of Max’s originals — formerly known as HBO Max — were removed from the service and either shopped to other services or added to Warner Bros. Discovery’s FAST channels, including multi-million dollar hit Westworld. In May, Disney+ also announced it would remove “certain content” from its streaming platforms.
Speaking on Twitter, Kevin and Dan Hageman said: "#StarTrek has taught my brother and me to strive for a better future. While news of #StarTrekProdigy not returning to Paramount+ is disappointing...
We have faith this show will be picked up by a new home to help grow our fervent fanbase and inspire the next generation of Star Trek fans. Our talented and passionate team of artists are working tirelessly to complete S2... And we are staying positive and hopeful that our amazing fans will get to see it soon! Janeway would never give up, so why would we? Let’s follow her orders and ‘Go Boldly.’"
The brothers also revealed in a separate tweet: "Due to unforeseen circumstances, my brother and I will be acting out our entire S2 of #SaveStarTrekProdigy at STLV. Come for the fun. Stay for the laughs. We’ll see you there!"
The critically acclaimed and Children's and Family Emmy Award-nominated Star Trek: Prodigy sees Star Trek: Voyager's Kate Mulgrew returning as Kathryn Janeway, both as a hologram and as the flesh-and-blood original, now a Starfleet admiral. The voice cast also includes Brett Gray (Dal), Ella Purnell (Gwyn), Rylee Alazraqui (Rok-Tahk), Angus Imrie (Zero), Jason Mantzoukas (Jankom Pog), Dee Bradley Baker (Murf), John Noble (The Diviner) and Jimmi Simpson (Drednok). Also featured in the series are recurring voice cast members Daveed Diggs (Commander Tysess), Jameela Jamil (Ensign Asencia), Jason Alexander (Doctor Noum), Robert Beltran (Captain Chakotay), and Billy Campbell (Thadiun Okona).
Star Trek: Prodigy aired its first season over two years, with 10 episodes starting in fall 2021 and a second ten late in 2022. The second 20-episode season of Prodigy was expected to debut on Paramount+ late in 2023, with ten episodes followed by a second set of ten episodes in late 2024. The first 10 episodes also aired on Nickelodeon. Internationally, Star Trek: Prodigy aired on Nickelodeon and was made available on Paramount+ in regions where the service is available.
The first 10 episodes have also been released on Blu-Ray and DVD, which have sold out since news of the series being removed broke.
It’s worth noting that Warner Bros. Discovery similarly canceled the animated Batman: Caped Crusader while selling it to other outlets; it was eventually picked up by Prime Video. Such a fate could await Star Trek: Prodigy. #SAVESTARTREKPRODIGY
Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies debuted its one and only season on Paramount+ back in April. The show serves as a prequel to the hit musical film and stage show Grease. It was originally developed at Max (formerly HBO Max) before it was ordered to series at Paramount+ back in 2020. Paramount Television Studios will shop the series to other outlets.
Queen of the Universe was a drag singing competition series from World of Wonder, the same company that produces the RuPaul’s Drag Race franchise. The final four episodes debuted on June 22 and the show will be removed from Paramount+ on June 30.
CBS Studios' The Game was a revival of the CW/BET series of the same name, and aired two seasons on Paramount+.
Read Paramount Plus' statement below:
“In the unified Paramount+ with Showtime plan, the Showtime portfolio of edgy, critically acclaimed programming will complement the broad and popular Paramount+ library in a seamless offering that appeals to everyone, enables more discovery between the brands and builds overall viewership.As we prepare to combine Paramount+ and Showtime later this month in the U.S., we are refining our content offering to deliver the best streaming experience for subscribers. 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.The Paramount+ series ‘Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies,’ ‘Star Trek: Prodigy,’ ‘Queen of the Universe’ and ‘The Game’ have completed their runs on Paramount+ and will not be returning to the service. We want to extend our thanks to our tremendously talented cast and crew and our producing partners for their passionate work and dedication on these programs and we wish them all the best on their future endeavors.”
Stream a Mountain of Entertainment, including your Nickelodeon favorites on Paramount+! Try it FREE at ParamountPlus.com!
Originally published: June 23, 2023 at 18:08 BST.
Additional sources: TrekCore, ScreenRant, ComicBook.com, Neowin, Popverse, Deadline, Bleeding Cool, @DrewsClues.
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