Netflix has acquired the rights to Nickelodeon and Paramount+'s hit CG-animated Star Trek series Star Trek: Prodigy, with season one launching on the streaming service later this year, and season two, which is currently in production, debuting in 2024!
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| Credit: Jason Meier. |
The news follows Paramount+ not only cancelling the series following season one's run (with only the first half of the season making it to air on Nickelodeon), but removing the series from its programming libraries. The complete season was eventually released on DVD and Blu-ray.
Following the news that Star Trek: Prodigy had been canceled at Paramount+, fans rallied to save the series - including the earlier announced second season - by creating online petitions and hiring a plane to fly a "Save Star Trek: Prodigy" banner around other studios in an effort to save the series.
Excluded from the deal are Canada, where Prodigy is carried by CTV.ca and the CTV App, and in SkyShowtime’s European territories: the Nordics, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and Central and Eastern Europe.
This marks the third home for Prodigy, which originated as a Nickelodeon series given its younger skew that does not match the rest of the franchise. The series then migrated to Paramount+.
“Thank you to our incredible Star Trek: Prodigy fans, who championed not just a show, but a community that’s always been connected by the belief that we build a better future together,” said executive producer Alex Kurtzman and co-showrunners Dan and Kevin Hageman. “We set out to inspire you, but you inspired us. The team is still hard at work on the second season, and we can’t wait to share it with the amazing fans around the world.”
“I've always held that the Star Trek fan base is among the strongest and most intelligent in the world. They have shown their collective passion, and we’re happy to be able to celebrate Prodigy once again,” said Kate Mulgrew, voice of Admiral Janeway.
Aaron J. Waltke, a producer and screenwriter on Star Trek: Prodigy, made the following announcement on X/Twitter with the hashtag “WeSavedStarTrekProdigy”:
“At last, we can share the news… Star Trek: Prodigy has landed!Our show is beyond thrilled to be joining NETFLIX for the ongoing adventures of the Protostar crew.Star Trek fans across the galaxy — and young cadets in the making — have been granted the chance to see our series, many for the very first time. With a truly global audience, it is an extraordinary opportunity to grow our already formidable fanbase.It is in no small part thanks to you, the fandom — who demonstrated through your extraordinary efforts that the stories of Starfleet, and the outsiders who aspire to it, will endure. We are so deeply humbled and grateful beyond words.Many on the Prodigy team, including myself and the Hagemans, have created some exceptional television with Netflix — and we very much look forward to doing so again.The possibilities are endless now that the world can see all 40 episodes of Prodigy’s first and second seasons in one place which our passionate cast and crew have worked so tirelessly on – with the potential for more as we boldly go and seek out this new horizon.If you wish to see more Dal and Gwyn and Rok-Tahk and Zero and Jankom and Murf, viewing the show on Netflix as soon as it drops – and telling others the good news, to do the same — is unequivocally the way.There’s not much more to say. Other than… Go fast. Spread the word. Together……We Saved Star Trek: Prodigy.Set a course for home.”
In June, the children’s animated series was among several titles that were removed from Paramount+ ahead of its integration with Showtime. Other Paramount+ originals such as Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies, The Game and Queen of the Universe were also removed. Nickelodeon and CBS Studios were given the option to shop the series to other networks.
This isn’t the first time Nickelodeon has partnered with Netflix on a project. In 2019, they released two movies based on beloved Nicktoons, Invader Zim: Enter the Florpus and Rocko’s Modern Life: Static Cling, as well as the new animated series Pinky Malinky. This was followed up by the release of the new series Glitch Techs in 2020, and two animated movies: The Loud House Movie in 2021, and Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie in 2022. The two are also partnering together on the upcoming live-action adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender, slated to premiere in 2024.
Developed by Emmy® Award winners Kevin and Dan Hageman (Trollhunters and Ninjago), the CG-animated series Star Trek: Prodigy is the first Star Trek series aimed at younger audiences and follows a motley crew of young aliens who must figure out how to work together while navigating a greater galaxy, in search of a better future. These six young outcasts know nothing about the ship they have commandeered – a first in the history of the Star Trek franchise – but over the course of their adventures together, they will each be introduced to Starfleet and the ideals it represents.
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.
Star Trek: Prodigy is from CBS’ Eye Animation Productions, CBS Studios’ animation arm; Nickelodeon Animation, led by president of animation Ramsey Naito; Secret Hideout; and Roddenberry Entertainment. Alex Kurtzman, Heather Kadin, Aaron Baiers, Rod Roddenberry and Trevor Roth serve as executive producers, alongside co-showrunners Kevin and Dan Hageman. Ben Hibon directs, executive produces and serves as the creative lead of the animated series. Aaron Waltke and Patrick Krebs also currently serve as co-executive producers.
Below is the official announcement:
Star Trek: Prodigy to Stream on Netflix
Previously aired first season coming to the platform later this year, with the new, second season of the animated series slated to debut in 2024!
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| StarTrek.com |
StarTrek.com is pleased to report Star Trek: Prodigy has found its new home at Netflix.
The previously aired first season of the animated kids' series will be coming to the service later in 2023. In addition, the new second season, currently in production, is slated to debut on Netflix in 2024.
Star Trek: Prodigy is the first Star Trek series aimed at younger audiences and follows a motley crew of young aliens who must figure out how to work together while navigating a greater galaxy, in search of a better future. These six young outcasts know nothing about the ship they have commandeered – a first in the history of the Star Trek franchise – but over the course of their adventures together, they will each be introduced to Starfleet and the ideals it represents.
“Thank you to our incredible Star Trek: Prodigy fans, who championed not just a show, but a community that’s always been connected by the belief that we build a better future together,” said executive producer Alex Kurtzman and co-showrunners Dan and Kevin Hageman. “We set out to inspire you, but you inspired us. The team is still hard at work on the second season, and we can’t wait to share it with the amazing fans around the world.”
“I've always held that the Star Trek fan base is among the strongest and most intelligent in the world. They have shown their collective passion, and we’re happy to be able to celebrate Prodigy once again,” said Kate Mulgrew, voice of Admiral Janeway.
Earlier this summer, Kevin and Dan Hageman revealed an extended first look at the second season's premiere episode, where the former crew of the U.S.S. Protostar and now warrant Starfleet officers in training are reunited for an internship under the command of Admiral Janeway. Escorting them to the admiral's new ship is Janeway's dear friend, The Doctor.
Star Trek: Prodigy is developed by Emmy® Award winners Kevin and Dan Hageman (Trollhunters and Ninjago), along with Alex Kurtzman and his team at Secret Hideout. Star Trek: Prodigy is from CBS Studios’ Eye Animation Productions, Nickelodeon Animation, Secret Hideout, and Roddenberry Entertainment. Alex Kurtzman, Heather Kadin, Aaron Baiers, Rod Roddenberry and Trevor Roth serve as executive producers, alongside co-showrunners Kevin and Dan Hageman. Ben Hibon directs, executive produces, and serves as the creative lead of the animated series. Aaron Waltke and Patrick Krebs also currently serve as co-executive producers.
The Star Trek: Prodigy voice cast includes Kate Mulgrew (Hologram Kathryn Janeway), 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 received a 2023 TCA Award nomination for “Outstanding Achievement in Family Programming” along with a 2022 Children’s and Family Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Animated Series, and production designer, Alessandro Taini, won the award for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Animation.
The Star Trek series, including Star Trek: Discovery, Star Trek: Picard, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, and the animated series Star Trek: Lower Decks are available to stream on Paramount+, with the recently announced Star Trek: Section 31 and Star Trek: Starfleet Academy slated to begin production soon. Additionally, the animated children’s series, Star Trek: Prodigy, is coming soon to Netflix and in Canada on CTV.ca and the CTV App, and is currently available on SkyShowtime in the Nordics, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and Central and Eastern Europe.
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Originally published: October 11, 2023 at 21:14 BST.
H/T: @GrantMustRant, @CreddieFacts; Additional sources: Deadline, TheWrap, What's on Netflix, Vital Thrills.
