Star Trek: Discovery Showrunners Fired, Kurtzman to Replace

CBR

Star Trek: Discovery Showrunners Fired, Kurtzman to Step In

By Nicole Sobon

Published Jun 15, 2018

Star Trek: Discovery has fired its current showrunners ahead of the series' second season, replacing them with executive producer Alex Kurtzman.

Yet another showrunner change is underway for CBS All Access' Star Trek: Discovery.

As first revealed by The Hollywood Reporter, Season 1 showrunners Aaron Harberts and Gretchen Berg have been fired from the drama's second season and will be replaced by executive producer Alex Kurtzman. Following the change, Kurtzman will now oversee the writer's room for Season 2 of Discovery.

CBS Television Studios released a statement to the outlet, confirming the change in showrunners while also reassuring fans that the show remains on track to return next year. "We’ve made some producer changes at Star Trek: Discovery. The series continues under the creative vision and leadership of executive producer and co-creator Alex Kurtzman. Discovery remains on course for season two in 2019 with new and continuing stories that build on its successful premiere season."

The decision to oust Harberts and Berg, who replaced original Season 1 showrunner Bryan Fuller, was said to be due to the need for leadership and operational issues, rather than the standard creative issues. Harassment from the showrunners towards the writers was also said to be one of the reasons CBS decided to replace the duo, with some writers having threatened to either go to human resources or outright quit the show after becoming increasingly uncomfortable at work. Interestingly enough, though, the move comes after five episodes of the show's second season have already been completed, so Kurtzman's role as showrunner will officially begin with the sixth episode of Season 2. This should allow Harberts and Berg to still receive credit for the first five episodes of season two.

Available for viewing now on the CBS All Access streaming platform, Star Trek: Discovery stars Sonequa Martin-Green, Doug Jones, Anthony Rapp, Shazad Latif, Mary Wiseman, Wilson Cruz, Mary Chieffo, Jason Isaacs and Michelle Yeoh.