Paramount+ doesn't appear to have any intention of slowing down its output of Star Trek content anytime soon.
During the Television Critics Association press tour, Nicole Clemens -- Paramount+'s President of Original Scripted Series -- confirmed that the planned Star Trek spinoff series focusing on Section 31 is indeed still in the works. "Yes, we are still in development on Section 31, so there will be more news on that soon," she said.
Clemens also teased even more Star Trek projects to come, adding to Paramount+'s already stacked lineup of programs based on Gene Roddenberry's seminal sci-fi creation. "And two, the question about 'critical mass' on Star Trek, I think we have some fantastic offerings in our always on slate," she said. "And I think you may see a few more very curated additions coming."
Interestingly, Deadline recently reported that CBS Studios and Star Trek producer Alex Kurtzman's Secret Hideout were developing a spinoff series titled Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, with Absentia co-creator Gaia Violo attached to the project. According to Deadline, Starfleet Academy is expected to enter development after Section 31, which is itself "expected to get a pickup soon."
While speaking to Deadline, Kurtzman himself teased "another" upcoming Star Trek show besides Section 31 coming down the pipeline, though did not elaborate further. "We have to think several years out," he said. "We're thinking about knowing we'll want new shows on the air two or three years from now so we have to start planning those now. There's a bunch of things in development now that are starting to take shape and we're super excited about it."
It was in January 2019 -- three years ago now -- that Paramount+ (then known as CBS All Access) announced it was developing a Star Trek series focusing on Section 31, which is essentially a black-ops division of Starfleet. The series would serve as a spinoff of Star Trek: Discovery, with Bo Yeon Kim and Erika Lippoldt serving as showrunners and Michelle Yeoh reprising her role as the mirror-universe version of Capt. Philippa Georgiou.
Since then, however, updates on not-yet-officially-titled Star Trek: Section 31 have been few and far between. Production on the spinoff was originally supposed to begin after Discovery wrapped on Season 3, though was postponed due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. In February 2021, Kurtzman said Section 31 was still in the works, though would likely remain on ice until one of Paramount+'s existing five Star Trek Universe shows came to an end.
Currently, Discovery is preparing to release the second half of Season 4, with a fifth season already confirmed. Discovery Season 4 will be followed up by Star Trek: Picard Season 2, which will itself be followed up by Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 1. (Picard and Strange New Worlds have already been renewed for Season 3 and Season 2, respectively.) On the animated front, Star Trek: Prodigy is in the midst of Season 1 and has already been renewed for Season 2. Meanwhile, Star Trek: Lower Decks is gearing up for Season 3 and has already been renewed for Season 4.
Source: Variety