New ‘Star Trek’ TV Series a Go at CBS All Access

Just in time for its 50th anniversary, Star Trek is returning to the small screen.

Just in time for its 50th anniversary, Star Trekis returning to the small screen. classic for TV, The Hollywood Reporter has learned. The new Star Trek has been picked up straight to series at CBS, with the premiere slated for the network in January 2017. Subsequent episodes will air on its digital and VOD platform, CBS All Access. The premiere and all subsequent episodes will then be available in the U.S. on CBS All Access, the network’s digital subscription video on demand and live streaming service. Star Trekmarks the first original series developed specifically for CBS All Access.

The cross-platform streaming service, which hosts thousands of episodes from CBS’ roster (both past and present) is available for $5.99 per month. Included in the fee is the ability to stream the local network live. All previous Star Trek series are currently available on CBS All Access. CBS Studios International will distribute the series for TV and multiple platforms around the world.

The drama is set up at CBS Television Studios and Kurtzman’s Secret Hideout banner. Kurtzman and development head Heather Kadin will exec produce. A search is under way for a writer to take on the cult hit. The franchise is poised to celebrate its 50th anniversary as the original series debuted Sept. 8, 1966.

The new Star Trek TV series continues Kurtzman’s relationship with the beloved franchise. He produced theStar Trek feature film series, co-writing 2013’s Star Trek Into Darkness and 2009’s franchise revival. The fourth in the franchise set for 2019, though Kurtzman is not attached.

CBS TV Studios distributed the original series, which was produced by Paramount Television and Desilu Productions. Created by Gene Roddenberry and starring William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy, the series ran for three seasons and 79 episodes from 1966-67 on NBC and became a monster hit via syndication. It spawned an animated series (1973-74), a series of feature films — starting in 1979 — and four TV follow-ups including The Next Generation (1987-1994), Deep Space Nine (1993-99), Voyager (1995-2001) and Enterprise(2001-05).

News of a new Star Trek TV series comes as the franchise has been mired in rights issues between CBS and Paramount after Viacom merged with CBS in 2000. CBS Corp. absorbed Paramount for television, while Paramount Studios — the company that distributed the films — went to Viacom.

The Star Trek revival comes as reboots and follow-ups continue to be in high demand on broadcast (and cable/streaming). Kurtzman — and frequent partner Roberto Orci, who is not attached to CBSTVS’ Star Trek — is behind CBS’ follow-up to Bradley Cooper’s Limitless and also exec produces the network’s veteran Hawaii Five-0 reboot. The K/O banner currently has four shows on the air — Hawaii, Limitless and sophomore dramaScorpion as well as Fox’s Sleepy Hollow. K/O is repped by CAA and Gendler Kelly.