A brand new set of Star Trek rumors has surfaced claiming that there is an internal power struggling being waged between Emma Watts and Alex Kurtzman for the future of Star Trek.
Not only does this new rumor from 4Chan detail there is an internal power struggle, but it also claims that Star Trek: Picard Season 2 will not be happening and that Lower Decks might also get the axe.
The rumor begins by claiming that “Star Trek Prodigy has been cancelled internally, due to Emma Watts pushing to take the reigns of Star Trek away from Alex Kurtzman and Bad Robot.”
Star Trek: Prodigy was just recently announced by ViacomCBS just about a month ago in July. In that announcement the official Star Trek website revealed that the show was being developed by Kevin and Dan Hageman and overseen by Nickelodeon’s Ramsey Naito.
The series is expected to be fully CG-animated and follow “a group of lawless teens who discover a derelict Starfleet ship and use it to search for adventure, meaning and salvation.”
They announced the series was expected to debut on Nickelodeon in 2021.
Just a week ago, Star Trek would also announce they found a director for the series in Codehunters’ Ben Hibon. Not only will Hibon direct but he will also serve as co-executive producer and the creative lead.
Naito announced Hibon’s involvement saying, “Ben’s contributions to the world of animation are immeasurable, and we are so lucky to have his vision and creative genius on Star Trek: Prodigy. As an incredible storyteller and a world builder with a distinct vision, his original approach paired with this beloved property will bring the characters to life in a whole new way.”
Hibon added his own comments, “Getting the chance to work on an IP like Star Trek has been an incredible opportunity, particularly when partnered with the talented teams at Nickelodeon, CBS and Secret Hideout – who have been pushing the boundaries of what animation and serialized storytelling for younger audiences can deliver.”
It’s hard to imagine the show would be cancelled 7 days after finding a director, but it’s also not the first time that a show would fall into limbo while having an attached a director.
As far as the internal struggle between Kurtzman and Emma Watts, Watts was announced as the newly appointed President of Paramount Motion Picture Group, a subsidiary of ViacomCBS at the end of June.
In a report from Deadline they detailed that Watts role would be to “oversee the studio’s film operations from development to release, including Paramount Pictures and Paramount Players production labels, as well as managing the creative/development group and supervising casting, physical production, post production and music.”
Watts made a few comments saying, “At such a rapidly evolving time in our business, Paramount’s rich history and commitment to unique and diverse storytelling make it essential in this new era of filmmaking.” She added, “I look forward to working alongside Jim and the rest of the talented Paramount team to continue creating an environment that not only provides stability and confidence within the industry, but also empowers the creative community to do their very best work.”
According to another report from Deadline earlier this month, Watts’ top priority is Star Trek. They claim that “new film chief Emma Watts, who managed many a franchise at Fox, is in the process of figuring out which way to go.”
Nevertheless, the rumor goes on to point out that the Star Trek Short Treks have been cancelled.
The rumor also adds that Star Trek: Discovery Season 3 will most likely be its final season due to Watts’ intervention. The rumor specifically states, “Star Trek Discovery Season 3 has been edited and filmed to end on a series finale, but was meant to leave things open if there was a possibility for renewal. However, thanks to Watts it definitely will not be.”
Related: Star Trek: Lower Decks VA Jerry O’Connell Responds To Fan Claims That Show Is Failing
Next, the rumor claims that Star Trek: Lower Decks might also be on the chopping block. It states, “Star Trek Lower Decks may or may not survive depending on its viewership but it is extremely low, which might make its ‘greenlit’ Season 2 suddenly evaporate.
Star Trek: Lower Decks was initially reported by Deadline to have a two-season order back in October 2018.
The rumor would then address Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. It claims “Strange New Worlds so far is unaffected but if Kurtzman is removed entirely then the leadership on it will also change and Akiva Goldsman will be removed too.”
The rumor then claims Star Trek: Picard Season 2 “will not happen.” It claims, “Sir Patrick is contractually bound to talk about the production positively in public, but that will cease come November when he will be released from his contract and the show will be formally cancelled.”
Stewart has routinely discussed that a second season is happening. Just a little over a month ago, Stewart sat down with Wil Wheaton and told him Season 2 was happening.
Stewart stated, “I had some encouraging news, only yesterday, about when we might be looking at starting again. You know it’s all these predictions are dependent on the best possible circumstance.”
He added, “I can tell you that CBS is utterly committed to another season of our show. Utterly committed. That’s going to happen.”
“Other than that I’m not being provocative, but I don’t actually have much to tell you,” Stewart concluded.
Related: Report: Star Trek: Picard Saw Massive Drop In Viewership by Season Finale!
Stewart’s reassurances of a Picard Season 2 come after the show saw more than a half a million drop in viewership during the first season in just Canada. A recent report from Giant Freakin Robot claimed the show lost at least 45% of its overall viewership.
The rumor then doubled down on the idea there is a power struggle between Watts, Kurtzman, and J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot. It reads, “An internal power struggle over Trek is occuring between Watts and Kurtzman, backed by JJ Abrams, who receives profits from all new Trek shows through Bad Robot licensing.”
It then claims that the entire production slate of Star Trek could be wiped claim if Watts emerges victorious against Kurtzman and J.J. Abrams, “If Watts manages to oust them, the Trek production slate will be wiped clean and a deal will be made with a new showrunner.”
You can see the full rumor from 4Chan below.
What do you make of these new rumors? Do you think there is a power struggle between Emma Watts and Alex Kurtzman? Do you think Kurtzman’s Trek shows are on the ropes and will be cancelled?