(written from a Production point of view)
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Warning! This page contains information regarding Star Trek: Prodigy, and thus may contain spoilers.
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Star Trek: Prodigy is an animated series that will air in 2021, first on Paramount+, then on Nickelodeon. It is the third animated Star Trek series, following Star Trek: The Animated Series and Star Trek: Lower Decks.
Alex Kurtzman stated that unlike Lower Decks, Prodigy will be kid-focused with an "entirely different perspective and an entirely different tone," adding, "What's exciting about it is not only looking at each animated series as what's the different tone, but what's the different technology we can apply to these things so that visually they're entirely different?" [2]
In February 2019, it was announced Nickelodeon had entered talks to air the show, and Trollhunters writers and executive producers Kevin and Dan Hageman had boarded the project. [3]
On 24 April 2019, it was revealed that the series would indeed air on Nickelodeon and focus on a group of lawless teenage characters finding a derelict Starfleet ship which they use to "search for adventure, meaning and salvation". Star Trek: Prodigy at StarTrek.com
In May 2019, CBS filed copyright for the titles "Star Trek: Section 31" and "Star Trek: Prodigy", with posts on Reddit later in the year attaching the Prodigy title to the second animated series. [4]
On 23 July 2020, it was revealed that the show would indeed be named Star Trek: Prodigy and would air on Nickelodeon in 2021. [5] [6]
Cast
The bridge crew of Prodigy
- Kate Mulgrew as Captain Janeway [7]
- William O. Campbell as Thadiun Okona [8]
- Rylee Alazraqui as Rok-Tahk [9]
- Brett Gray as Dal [10]
- Angus Imrie as Zero [11]
- Jason Mantzoukas as Jankom Pog [12]
- Ella Purnell as Gwyn [13]
- Dee Bradley Baker as Murf [14]
Development
In July 2019, the Hagemans announced the full writers' room for the show. [15] Among those revealed to be writing the series are Trollhunters writer-producers Aaron Waltke and Chad Quandt, The 100 writer-producers Shawna Benson and Julie Benson, Black Sails writer Lisa Boyd, Shades of Blue writer Nikhil Jayaram, and Diandra Pendleton-Thompson.
In October 2019, Kurtzman said that this series will be animated in a digital 3D style, like Ninjago or Trollhunters, as opposed to the more "cartoon" look of Star Trek: Lower Decks. He also confirmed that the series had been picked up for a two-season order, and that a title had been chosen for the series, but he was not yet ready to reveal it. [16]
In the same interview, Heather Kadin said that, due to the time-consuming process of 3D animation, the series would likely air later than 2021. Kadin also emphasized that the Hagemans' writing style will be accessible to kids without patronizing them or alienating their parents:
"The reason we went to the Hagemans is because if you've seen their work, you know that they’re not writing "Muppet Babies." It's not "Little Spock and Little Kirk." It's not playing down [to viewers] that way."
"Even [with] their characters in Ninjago – they are teenagers – I was able to watch that with my kids and they write with a very epic quality. They tell stories the way we tell stories in live action: serialized, turning over cards…"
"I think it will be a great way for fans to introduce the franchise to their kids, and for new fans to be formed, because it's such a big franchise, [it can be hard] to get into as a kid." [17]
In an October 2020 interview with Trek Report, producer and writer Aaron Waltke said that Prodigy aims to bridge the gap between old and new iterations of the Star Trek franchise, with a series that strikes a tone of hope and idealism. [18]
"It's been exhilarating to make a series that honors classic Trek for legacy fans like myself, but also provides an entry point for new audiences to be introduced to the world of the Federation and its aspirations for an idealistic future, even when facing adversity. Writing the return of our beloved Voyager captain feels oddly iconic, like a homecoming for me. And we hope to create something both young and old can watch together... just as I once did with my dad all those many years ago." [19]
In February 2021, it was announced that Prodigy would debut on Paramount+ in 2021. An image of the alien bridge crew was also released. [20]
On First Contact Day in April 2021, the Hagemans revealed that the series will be set in the Delta Quadrant in 2383. They also revealed an image of Captain Janeway as she will appear in the series, and explained that the character will appear as an emergency training hologram on board the starship. A new summary of the series' premise was also released:
Prodigy "will follow a motley crew of young aliens who must figure out how to work together while navigating a greater galaxy, in search for 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." Star Trek: Prodigy at StarTrek.com
Promotion
Products
In June 2019, Eaglemoss/Hero Collector's project manager Ben Robinson indicated that the company will manufacture starship miniatures from this series. [21]
Related topics
| Star Trek television series |
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| The Original Series • The Animated Series • The Next Generation • Deep Space Nine • Voyager • Enterprise • Discovery • Picard • Lower Decks • Prodigy • Strange New Worlds |
| Companion series: After Trek • Short Treks • The Ready Room |
| Web content: very Short Treks |
| In development: Starfleet Academy |