Star Trek: Prodigy, the beloved animated series aimed at younger viewers, has been unexpectedly cancelled by Paramount+. This decision has left fans wondering about the show’s fate and what lies ahead for its anticipated second season.
On 23 June, Paramount+ announced the cancellation of four shows, including Star Trek: Prodigy. The other cancelled series were Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies, The Game, and Queen of the Universe. A spokesperson for Paramount+ expressed gratitude to the cast, crew, and producing partners for their dedicated work on these programs.
Star Trek: Prodigy, created by Kevin and Dan Hageman, marked the first Star Trek animated show specifically designed for younger audiences. It introduced a new generation to the world of Star Trek and featured the return of Kate Mulgrew as Admiral Kathryn Janeway. The voice cast of Prodigy included talented actors such as Brett Gray, Ella Purnell, Rylee Alazraqui, and Angus Imrie, along with Dee Bradley Baker, Jason Mantzoukas, Jimmi Simpson, Jameela Jamil, and John Noble.
The cancellation of Star Trek: Prodigy is part of Paramount+’s merger with Showtime, which is set to take place at the end of June. As a result, the show, along with the other cancelled series, will be completely removed from the Paramount+ streaming service.
However, despite the cancellation, the second season of Star Trek: Prodigy is still undergoing post-production. CBS Studios, the production company behind the show, plans to shop it to find a new streaming home for both seasons 1 and 2. It is worth noting that although Star Trek: Prodigy was a joint venture between Paramount+/CBS Studios and Nickelodeon Studios, season 2 will not be aired on Nickelodeon either.
The executive producers of Star Trek: Prodigy, Kevin and Dan Hageman took to Twitter to confirm the news of the show’s cancellation. They expressed their gratitude to the fans and promised that the completion of production for season 2 would continue. Another executive producer, Aaron J. Waltke, also reassured fans that season 2 would be completed.
According to Variety, the decision to cancel Star Trek: Prodigy was “data-driven.” However, Paramount+ did not provide specific data highlighting the reasons for the cancellation. This move reflects the changes occurring within the streaming industry, where services like Max, Netflix, Disney+, and Hulu have been cutting existing shows and content as part of cost-cutting measures and tax write-offs. Paramount+ had previously removed other titles from its service, such as Coyote, The Real World, and The Twilight Zone.
If Star Trek: Prodigy can find a new streaming platform that will pick up both seasons 1 and 2, it would make Prodigy the first Star Trek series since the franchise’s revival in 2017 by Star Trek: Discovery not to be streamed on Paramount+. It is worth mentioning that Star Trek: Discovery was cancelled by Paramount+ and is awaiting the release of its fifth and final season in 2024.
The current landscape, where other services are also cutting content, raises questions about whether another streamer will take on Star Trek: Prodigy. Despite these uncertainties, fans remain hopeful that the show will find a new platform where they can enjoy both seasons 1 and 2.
If Prodigy fails to find a new streaming home, it could mean that season 2 will be completed but never seen. This would disappoint fans eagerly awaiting the continuation of the show’s adventures. As of now, the outcome remains uncertain.
Let us hope for a better future for Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, which will be the only new Star Trek series on Paramount once Discovery has ended. It seems Paramount+ isn’t the home of Star Trek after all. Time to cancel my subscription and invest in physical media.
