Having been the show to bring Star Trek back to the small screen for the first time in over a decade under the then-branded CBS All Access in 2017, Paramount+ has announced that Star Trek: Discovery is set to conclude its voyage with its upcoming fifth season.
“I can hardly believe that this mind-blowing journey with Star Trek: Discovery is ending,” said Sonequa Martin-Green, who leads the cast as Michael Burnham and also serves as a producer on the series. “I’m astoundingly blessed by God to have played Captain Michael Burnham and to have taken part in a legacy alongside an extraordinary cast, phenomenal crew and remarkable writing team…. I will never forget how it felt to stand together as a show family, cradling the heirloom of Trek with all those from the franchise at large and with the fans. The fans welcomed us into their hearts as we launched a new iteration of Trek and an entire entertainment platform, and we’ll never forget it. 65 episodes later, here’s to the entire company of Star Trek: Discovery, to the show and its fifth and final season, to its beloved fans and to all those who envision a better future. Let’s fly…”
“As lifelong fans of Star Trek, it has been an immense honor and privilege to help bring Star Trek: Discovery to the world,” added showrunners Alex Kurtzman and Michelle Paradise. “The ‘Trek’ universe means so much to so many – including us – and we couldn’t be prouder of everything Discovery has contributed to its legacy, particularly with representation. If just one person sees themselves, or the possibilities for their future, in a new way because of Discovery, then we think we’d have made Gene Roddenberry very proud.”
“To the fans around the world, thank you for joining us on this incredible journey,” they continued. “Your love for these characters and your excitement for every episode, every season, has meant the world to us. We can’t wait for you to see what we’ve been working on for this final season; we appreciate your patience in the meantime and trust us when we say it’ll be worth the wait. We love you all!”
The fifth season of Star Trek: Discovery wrapped production this past November, but THR is reporting that additional filming is now underway, which is designed to “help craft a conclusion for the series” which sees Sonequa Martin-Green starring alongside Doug Jones, Anthony Rapp, Mary Wiseman, Wilson Cruz, David Ajala and Blu del Barrio.
The news of Discovery’s cancellation comes amid reports that Paramount+ is looking to follow the likes of Warner Bros. Discovery and HBO Max by slashing its spending on streaming content. Paramount+ is still said to have big plans for Star Trek on the small screen however, although Star Trek: Picard is currently airing its third and final season and there has been no official word on the future of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds or the animated series Star Trek: Lower Decks and Star Trek: Prodigy beyond their own upcoming seasons, nor on the numerous spinoff projects that have been in development over the past couple of years.