PARAMOUNT+'S ORIGINAL ANIMATED KIDS’ SERIES “STAR TREK: PRODIGY” TO BEAM ONTO SCREENS ON OCTOBER 28
September 8, 2021 – Paramount+, the streaming service from ViacomCBS, today announced that the all-new animated kids’ series
STAR TREK: PRODIGY, will launch on October 28, 2021. The news, along with the show's first trailer - introduced by
Star Trek legend Kate Mulgrew - and poster were revealed during the second annual Star Trek Day.
Star Trek: Prodigy was first
announced in July of 2020, with Kate Mulgrew’s involvement being
revealed in October. The series will star Brett Gray as Dal, Angus Imrie as Zero, Jason Mantzoukas as Jankom Pog, Ella Purnell as Gwyn, Dee Bradley Baker as Murf, Rylee Alazraqui as Tok-Tahk and Kate Mulgrew as she returns as a holographic Kathryn Janeway, serving as the starship’s (U.S.S. Protostar NX-76884) built-in emergency training hologram. John Noble and Jimmi Simpson will voice the show's main villains, The Diviner and Drednok, respectively.
Developed by Emmy® Award winners Kevin and Dan Hageman (“Trollhunters” and “Ninjago”), the CG-animated series STAR TREK: PRODIGY is the first “Star Trek” series aimed at younger audiences, and will follow a motley crew of young aliens who must figure out how to work together while navigating a greater galaxy, in search of 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 is from CBS’ Eye Animation Productions, CBS Studios’ new animation arm; Nickelodeon Animation Studio, led by President of Animation Ramsey Naito; Secret Hideout; and Roddenberry Entertainment. Alex Kurtzman, Heather Kadin, Katie Krentz, Rod Roddenberry and Trevor Roth serve as executive producers alongside co-showrunners Kevin and Dan Hageman. Ben Hibon directs, co-executive produces and serves as the creative lead of the all-new animated series. Aaron Baiers also serves as co-executive producer.
Official Paramount+ press release:
OFFICIAL TRAILER FOR PARAMOUNT+’S ORIGINAL ANIMATED KIDS’ SERIES “STAR TREK: PRODIGY” REVEALED DURING “STAR TREK DAY”
“Star Trek: Prodigy” Official Key Art Also Debuted
“Star Trek: Prodigy” Premieres Thursday, Oct. 28 on
Paramount+ in the U.S. with a One-Hour Premiere Episode
Series Produced by Nickelodeon and CBS Studios’ Eye Animation Productions
Sept. 8, 2021 – Paramount+, the streaming service from ViacomCBS, today released the official trailer and key art for the upcoming all-new animated kids’ series STAR TREK: PRODIGY. The official trailer was virtually introduced by series star Kate Mulgrew, and the key art was unveiled by STAR TREK: PRODIGY executive producers Kevin and Dan Hageman during the series panel that took place at today’s global live-streamed Star Trek Day celebration.
In addition, it was announced that STAR TREK: PRODIGY will premiere on Thursday, Oct. 28 with a one-hour premiere episode, exclusively for Paramount+ subscribers in the U.S.
The STAR TREK: PRODIGY panel featured a conversation with series voice cast members Brett Gray and Dee Bradley Baker, executive producers Kevin and Dan Hageman, and director and co-executive producer Ben Hibon and was moderated by host Mica Burton.
The remaining Star Trek Day celebration panels are available to live-stream for free at StarTrek.com/Day and on
Paramount+ and Paramount+’s
Twitch page in the U.S. The Star Trek Day panel schedule can be found at
StarTrek.com/Day. After their initial airing, the panels will be available on-demand on Paramount+’s
YouTube Channel and on
Paramount+.
STAR TREK: PRODIGY is produced by the Nickelodeon Animation Studio and CBS Studios’ Eye Animation Production.
Developed by Emmy® Award winners Kevin and Dan Hageman (“Trollhunters” and “Ninjago”), the CG-animated series STAR TREK: PRODIGY is the first “Star Trek” series aimed at younger audiences, and will follow a motley crew of young aliens who must figure out how to work together while navigating a greater galaxy, in search of 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 is from CBS’ Eye Animation Productions, CBS Studios’ new animation arm; Nickelodeon Animation Studio, led by President of Animation Ramsey Naito; Secret Hideout; and Roddenberry Entertainment. Alex Kurtzman, Heather Kadin, Katie Krentz, Rod Roddenberry and Trevor Roth serve as executive producers alongside co-showrunners Kevin and Dan Hageman. Ben Hibon directs, co-executive produces and serves as the creative lead of the all-new animated series. Aaron Baiers also serves as co-executive producer. Claudia Spinelli is Nickelodeon’s Head of Animation Development with Kelley Gardner serving as Executive in Charge of production on STAR TREK: PRODIGY for Nickelodeon. Stephanie Groves is the Executive Vice President of Streaming and Cable Series for CBS Studios overseeing the series. STAR TREK: PRODIGY is distributed by ViacomCBS Global Distribution Group.
About Paramount+:
Paramount+, a direct-to-consumer digital subscription video on-demand and live streaming service from ViacomCBS, combines live sports, breaking news, and a mountain of entertainment. The premium streaming service features an expansive library of original series, hit shows and popular movies across every genre from world-renowned brands and production studios, including BET, CBS, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, Paramount Pictures and the Smithsonian Channel. The service is also the streaming home to unmatched sports programming, including every CBS Sports event, from golf to football to basketball and more, plus exclusive streaming rights for major sports properties, including some of the world’s biggest and most popular soccer leagues. Paramount+ also enables subscribers to stream local CBS stations live across the U.S. in addition to the ability to stream ViacomCBS Streaming’s other live channels: CBSN for 24/7 news, CBS Sports HQ for sports news and analysis, and ET Live for entertainment coverage.
For more information about Paramount+, please visit
www.paramountplus.com and follow @ParamountPlus on social platforms.
About the “Star Trek” Universe on Paramount+:
The “Star Trek” Universe on Paramount+ includes current and upcoming seasons of the original series STAR TREK: DISCOVERY, STAR TREK: PICARD, the animated series STAR TREK: LOWER DECKS and the upcoming STAR TREK: STRANGE NEW WORLDS and STAR TREK: PRODIGY, the first “Star Trek” series aimed at younger audiences. The “Star Trek” Universe on Paramount+ also includes all 726 episodes from the six classic “Star Trek” series and a selection of “Star Trek” films, including the documentary WOMAN IN MOTION: NICHELLE NICHOLS, STAR TREK AND THE REMAKING OF NASA.
For additional info on and photography from Paramount+’s STAR TREK: DISCOVERY, STAR TREK: PICARD, STAR TREK: LOWER DECKS, STAR TREK: STRANGE NEW WORLDS and STAR TREK: PRODIGY, please click
here.
About CBS Studios:
CBS Studios is one of the world’s leading suppliers of entertainment programming with more than 70 series currently in production for broadcast and cable networks, streaming services and other emerging platforms. The Studio’s expansive portfolio spans a diverse slate of commercially successful and critically acclaimed scripted programming, genre-defining franchises including the ever-growing “Star Trek” universe, award-winning late night and daytime talk shows, and an extensive library of iconic intellectual property.
About Nickelodeon:
Nickelodeon, now in its 42nd year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The brand includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, digital, location-based experiences, publishing and feature films. For more information or artwork, visit
http://www.nickpress.com. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of ViacomCBS Inc. (Nasdaq: VIACA, VIAC).
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While it is clear that it won't be the true Janeway that the characters interact with, there remains the possibility that the real, in-the-flesh character could make an appearance. It is possible that the crew may encounter the Starfleet proper at some point later down the line. Until then, this holographic version of Janeway will play a key part of the series, serving as the youngsters' guide on their journey to explore the galaxy and seek their future within it.
Interview: ‘Star Trek: Prodigy’ Producers On USS Protostar, Holo-Janeway And How The Show Is “Big”
On Star Trek Day, TrekMovie had a chance to speak exclusively with Star Trek: Prodigy executive producers Kevin and Dan Hageman and co-executive producer/director Ben Hibon about what to expect for the upcoming animated kids show.
Paramount Plus promotes Prodigy as the first Trek show made specifically for kids. Who do you see as the ideal audience, who is the real target?
Kevin Hageman: People who are new to Trek. That is what we’re trying to do. While these are kids in our show, they’re in the adult world of Trek. And they’re gonna slowly discover it, and have their falls, and their and their victories and stuff. It really is a show for people who have not experienced Trek before. And it’s an entry point in, and hopefully, people find the wonder and the magic of it all.
Can you give a status update on where you are with prepping the show for launch?
Dan Hageman: It’s coming out on October 28th. The pilot will be the first two episodes.
Kevin Hageman: It’s like a 44-minute pilot. Ben and the team have done spectacularly with it.
What kind of tone are you looking for? What’s the balance? Is all the humor coming from Jason Mantzoukas?
Dan Hageman: We’ve always kind of looked at screenwriting as a balance of action, comedy, and heart. And, and I think every character should have nuances of that. While there are some characters that are funnier than others, they’re all going through an experience that’s a fish out of water. And I think there’s inherent comedy in that. And there’s also inherent heart in that.
Ben, regarding the visual style of the show, can you talk about your influences? How much of Star Trek did you know before starting? And how did you go about creating the look?
Ben Hibon: Star Trek is in the Zeitgeist. I’ve always known and always had exposure to Trek. I’ve never had a specific go-to series, but I’ve always been interested and intrigued about the overall aesthetic, the UI, the ship design, the creatures, and the species. So all of that has always been in the conversation that I had as a sci-fi fan. So being able to kind re-approach it and figuring out a fresh direction to take in considering animation and breaking some of those limitations potentially other shows had and just really go with the imagination and having a slightly different perspective on that because of the tools that we’re using.
Trek has gone through many different aesthetic eras, from The Original Series and movies to the TNG era, to the Abrams era ,to now the Kurtzman era. So, do you draw more from any one of those?
Dan Hageman: I think a little bit of all of them.
Ben Hibon: It’s kind of a blender.
Dan Hageman: I don’t think these kids are going on an adventure through one era. These kids are going to go through an adventure with dabs of a lot of it.
In the Prime Universe…
Kevin Hageman: Yes, in the Prime Universe. When we started, we wanted to have a very big cinematic scope. And part of that was for Dan and I, our introduction to Star Trek was through the movies. Wrath of Khan was our first way in. And so I think you’ll see big drama, big scope in our animated series. I would say it’s very influenced by the movies, if anything.
Ben Hibon: With the kids, it’s really a rediscovery of Trek. They’re discovering Trek, so we’re discovering Trek with them, or doing it again. And so we wanted to start from a place where we could imagine a mysterious corner of the universe and then just drawback and travel back to Trek.
So they start in the Delta Quadrant on the mining asteroid, and they immediately make a beeline to the Alpha Quadrant. That sounds familiar. Are we traveling the same route as Voyager?
Dan Hageman: We won’t be traveling the same route as Voyager. But obviously, they’re going to get a lot of help from the Emergency Training Hologram Janeway. So she has some ideas of where to where to go.
Kevin Hageman: And I think in the Delta Quadrant, they might come across some familiar faces that maybe Voyager came across. Or, as they get closer to the Alpha and Beta quadrant, there might be other familiar faces.
Ben Hibon: And it’s never a straight line, right?
Kevin Hageman: It’s never a straight line now with a bunch of kids behind the wheel, come on.
So does Hologram Janeway have all the knowledge of the Janeway that arrived back on Earth in “Endgame?”
Kevin Hageman: She’s based off the historical records and personality records.
Dan Hageman: But I don’t think every little detail would be in her logs.
But the Protostar was launched after or before Voyager returned home?
Dan Hageman: Oh, it would be after Voyager returned home, I can say that. I can’t get much more detailed about
Kevin Hageman: Because it’s a big secret.
There is something special about this ship, right?
Dan Hageman: Yes, there’s something mysterious about the ship of why it’s there on [the mining asteroid] Tars Lamora. We’ve seen some fan theories out there, but no one’s really got it.
Kevin Hageman: She’s a part of the ship, right?
Does this tie into why there are so many Alpha Quadrant species on Tars Lamora?
Dan Hageman: Not related to the ship, no.
Kevin Hageman: But there are well thought out reasons why they are in our show, and why they’re in the Delta Quadrant.
Star Trek: Prodigy arrives on Paramount+ October 28, 2021. In Canada it will air on CTV Sci-Fi and stream on Crave. It will be made available in parts of Europe in 2022 via the new
Paramount+/Sky partnership.
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Originally published: September 09, 2021 at 02:12 BST.
