One beloved series in the Star Trek franchise is set to continue boldly going, while one is coming to an end. Paramount+ revealed that Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, currently in production for its third season, will return for season four. The streamer also announced that the animated series Star Trek: Lower Decks will conclude its run with the upcoming season five. Season five, the final season of Lower Decks, premieres this fall. This means two Trek series are ending this year, as Star Trek: Discovery is also wrapping up at the end of the current season.
In a statement, CBS Studios President David Staff said the following:
Lower Decks and Strange New Worlds are integral to the Star Trek franchise, expanding the boundaries of the universe and exploring new and exciting worlds. We are extraordinarily proud of both series as they honor the legacy of what Gene Roddenberry created almost 60 years ago. We are so grateful to work with Secret Hideout, Alex Kurtzman, Mike McMahan, Akiva Goldsman, Henry Alonso Myers and the cast, crews and artists who craft these important and entertaining stories for fans around the world.
Right now, it feels like the Star Trek franchise is contracting and not expanding. Both Discovery and Lower Decks are ending after five seasons. In the modern streaming era though, most view five seasons as a decent run. Paramount+ canceled Prodigy, but its second season found a home on Netflix. A third season remains in doubt. Section 31 went from series to film. Picard ended on a high note with season three. Yet there has been no news about a proposed follow-up series, Star Trek: Legacy. The only other live-action Star Trek series going into production soon is Starfleet Academy. All of this may have more to do with Paramount’s financial uncertainty than anything else. However, if Star Trek has proven to be anything over nearly 58 years, it’s that it will survive any studio downturn.