Over the last decade or more, TV shows have been created in much the same way. Someone comes up with the idea, decides to write at least the first episode and produce the rest of the series. That person becomes the “showrunner” and hires a team of creators to bring the vision to life. It just works well that way. And as the folks behind the upcoming “Star Trek: Picard” are finding out, there’s a reason for this method.
According to Variety, CBS has brought on Michael Chabon as the showrunner of “Star Trek: Picard.” The newly created CBS All Access ‘Star Trek’ universe is not immune to showrunner changes, as ‘Discovery’ has seemingly installed a revolving door in the showrunner’s office. But the weird part about Chabon coming onto ‘Picard’ is the fact that he’s replacing…no one.
Breaking from TV production conventions, ‘Picard’ is the rare series that decided to go its own way without the use of a showrunner, giving the writers and producers much more of a democratic say over the direction of the series. Honestly, it all feels very ‘Trek.’ However, much like the idyllic world of the series, the truth is that we’re just not quite there yet and even franchise spin-offs that should write themselves, such as ‘Picard,’ need a leader at the helm.
“‘Star Trek’ has been an important part of my way of thinking about the world, the future, human nature, storytelling and myself since I was ten years old,” said Chabon. “I come to work every day in a state of joy and awe at having been entrusted with the character and the world of Jean-Luc Picard, with this vibrant strand of the rich, intricate and complex tapestry that is ‘Trek.’”
‘Picard,’ as the name implies, features the return of Patrick Stewart as the titular character, a former Enterprise captain that has to come back to Starfleet after years away, which were spent apparently making wine. The rest of the cast includes Alison Pill, Michelle Hurd, Evan Evagora, Isa Briones, Santiago Cabrera, and Harry Treadaway.
“Star Trek: Picard” is slated to premiere sometime later this year.