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Paramount+ / 20th Television
On December 19, 2024, “Star Trek: Lower Decks” concluded its five-season run on Paramount+. It was the most recent Star Trek show to be cancelled in what seems to be a downsizing phase for the franchise. In 2017, Paramount had initiated a strategy of focusing all its efforts on Star Trek properties, resulting in six concurrent shows. However, over the past few years, five of these six shows have been axed, including “Star Trek: Prodigy”, which was removed from Paramount+ entirely. The apparent reason is that Paramount was unwilling to meet the financial requirements of sustaining multiple Star Trek shows.
“Star Trek: Strange New Worlds” is, as of now, the only Star Trek show with a confirmed future. A TV movie titled “Star Trek: Section 31” is slated for 2025, and a new series, “Starfleet Academy,” is currently being produced. Other Star Trek media projects are in the early stages of development, but their future is uncertain.
“Lower Decks” concluding was a significant blow to Star Trek fans. Among the new Star Trek shows, it seemed to be the most well-received, upholding the central principles of Star Trek while incorporating irreverent humor and relatable characters. The series concluded with the U.S.S. Cerritos continuing its mission under a new captain, suggesting that the adventures would go on, even if we couldn’t view them.
However, there’s a glimmer of hope for a potential revival of “Lower Decks.” Tawny Newsome, who portrayed the rebellious Beckett Mariner, recently expressed to Variety her desire for “Lower Decks” to follow in the footsteps of “Futurama” – an animated sci-fi show known for being cancelled and revived multiple times.
Could Lower Decks Follow Futurama’s Resurrection?
20th Television
“Futurama”, the brainchild of Matt Groening and David X. Cohen, was first aired in 1999. It was set in the early 31st century, a time when Earth had become a diverse mix of humans, aliens, mutants, and robots. Despite its popularity, it was cancelled by Fox after only four seasons in 2002. The subsequent DVD sales of “Futurama” were impressive, leading Comedy Central to fund four straight-to-video “Futurama” movies in 2009, effectively resulting in a new season. However, “Futurama” faced cancellation again after the movies. Comedy Central saw potential and resurrected the show in 2010, producing 52 more episodes before cancelling it a third time. Finally, in 2023, Hulu stepped in and revived “Futurama”, and new episodes are still being aired as of now.
This series of events is well-known to sci-fi TV fans, including Tawny Newsome. With the conclusion of “Star Trek: Lower Decks”, the possibility of such shows being resurrected due to popular demand is now common knowledge. Newsome stated:
“Everyone involved in its creation would love to continue. I’m not sure who would fund it or if they think it’s feasible. But Mike [McMahan, the show creator] has countless stories for these characters. He could easily create 10 more seasons. He’s far from finished. None of us are. Myself, Jack [Quaid], Eugene [Cordero], Noël [Wells], and our bridge crew and recurring characters are all willing. We’re all ready to be the next ‘Futurama.’ We’ll make a comeback in 10 years if needed.”
To the best of our knowledge, “Lower Decks” wasn’t cancelled due to any fault of its own. Rather, it was likely removed from the Paramount+ lineup due to budget constraints. If that’s the case, the show could be revived if the financials work out.
Sometimes, They Return… Again
Paramount+
Newsome also mentioned her willingness to explore any format or medium. “Futurama” was made into four movies – so why not “Lower Decks”? There was even a “Lower Decks” crossover episode where Boimler (Jack Quaid) and Mariner were portrayed in live action. Newsome is excited about any potential new “Lower Decks” projects, stating:
“We’re all up for it. I would love a movie. A live-action movie would be great because we would get to see Noël, Jerry [O’Connell], and Eugene in their human forms… human-ish forms.”
Noël Wells’ character, D’Vana Tendi, is actually Orion, hence the “human-ish”.
However, “Lower Decks” may face some challenges. As Paramount has held the Star Trek rights for a long time, they would be the only ones able to revive “Lower Decks”. If they were dealing with budget issues (which has been the case for Paramount in recent years), no amount of public support would bring back a show. “Futurama” was able to switch networks, moving from Fox to Comedy Central to Disney-owned Hulu. Other broadcasters were more open to taking the risk. For “Lower Decks” to be revived, the same studio that cancelled it would need to be convinced.
But there is some hope. Newsome can point to “Family Guy” as an example. The animated sitcom was cancelled by Fox in 2002 due to low ratings but was revived after a three-year hiatus due to the success of reruns on Comedy Central. The show has been in production since, now in its 23rd season.
The takeaway is clear: fans of “Lower Decks” should support the show by purchasing Blu-rays and re-watching episodes on Paramount+. If the viewership numbers are high, there’s a chance the U.S.S. Cerritos could return.
FAQs
Q: What is “Star Trek: Lower Decks”?
A: “Star Trek: Lower Decks” is an animated series in the Star Trek franchise that aired on Paramount+ for five seasons.
Q: Why was it cancelled?
A: It appears that the cancellation was due to budgetary constraints at Paramount+ rather than any issues with the show itself.
Q: Is there a chance of the show being revived?
A: While there’s no official confirmation, there is hope among fans and the show’s cast that “Lower Decks” could be resurrected, much like “Futurama” was.
Q: How can fans support a potential revival?
A: By purchasing Blu-rays of the show and re-watching
Credit: www.slashfilm.com
