CBS has ramped up production on its new Star Trek series, and most of the details coming out of the show is good news for longtime Trek fans.
The network recently tapped noted TV director David Semel to direct and executive produce the new Star Trek's first episode.
This is good news because Semel already has a proven track record, particularly with CBS. He directed pilots for Madame Secretary, Code Black and Pure Genius, all shows that are on the network's fall schedule, meaning that those pilots were good enough to get picked up for full seasons. Madame Secretary specifically has gone on to become a solid hit for the network. Semel also directed the first episode of Person of Interest, which had a successful run on CBS. He also directed first episodes of shows for other networks, including Legends, American Dreams and No Ordinary Family.
CBS understands the pressure of getting Star Trek right. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the series, but it hasn't always meant success for the franchise on TV. The last series, Enterprise, only met with a mediocre response from fans. However, thanks to the Star Trek movies, which rebooted the first Star Trek series, the franchise is more popular than ever.
The movies, though, received criticism for operating in an alternate universe. However, all signs now point to the CBS series staying within the continuity of the TV shows that came before it. Previous reports suggest that events on the new series will take place between the original series and Star Trek: The Next Generation.
The show is also in good hands, with Bryan Fuller serving as showrunner. Fuller cut his teeth in show business as a writer for Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Star Trek: Voyager.
"My very first experience of Star Trek is my oldest brother turning off all the lights in the house and flying his model of a D7 Class Klingon Battle Cruiser through the darkened halls," said Fuller in a CBS press release, as reported by the Hollywood Reporter. "Before seeing a frame of the television series, the Star Trek universe lit my imagination on fire. It is without exaggeration a dream come true to be crafting a brand new iteration of Star Trek with fellow franchise alum Alex Kurtzman and boldly going where no Star Trek series has gone before."
Semel's involvement is just another reason to get excited about the new Star Trek series, which will premiere on CBS in January and then air exclusively on the network's streaming subscription service All Access.
