Coming soon to a star system near near you -- CBS has ordered two seasons of a new Star Trek animated comedy series from the head writer of Rick and Morty.
After news that Sir Patrick Stewart would be reprising his role as Captain Jean-Luc Picard Star Trek fans might have thought that things could not get any better than that, but CBS has just announced plans to boldly take the franchise where it has never gone before -- animated comedy.
CBS has ordered two seasons of an animated Star Trek comedy series from the head writer of Rick and Morty, Mike McMahan.
The series, called Star Trek: Lower Decks, "will focus on the support crew serving on one of Starfleet's least important ships."
Itwill be the first animated series on CBS' All Access service, though just one of many in the ever expanding Star Trek universe which CBS has said will also include a show about Starfleet Academy and two limited series.
In total CBS is aiming to create five new Star Trek series as part of a deal struck with Star Trek: Discovery showrunner Alex Kurtzman who took over the series in June.
Kurtzman will be executive producing the show alongside Roddenberry Entertainment and Rod Roddenberry, the son of Star Trek's creator Gene Roddenberry.
In an interview with Variety Kurtzman talked about bringing in Rick and Morty head writer Mike McMahan to write the show.
"Mike won our hearts with his first sentence: 'I want to do a show about the people who put the yellow cartridge in the food replicator so a banana can come out the other end'. His cat's name is Riker. His son's name is Sagan. The man is committed. He's brilliantly funny and knows every inch of every 'Trek' episode, and that's his secret sauce: he writes with the pure, joyful heart of a true fan. As we broaden the world of 'Trek' to fans of all ages, we're so excited to include Mike's extraordinary voice."
McMahan is also working on another series called Solar Opposites for Hulu with Rick and Morty co-creator Justin Roiland, but "as a life-long Trekkie" Star Trek: Lower Decks is his dream come true.
"It's a surreal and wonderful dream come true to be a part of this new era of Star Trek. While Star Trek: Lower Decks is a half-hour, animated show at its core, it's undeniably 'Trek' β and I promise not to add an episode at the very end that reveals the whole thing took place in a training program."
Although it will be the first Star Trek comedy and the first animated series on All Access it will not be the first animated Star Trek show. From 1973-1974 NBC aired Star Trek:The Animated Series which was voiced by much of the original 1960s cast.
No details have been given yet as to when the series will air, but fans are already getting excited for it.
And many were already talking about their hopes for the show.
The show however will be broadcast on CBS' paid streaming service All Access which appears to be a deal breaker more than few fans.
As excited as fans were for the new series many were also just hoping that McMahan will finish up his other projects before diving into something new.