Star Trek: Discovery Showrunners On Show’s TOS, TNG Influences

Star Trek: Discovery will officially enter the pop culture world in September, when it premieres on CBS All Access. But many have wondered how the show will honor the pantheon of Trek content that came before it.

While the showrunners, Gretchen Berg and Aaron Harberts, have cited much of the Trek lore as inspiration for Discovery, they highlighted two pieces in particular during a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly.

“There’s a hint of all of them,” Berg revealed. “But in the writers’ room people are so in love with The Original Series and Next Generation, and they talk about the family aspect of those cast members.”

Harberts also referenced the previous Trek work of Micholas Myers, who wrote and directed Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan and Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country and wrote Discovery‘s second episode.

“I think Nicholas Myers’ film are a touchstone, and not just because he’s been on staff with us.” Harberts explained. “His storytelling is complex and intellectual and yet there’s a lot of room for character voices and character work, he’s done such an incredible job with the franchise.”

Fans will have to wait and see those influences come to life when Star Trek: Discovery premieres on September 24th.

Star Trek: Discovery was created by Bryan Fuller and Alex Kurtzman. Fuller was originally intended to be Discovery’s showrunner but was forced step down due to commitments to Starz’ adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s American Gods. Gretchen J. Berg and Aaron Harberts have taken over as showrunners.

Star Trek: Discovery takes place roughly a decade prior to the five-year mission of Star Trek: The Original Series. In breaking with franchise tradition, the show’s main protagonist will not be a captain. Instead, it will be First Officer Michael Burnham, played by The Walking Dead alum Sonequa Martin-Green.

Star Trek: Discovery‘s cast also includes Jason Isaacs as the starship Discovery’s Captain Lorca, Rainn Wilson as Star Trek: The Original Series character Harry Mudd, James Frain as Sarek, Spock’s father, and Michelle Yeoh as Captain Georgiou, the captain of another Starfleet ship, the Shenzhou, which will be important to the plot of Star Trek: Discovery. Doug Jones and Anthony Rapp both play science officers. Mary Wiseman will play a final year Starfleet Academy cadet.

Star Trek: Discovery premieres Sept. 24, 2017.

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