Star Trek’s Paramount Plus Movies Must Keep Canceled TV Shows Alive

Summary Paramount+ can revive canceled Star Trek shows through feature-length streaming films.

Characters from Discovery, Picard, and Lower Decks can continue their stories in movies.

The success of Star Trek legacy characters in films could pave the way for more spin-offs.

Paramount+ can keep canceled Star Trek shows alive by continuing the characters' adventures in feature-length made-for-streaming films. Although the Star Trek franchise began on television, Star Trek's 13 theatrical movies provided more adventures with characters from Star Trek: The Original Series and Star Trek: The Next Generation. Not only has the Star Trek franchise often moved from television to film, but Paramount+ has also set this precedent. The upcoming Star Trek: Section 31 starring Michelle Yeoh originally began as a concept for a television series.

Star Trek: Discovery comes to an end with season 5, and Paramount recently announced that the upcoming Star Trek: Lower Decks season 5 would also be its last. Star Trek: Picard was always meant to be 3 seasons, but after the success of Picard season 3, fans began clamoring for a spin-off. While Star Trek: Picard season 3 ended with the perfect setup for the fan-desired Star Trek: Legacy, it remains little more than a hope. But made-for-streaming, feature-length films on Paramount+ could bring back the characters from these canceled Star Trek shows, allowing their stories to continue.

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Star Trek’s Paramount Plus Movies Can Continue Canceled TV Shows

The characters of canceled Star Trek could live on in streaming films.

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Star Trek: Discovery, Star Trek: Picard, and Star Trek: Lower Decks all introduced compelling new characters to the Star Trek universe, and it would be a shame never to see those characters again. Michelle Yeoh's Emperor Phillipa Georgiou left Discovery in season 3, but will be the lead in Star Trek: Section 31, which brings back at least one Star Trek legacy character, a younger version of future USS Enterprise-C Captain Rachel Garrett (Kacey Rohl). If Section 31 proves to be successful, hopefully, Paramount+ will continue this trend with other Star Trek shows and characters.

Star Trek: Section 31 has wrapped filming, and there is talk of a sequel if the streaming movie is successful on Paramount+.

The return of the Star Trek: The Next Generation cast helped make Star Trek: Picard season 3 a resounding success, but the season also introduced several storylines that should continue. With the introduction of Picard's son, Ensign Jack Crusher (Ed Speleers), and Seven of Nine's (Jeri Ryan) promotion to Captain of the USS Enterprise-G, Star Trek: Legacy already has a compelling premise. If Paramount+ does not have the budget for another Star Trek television show, a streaming film could provide the chance to continue the story that began in Star Trek: Picard season 3.

Terry Matalas, the showrunner of Star Trek: Picard season 3, has expressed an interest in continuing the story, and many of the cast members would also love to return.

Why Star Trek On Paramount Plus Shouldn’t Abandon Discovery, Picard, & Lower Decks

Paramount+ should find a way to incorporate these characters into new stories.

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Star Trek: Discovery's premiere in 2017 ushered in a new era of Star Trek on Paramount+. Discovery and the series that followed, such as Star Trek: Picard and Star Trek: Lower Decks, introduced numerous new characters that fans have embraced. Star Trek streaming movies on Paramount+ offer an ideal venue to continue the stories from the concluded Star Trek series in a more cost-effective way than an ongoing series, given the changing streaming business model. Audiences will follow characters they've already invested in to streaming movies that continue their stories,

The Strange New Worlds/Star Trek: Lower Decks crossover also proved that characters can jump from one show to another, and Paramount+ will hopefully find new ways to continue this trend. Jack Quaid's Brad Boimler and Tawny Newsome's Beckett Mariner are great characters who should continue to be a part of Star Trek. The fan demand for Star Trek: Picard spin-off Star Trek: Legacy proves that fans want more Star Trek, especially when it connects to past Trek shows and characters. Whether with crossovers or mini-series or made-for-streaming movies, Paramount+ shouldn't abandon beloved characters of their canceled Star Trek shows.

Star Trek: Discovery, Star Trek: Picard, and Star Trek: Lower Decks are available to stream on Paramount+.