Star Trek: Prodigy getting a new life on Netflix, taking a page out of The Expanse survival book

Star Trek: Prodigy, the second animated series to come out of Paramount +’s revival lexicon of Trek content, has been saved, thanks to Netflix. The first season and the upcoming second one will air on the streamer.

Just like the initiative to save The Expanse, a fan effort was launched to save Star Trek: Prodigy once it was announced that it was on Paramount +’s chopping block last month. The grassroots effort included a GoFundMe campaign and the collection of 33,000 signatures to fly a banner over several streamer outlets, including Netflix offices on Sunset Boulevard.

Cost-cutting at Paramount + had led to the decision to ax Prodigy as the one Star Trek property to suffer the cancellation, despite being in the middle of their sophomore season production. Once wrapped up, Netflix will now run that second season.

When showrunners Dan and Kevin Hageman were originally told of the cancellation, they remained hopeful that the currently filming S2 would still find a new base.

"“We have faith the show will be picked up by a new home to help grow our fervent fan base and inspire the next generation of Star Trek fans,” the Hagemans said, via X, according to the Hollywood Reporter. “Our talented and passionate team of artists are working tirelessly to complete S2. We are staying positive and hope our amazing fans will get to see it soon. Janeway would never give up, so why would we?”"

Although the cuts at Paramount + were not particularly surprising, including Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies, the purging of one of the streamer’s beloved Star Trek properties was a shocker. Previously labeled CBS All Access, it launched on the heels of the revitalization of the Star Trek canon under the auspices of ST captain Alex Kurtzman, including with great fanfare, Star Trek: Picard. Star Trek got a boost of excitement with the Picard lead-in, fueling fan consumption for the critically acclaimed series such as Star Trek: Strange New Worlds and Lower Decks.

Star Trek: Discovery revisited young Spock and told the intriguing story of his unknown sister, Michael Burnham. A mixed bag, Discovery kept the Star Trek fanbase satiated for five seasons and has inspired Star Trek: Section 31, with Michelle Yeoh’s Captain Philippa Georgiou, who in my opinion was the best part of that series. Like so many, I am thrilled that we’ll get more Georgiou, centering around the fascinating Section 31, a clandestine special ops group. Also greenlit for new content is Star Trek: Starfleet Academy. All Star Trek properties are produced by CBS Studios and Kurtzman.

"“Thank you to our incredible Star Trek: Prodigy fans, who championed not just a show, but a community that’s always been connected by the belief that we build a better future together,” said Kurtzman and co-showrunners Dan and Kevin Hageman, according to Hollywood Reporter. “We set out to inspire you, but you inspired us. The team is still hard at work on the second season, and we can’t wait to share it with the amazing fans around the world.”"

The last episode of Star Trek: Prodigy was left on a cliffhanger, with Admiral Janeway (the fabulous Kate Mulgrew) on a new mission to find Captain Chakotay (Robert Beltran) along with the original Protostar crew. I for one am glad we will get to find out what happened to Chakotay as well as the aftermath from the big reveal of Ensign Asencia being a member of the Vindicator species (portrayed by Jameela Jamil, a true highlight in the first season).

The rest of the cast includes Brett Gray, Ella Purnell, Rylee Alazraqui, Angus Imrie, Jason Mantzoukas, Dee Bradley Baker, John Noble, and Jimmi Simpson. Daveed Diggs, Jameela Jamil, Jason Alexander, and Billy Campbell in their respective roles.

The fourth season of Star Trek: Lower Decks is currently streaming on Paramount +. Prodigy was scheduled to be released on Paramount + in late 2023. No word on the confirmed date as of now for Netflix, but rumor has it that it will appear sometime at the end of the year or early 2024.