Why 'Star Trek: Discovery' Just Changed Showrunners a Third Time
Who do they think they are, "The Walking Dead"?
"Star Trek: Discovery," which streams on CBS All Access, just changed showrunners for the third time. Executive producer Alex Kurtzman is now at the helm for the rest of taping for Season 2. He replaces showrunners Gretchen Berg and Aaron Harberts, who replaced original showrunner Bryan Fuller.
CBS Television Studios gave a statement to The Hollywood Reporter:
"We've made some producer changes at 'Star Trek: Discovery.' The series continues under the creative vision and leadership of executive producer and co-creator Alex Kurtzman. 'Discovery' remains on course for season two in 2019 with new and continuing stories that build on its successful premiere season."
Kurtzman is expected to take over for Season 2, Episode 6 and beyond.
Why are Berg and Harbets out? THR's sources said it was for "leadership and operational issues," including a ballooning budget, and -- seemingly the main issue -- complaints that they became "increasingly abusive to the 'Discovery' writers staff."
Harberts allegedly leaned across the writers' room table and shouted an expletive at a member of the show's staff. THR reports that "Multiple writers are said to have been uncomfortable working on the series and had threatened to file a complaint with human resources or quit the series altogether before informing Kurtzman of the issues surrounding Berg and Harberts. After hearing rumors of HR complaints, Harberts is said to have threatened the staff to keep concerns with the production an internal matter."
(Sidenote: These complaints only mention Aaron Harberts, so did Gretchen Berg do the same?)
On top of that, executive producer Akiva Goldsman -- who directed the Season 1 finale and was Kurtzman's "right-hand man" in Season 1 -- did not return to the show for Season 2 because he was said to have "a management style and personality that clashed with the writing staff."
Sounds like a very powerful writing staff. Props to them for speaking up and being heard.
The good news is that no one seems to have complaints with the scripts and edits they've seen from Season 2, so this isn't a creative change, it's hoped to be creating a better work environment.
"Star Trek: Discovery" Season 2 will have 13 episodes, and it's expected to premiere in 2019.
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