The worst has happened: Bryan Fuller won't be showrunning 'Star Trek: Discovery' after all
When Bryan Fuller was announced as executive producer and showrunner of Star Trek: Discovery, the internet rejoiced, given Fuller's geek credentials as a former writer on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Voyager (not to mention cult favorites like Hannibal and Pushing Daisies).
Alas, nothing gold can stay. Mashable has confirmed that Fuller has stepped back from showrunning duties on the CBS All Access series, as Variety first reported, because his producing plate is already overcrowded.
In addition to reviving Trek, the prolific producer has Starz's upcoming adaptation of Neil Gaiman's American Gods (which he's executive producing along with Michael Green), and a reboot of Amazing Stories for NBC on his dance card.
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Fuller will still executive produce Discovery and continue to help plan the show's overall mythology and storyline for the season. He has already written the first two installments of the new series, per Variety, but day-to-day showrunning duties will be handed over to executive producers Alex Kurtzman, Gretchen Berg and Aaron Harberts, according to a statement from CBS Television Studios.
“We are extremely happy with the creative direction of Star Trek: Discovery and the strong foundation that Bryan Fuller has helped us create for the series," the statement reads. "Due to Bryan’s other projects, he is no longer able to oversee the day-to-day of Star Trek, but he remains an executive producer, and will continue to map out the story arc for the entire season. Alex Kurtzman, co-creator and executive producer, along with Fuller’s producing partners and longtime collaborators, Gretchen Berg & Aaron Harberts, will also continue to oversee the show with the existing writing and producing team. Bryan is a brilliant creative talent and passionate Star Trek fan, who has helped us chart an exciting course for the series. We are all committed to seeing this vision through and look forward to premiering Star Trek: Discovery this coming May 2017.”
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Berg and Harberts are longtime collaborators of Fuller's, having worked with him on Wonderfalls and Pushing Daisies. Variety also reports that Akiva Goldsman is expected to join Discovery in a creative role, but not as showrunner.
In September, Discovery's planned premiere date was pushed from early 2017 to May 2017 to give the creative team time to meet their goals for the show's visual effects. Discovery is set to begin filming in Toronto in November.
