“Star Trek: Discovery” Loses Its Showrunners

CBS All Access & Netflix’s “Star Trek: Discovery” series has, once again, lost its showrunners.

Gretchen Berg and Aaron Harberts, who served in the roles for the first season, are now out with Alex Kurtzman taking over as sole showrunner for the second season. Kurtzman will now also oversee the Discovery writers’ room.

CBS TV Studios says in a statement to THR: “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.”

The series famous hired Bryan Fuller to serve as showrunner before he exited after a few months due to creative differences. Berg and Harberts, his proteges, took over for the first season while Kurtzman served as executive producer.

With the second season having begun production, the change is unexpected but sources tell the trade that the departure wasn’t due to creative issues but rather leadership and operational ones. The budget for the second season premiere ballooned, with the overages expected to come out of subsequent episodes from the second season run.

Additionally the pair allegedly became increasingly abusive to the Discovery writing staff. Multiple writers reportedly said they have been uncomfortable working on the series and threatened to quit, with Harberts alleged to have threatened the staff to keep concerns with the production an internal matter.

The first five episodes of the second season are nearly completed with Kurtzman likely taking over from episode six and beyond following a scheduled hiatus. Berg and Harberts are expected to still be credited on the episodes they oversaw.

Source: www.darkhorizons.com