Strange New Worlds Just Proved Paramount's Killing Star Trek
If there were any doubts that Paramount is quietly pulling the plug on Star Trek, this should clear it up: Strange New Worlds, arguably the best thing Trek has going right now, is ending after Season 5—and that final season will be just six episodes long.
Showrunner Akiva Goldsman confirmed the news during press for the upcoming Season 3, and his phrasing was a red flag:
"We have been, from the beginning, hoping for a five-year mission... but you also have to not wear out your welcome. And the folks who determine whether or not you wear out your welcome [are the ones] who pay."
Translation? Paramount gave them a mercy renewal, then hit the brakes.
One by One, They've Canceled Everything
Let's review the body count:
- Picard — done
- Discovery — done
- Lower Decks — done
- Prodigy — canceled, uncanceled, then buried again
Now Strange New Worlds is ending early. The only thing left in the pipeline is Starfleet Academy, which is still in production but has no premiere date. Paramount isn't building a universe anymore—they're shutting one down.
And it's not because Strange New Worlds is underperforming. It's one of the best-reviewed Trek shows in years. Fans love the episodic format. Critics love the character work. Anson Mount's Captain Pike is finally giving Picard some competition in the "best captain" debate. This isn't about quality—it's about cost.
Trek Is Expensive, and Paramount's Tapped Out
Even if you're the most diehard Trekkie, it's hard to deny that Trek isn't the cash cow Star Wars is. It doesn't have billion-dollar box office potential. It doesn't have Grogu. And in a year where Paramount+ is bleeding cash, Trek's big-budget space sets aren't exactly helping the balance sheet.
Goldsman says the plan was always five seasons, but a six-episode final run screams "budget cut." Not "creative vision."
So… Is This the End?
It sure looks like another Trek dry spell is coming. This wouldn't be the first time. After Enterprise ended in 2005, the franchise flatlined until J.J. Abrams jump-started it in 2009. History might be repeating itself—except this time, there's no big-screen reboot on deck. Just fewer shows, smaller seasons, and a studio that clearly doesn't see Star Trek as a priority.
Even Strange New Worlds, a fan favorite that critics actually respect, couldn't escape the axe. That says it all.
Star Trek might not be dead, but Paramount's definitely pulling the plug—for now.