10 BOLD Predictions For Star Trek's Next Decade
It's a strange time for Star Trek but what might come in the near future for the franchise?
There is no denying the fact that Star Trek is in a strange place at the moment. The recent merger between Paramount and Skydance, leading to the formation of Paramount: A Skydance Corporation, has left many Trek fans both confused and a little concerned. While CEO David Ellison is apparently a big fan of the franchise, the actions by the company seem to skew far from the final frontier.
Mass layoffs, increased concentration on theatrical releases, and cost-saving methods have left the future of Trek up in the air. As of writing, seasons 4 and 5 of Strange New Worlds are en route, as are two seasons of Starfleet Academy. In the same breath, the dream of a return to the Kelvin timeline now seems dead. More than a year has passed since mention of Justin Simien and Tawny Newsome's live-action comedy series, teased at SDCC '24.
Shows have ended, some are still to begin. One film series seems to be in the rear mirror, while a Star Trek: Origins film, to be directed by Tony Haynes, seems to still be slated to enter production. With so much uncertainty, we have put our heads together to list what we may actually see in the time between Star Trek's 60th and 70th birthdays - and what those things might mean for the universe overall.
10. Star Trek (1)4 WILL Happen
On November 4th 2025, Variety published an analysis of David Ellison's first 100 days as the CEO of Paramount. It was a stark account of the massive changes that he has been making since his arrival, with many far-reaching appointments and decisions. While the streaming movie era seems to be retired, at least for the moment, theatrical releases have been championed - with a goal of releasing upwards of 15 films per year by 2027.
One film that will not be released is Star Trek 4 - a return to the Kelvin timeline, featuring Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, or Zoë Saldana. The company has apparently 'moved on' from this universe, though remains committed to Star Trek overall.
That leaves the other film project that has been touted - a Star Trek Origins film, directed by Toby Haynes (of Andor fame, more on that later). Returning to the big screen with a new prequel, or even a new take on the overall universe, might seem like a smart move for the company. While another alternate timeline may end up leaving long-term Trek fans cold, it would open the door for new fans to discover Star Trek.
If the Kelvin universe is truly dead, it seems equally unlikely that Paramount will commit to a big-screen version of one of the '90s-era Star Trek series. Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley have been announced as heading a new Trek film project, with Deadline surmising it will focus on entirely new characters. As of writing, there are few more details than this, save that it is said not to be connected to any existing Trek film or series.
Does this then mean that all previous films have been scrapped, or should we advise Zachary Quinto to hold on to the uniform for just a little while longer? Stranger things have happened and characters have popped into different settings many times before. A film is coming, that much we know for sure.