Bryan Fuller Out As Showrunner on STAR TREK

Variety is reporting that Bryan Fuller is stepping down as showrunner for Star Trek: Discovery. Facing the mounting stress of putting together both this show, American Gods at Starz, and developing Amazing Stories for NBC, Fuller’s plate was getting too full for CBS to feel like Discovery would make its debut date in May.

Gretchen Berg and Aaron Harberts, who collaborated with Fuller on Pushing Daisies, have been working closely with him on Discovery and will take over day-to-day showrunner duties. Fuller will retain his position as executive producer.

According to sources, while CBS executives were happy with the material developed so far, there was some strain between the network and Fuller over the progress of the show. Even though he’s written the first two episodes and put the overall season arc in place, they have yet to cast the lead role, and production is set to begin in Toronto next month.

“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,” CBS Television Studios said in a statement. “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 and 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.”

The May premiere is the result of CBS pushing the show back from its original January air date in light of the fact that the show would not be ready in time.

Screenwriter-producer Akiva Goldsman is also said to be joining the production in a top-tier creative position.

Star Trek: Discovery will air in the United States exclusively on CBS All Access, the network’s digital platform. The series will be the marquee item the networks hope will draw people to subscribe to the on-demand service, very much like Netflix and Amazon Prime.