Overview
- Terry Matalas has transitioned from the Star Trek universe to pursue a significant role within the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), disappointing many fans.
- Though he has an impressive track record with Star Trek, it appears Matalas may not return to the franchise in the foreseeable future.
- His acclaimed work on Star Trek: Picard didn’t spawn a subsequent series, as he has now embarked on projects within the MCU.
Terry Matalas, renowned as the showrunner for the widely praised final season of Star Trek: Picard, has notably distanced himself from the franchise since the show’s conclusion. Despite numerous fans and even Matalas himself expressing interest in further projects, there have been no recent developments.
Matalas has a long-standing association with Star Trek, making his departure seem all the more surprising following Picard‘s success. Many wonder if the skilled showrunner is stepping away for good as he ventures into vastly different creative territories.
Terry Matalas Moves to the MCU
After delivering a masterful conclusion to Star Trek: The Next Generation with Picard’s final season, fans were anticipating Matalas to announce another project in the Star Trek universe. Instead, his current engagements indicate a complete pivot away from the franchise.
Rumors suggest Matalas has joined forces with the MCU, where he will act as showrunner for the highly anticipated Vision Quest series. In this role, he will also contribute as both a writer and a director, paralleling his responsibilities during the latter part of Picard.
Projects within the MCU often demand significant time and commitment, potentially tying creatives to the franchise for extended periods. Unfortunately, for devoted fans of Matalas and Star Trek, this indicates that his journey with the franchise may be on indefinite hold. However, it’s worth noting that Matalas has frequently traversed the path between Star Trek and various other projects throughout his esteemed career.
The Genesis of a Career: Star Trek
Matalas’ career roots trace back to his role as a production associate during the final seasons of Star Trek: Voyager. He later took these experiences into Star Trek: Enterprise, contributing to the series throughout its entire four-season run, including writing for two episodes in its third season. After the cancellation of Enterprise in 2005, Star Trek was absent from television for more than a decade. During this hiatus, Matalas immersed himself in other successful projects, such as the acclaimed series 12 Monkeys.
Rejoining Star Trek’s “NuTrek” Era
In 2017, Star Trek made its television comeback with Star Trek: Discovery, paving the way for Matalas’ return to the franchise a few years later. Initially stepping in as co-showrunner for the second season of Picard, he ascended to the role of sole showrunner by the third season. His leadership and creative input on the final season were met with widespread acclaim, igniting speculation about potential future projects within the Star Trek universe.
Star Trek: Legacy and Fan Engagement
Without revealing too much about the conclusion of Picard‘s third season, Matalas skillfully set the stage for a new storyline centered on several key characters, including Jack Crusher (played by Ed Speelers), Raffi Musiker (Michelle Hurd), and Seven of Nine (Jeri Ryan). This development fostered an enthusiastic fan campaign advocating for a new series, which Matalas supported. He even proposed the potential title, Star Trek: Legacy.
Star Trek: Legacy – Hopes and Setbacks
Despite the overwhelming interest in Star Trek: Legacy following Picard‘s finale and a supportive fanbase, little progress has been made towards actualizing the new series. In a recent interview with TrekMovie, Matalas acknowledged the lack of official talks with Paramount about the future of Legacy. He stated:
“There’s not. They have Star Trek that they are making and they only have so much money and streaming space. There’s currently not, but we’re looking forward to whatever the Star Trek universe brings… and never say never.”
Despite the success of Picard, Star Trek: Legacy remains absent from Paramount’s list of upcoming Star Trek endeavors. The rationale could stem from Paramount’s strategy to prioritize contributions like Strange New Worlds, which has been renewed for multiple seasons, before endorsing a new episodic series such as Legacy. It may also relate to the landscape of creative control, with Legacy being Matalas’ brainchild rather than under the guidance of Alex Kurtzman, who has driven the rebooted Star Trek series.
Navigating Creative Dynamics in Star Trek
While Terry Matalas may not be a household name among newer Star Trek enthusiasts, Alex Kurtzman has been at the forefront of the franchise since its revival with Star Trek: Discovery. However, Kurtzman’s leadership has faced its share of criticism amid the mixed reception of the “NuTrek” projects. Matalas’ rise as co-showrunner for Picard season two—and his subsequent takeover as head of season three—seemed initially to hint at a conflict for creative supremacy. However, Kurtzman’s command over the current direction of Star Trek appears unshaken, as Matalas’ aspirations for Legacy remain unfulfilled while Paramount continues to advance Kurtzman-led initiatives like the controversial Section 31 movie and a new Starfleet Academy series.
Is Terry Matalas’ Journey with Star Trek Truly Concluded?
Terry Matalas’ passion for Star Trek is evident, as is his grasp of its rich lore and narrative depth. His contributions to Picard resonated deeply with both viewers and critics. While there remains a chance that he may lead another Trek adventure, fans are advised to temper their expectations.
Currently, Matalas is a sought-after talent engaged with numerous projects apart from Star Trek. Nevertheless, his legacy within the franchise is firmly established, with a dedicated segment of the Star Trek fanbase eager for his potential return.