Alex Kurtzman Says He “Almost Cried” When He Heard Patrick Stewart Read New ‘Star Trek’ Spin-Off’s Script

It would appear that the only thing keeping CBS All Access afloat, at this time, is “Star Trek: Discovery.” As the sci-fi series is well into its second season on the streaming service, it seems to be leading the way for the fledgling service that is feverishly attempting to grow. (Of course, next month brings Jordan Peele’s “The Twilight Zone” remake, so things are looking up for All Access.) And because of ‘Discovery’s’ popularity, showrunner and ‘Star Trek’ TV boss, Alex Kurtzman is readying the next streaming series in the franchise, which stars Patrick Stewart, returning to “Star Trek” after years and years away.

According to Kurtzman, the upcoming untitled ‘Star Trek’ spin-off, focused on the later life of Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Stewart), is a whole different animal than ‘Discovery,’ and that stems from necessity.

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Speaking at Paleyfest (via THR), Kurtzman described the new series as a “thoughtful psychological portrait” of Stewart’s character. And says it will be different than the All Access hit series ‘Discovery.’

“The only way this show works correctly is if it’s different from ‘Discovery,’” he said.

Details about the upcoming series are still scarce, but Kurtzman did open up about an experience he had watching Stewart read the script for the new ‘Star Trek’ spin-off, that will act as a sequel of sorts to ‘The Next Generation.’

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“I sat at Patrick’s kitchen table and heard him read the first episode,” he said. “I almost cried.”

If that sort of emotion carries over to the fans of the sci-fi franchise when they first watch the new series, then CBS All Access would seemingly have another hit on its hands. Then would the service just rebrand into the “Star Trek” Streaming Service?