Star Trek Has No New Shows About Its Best Era

Star Trek disappointingly has no new upcoming TV shows about its best and most popular era, Star Trek: The Next Generation's 24th century, which continued into the 25th century in Star Trek: Picard. TNG kicked off the most expansive era of Star Trek. Overseen by executive producer Rick Berman, the 24th century spanned TNG, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Star Trek: Voyager, and 4 Star Trek: The Next Generation movies. Star Trek on Paramount+ continued TNG's era with Star Trek: Picard, Star Trek: Lower Decks, and Star Trek: Prodigy.

2025 won't be entirely lacking in Star Trek: The Next Generation-era representation. Star Trek: Section 31 is set in the "lost era" of the 24th century decades before Star Trek: The Next Generation. However, after Section 31, Star Trek on Paramount+ has no new projects scheduled or in production that take place in the late 24th century or early 25th century. Similarly, with Netflix still not renewing Star Trek: Prodigy, the beloved animated series' continuation of the 2380s also grounds to a halt.

Star Trek Has No New Shows About TNG’s 24th & Picard’s 25th Century Eras

Star Trek: Picard, Lower Decks & Prodigy Were Set In TNG's Era

Star Trek stopped exploring the 24th century after Star Trek: Nemesis failed at the box office in 2002, which killed the Star Trek: The Next Generation movie franchise. In the 2000s, the only new Star Trek TV series on the air was Star Trek: Enterprise, a sequel set in the 22nd century. When Star Trek: Discovery premiered in 2017, its first two seasons were set in the mid-23rd century. Star Trek's 24th century remained dormant for 18 years until Star Trek: Picard premiered in 2020. Set in 2399 and ushering in the 25th century, Star Trek: Picard finally continued TNG's era and story.

Perhaps even more pleasingly - at least until Star Trek: Picard season 3 reunited the cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation - Star Trek: Lower Decks continued TNG's era and its popular aesthetic. Star Trek: Prodigy was initially set far away from the United Federation of Planets, but by the end of Star Trek: Prodigy season 2, it, too, came to embody the shiny best of TNG's time period. Unfortunately, Star Trek: Picard and Star Trek: Lower Decks are over at Paramount+, and Star Trek: Prodigy's future is a question mark. For the second time, TNG's era has come to an all-stop with no new shows expanding the 24th and 25th centuries.

Why Star Trek’s TNG Era Is So Popular

Fans Want Star Trek: Legacy To Continue Picard's 25th Century

Star Trek: The Original Series may be the Star Trek that started it all, and Captain James T. Kirk's (William Shatner) show is arguably the most iconic Star Trek with the general public. But Star Trek: The Next Generation has become, perhaps, an even greater nexus of Star Trek. TNG's 24th century massively expanded the Star Trek universe, introducing countless beloved characters, with Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) equaling - possibly exceeding - Captain Kirk in stature as the most popular Captain of the Enterprise.

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Star Trek: Voyager widened the galaxy by exploring the Delta and Gamma Quadrants, and, along with TNG, produced close to 600 episodes of Star Trek. The 24th and early 25th centuries are the richest and most complex period of Star Trek's timeline, and Star Trek: Lower Decks and Prodigy endearingly reflected fans' affection for TNG's era. This is partly why audiences are so ardent about Star Trek: Legacy becoming a reality, so that Captain Seven of Nine (Jeri Ryan) and the USS Enterprise-G can continue exploring the early 25th century that Star Trek: Picard kicked off.

Star Trek’s Next 2 Years Are Skipping Its Most Popular TNG Era

Strange New Worlds & Starfleet Academy Are Set In the 23rd & 32nd Centuries

After Star Trek: Section 31 introduces Star Trek made-for-streaming movies, the next two known Star Trek on Paramount+ TV series take place on opposite ends of the Star Trek timeline - but not in Star Trek: The Next Generation's 24th century. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is a prequel to Star Trek: The Original Series set in the 23rd century, years before Captain Kirk takes command of the Starship Enterprise. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3 premieres in 2025 and season 4 will begin production for a targeted 2026 premiere.

Similarly, Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is also guaranteed two seasons on Paramount+. Filming seasons 1 and 2 back-to-back, Starfleet Academy is set in the 32nd century, continuing the farthest point of the timeline introduced by Star Trek: Discovery. While Strange New Worlds is a proven hit, and Starfleet Academy boasts an incredible cast led by Academy Award-caliber actors Holly Hunter and Paul Giamatti, it's still disappointing that Star Trek has warped away from what generations of fans feel is its best and most prolific era.