When CBS revealed that veteran showrunner (and former Star Trek writer) Bryan Fuller was returning to the franchise as the showrunner of Star Trek: Discovery, it was a decision widely hailed by fans and critics. Unfortunately, Fuller’s time in the captain’s chair is now over before it even really got started.
According to Variety, Fuller has stepped down as showrunner of Star Trek: Discovery, but he will remain with the project as an executive producer. The report listed a number of rumored conflicts between Fuller and CBS All Access over the casting of the lead character and the slow progress of the show, while pointing the finger at Fuller’s exhaustive schedule. In addition to Discovery, Fuller is one of the showrunners for Starz’s adaptation of American Gods, and he is also spearheading NBC’s revival of Amazing Stories.
Via Buzzfeed’s Adam B. Vary, CBS acknowledged Fuller’s new status and insisted that he will remain actively involved with Discovery.
Statement from CBS on @BryanFuller stepping back as #StarTrekDiscovery showrunner, emphasizing his continuing creative input on the show: pic.twitter.com/pMCxon0Uov
— Adam B. Vary (@adambvary) October 26, 2016
The new showrunners for Discovery will be Gretchen Berg, Aaron Harberts, and Alex Kurtzman; with Akiva Goldsman joining the series “in a top creative role.” CBS All Access still plans to debut Star Trek: Discovery in May 2017, and as far as we know, Fuller’s scripts and story arc plotting are still being used for the first season. One way or another, Fuller’s fingerprints will still be on this project. But we have to admit that we wish he could have remained in his previous capacity.
How do you feel about Fuller stepping away from his Star Trek: Discovery showrunning duties? Beam down your thoughts in the comment section below!
Image: CBS All Access
