Star Trek: Discovery Changes Showrunners Again

Season 2 of Star Trek: Discovery is currently in production, ahead of a 2019 premiere. The series was being overseen by showrunners Gretchen Berg and Aaron Harberts, who replaced Bryan Fuller early into the production of Season 1. It has now been reported that Berg and Harberts have themselves left the show, with producer Alex Kurtzman taking over as showrunner.

Kurtzman's new role was confirmed in a statement from CBS Television Studios, which produces Discovery. It reads, "We've made some producer changes at Star Trek: Discovery. The series continues under the creative vision and leadership of executive producer and co-creator Alex Kurtzman. Discovery remains on course for season two in 2019 with new and continuing stories that build on its successful premiere season."

Kurtzman has been involved with the show since the very start and remains the most consistent figure amongst the various behind-the-scenes personnel changes. Fuller was originally appointed as showrunner, but in October 2016, he left the show to focus on Starz's American Gods. Berg and Harberts were already involved as executive producers and took over from Fuller.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, there were a number of rumored reasons for their departure, including a ballooning budget for Season 2's premiere episode and disagreements with members of the show's writing team. The site notes that the production was due to go on a planned hiatus soon, and that the change of showrunners will not affect its schedule.

In April, it was reported that Inhumans star Anson Mount will join Season 2 in the role of Captain Christopher Pike, the predecessor of James T. Kirk at the helm of the USS Enterprise. The arrival of Pike was first teased in the Season 1 finale when the USS Discovery came face-to-face with the iconic Star Trek vessel.

In related news, it has also been revealed that there are in fact two separate Star Trek movies in development. Although the direction of the franchise on the big screen has been uncertain following the commercial disappointment of 2016's Star Trek Beyond, Paramount boss Jim Gianopulos confirmed that it was still an active property at the studio. While we don't know what these projects are, one of them could be the Star Trek movie that Quentin Tarantino has been reportedly developing.

Disclosure: CBS is GameSpot's parent company.