Why a ‘Legacy’ show would ensure Star Trek’s future

Jeri Ryan as Seven of Nine in Star Trek: Picard on Paramount+.

Since Star Trek: Picard warped out of our anticipated television watching schedule, fans have been begging the exes at Paramount+ to continue the story of the Enterprise-G. Legacy character Seven of Nine is the first female captain of the flagship since the “C” and a Star Trek: Voyager fan favorite. Jeri Ryan seems on board to continue settling into Seven, sans the cat suits, and Michelle Hurd has also voiced support for returning as first officer Raffi Musiker.

Ryan told Screen Rant in early 2025 that she’s not given up on the possibility of returning to the captain’s chair, saying, “You know what, one thing that this entire Star Trek experience has taught me is never say never.” 

So, what’s the hold up?

Production costs, of course, have been cited as a main reason why the story hasn’t continued. Plus, focus has been on the upcoming Star Trek: Starfleet Academy series coming out in 2026 and the ongoing Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. However, things have shifted at Paramount+ since the SkyDance merger in the summer of 2025, and reports of an infusion of energy into the nearly 60-year-old franchise have piqued the interest of fans around the world.

And few can argue that there is a more vocal or supportive fan base than Trekkies (or, if you prefer, Trekkers). It was that fan base, after all, that convinced execs to show us more of Captain Pike and the original Enterprise crew pre-Captain Kirk after their rollicking appearance in Star Trek: Discovery season 2.

What better time than now to listen to those fans and show that the new brass are true fans and 100% behind the legacy that is Trek? SNW is warping through its third season now, and the fourth season has already been filmed. The fifth, truncated season will be the end of that show, meaning space is available for the franchise to thrive.

New leadership at Paramount+ could bring something new, yet familiar, to a fan base that is clamoring to support it. And one thing a new board of directors wants is ongoing support from already loyal fans. It's a sure way to keep a base of subscribers and entice even more to join.

The pieces are there. As Captain Ransom of Star Trek: Lower Decks would say, we just need them to engage the core.

New episodes of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 3 are streaming Thursdays on Paramount+. Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is scheduled to release on the streaming platform sometime in 2026.