'Star Trek: Lower Decks' warps onto TV Aug. 6. See the 1st full trailer!

By Scott Snowden
published

"Space, the funnest frontier!"

For only the second time, "Star Trek" is about to have an animated series and it's first full trailer has warped onto the internet. 

The new show, called "Star Trek: Lower Decks," joins an acclaimed collection of new shows that currently includes "Star Trek: Discovery" and "Star Trek: Picard" and will soon also include "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds."

"Star Trek: The Lower Decks" will premiere Aug. 6 on the subscription service CBS All Access. (While "Discovery" and "Picard" are currently available on Netflix and Amazon outside the US, there's no word yet on whether "Lower Decks" will stream elsewhere.) New episodes of the 10-episode first season will be available weekly.

Related: Captain Pike of 'Star Trek' gets spin-off with Spock. Number One
More: 'Star Trek: Discovery' Season 3: What we know and what we hope for 

A retro poster for "Star Trek: Lower Decks," an animated series launching on CBS All Access on Aug. 6.

A retro poster for "Star Trek: Lower Decks," an animated series launching on CBS All Access on Aug. 6. (Image credit: CBS All Access)

"Lower Decks" is developed by Mike McMahan, creator of Hulu's "Solar Opposites" and co-creator of "Rick and Morty." It focuses on the support crew aboard an insignificant Starfleet starship, the California-class USS Cerritos, shortly after the "Next Generation" era, in 2380, after the events of "Star Trek" Nemesis."

"Mike won our hearts with his first sentence: 'I want to do a show about the people who put the yellow cartridge in the food replicator so a banana can come out the other end.' His cat's name is Riker. His son's name is Sagan. The man is committed," showrunner Alex Kurtzman told Deadline. 

The name of the show is more than likely a throwback to the "Star Trek: The Next Generation" episode "Lower Decks," (S07, E15) which followed four junior officers involved in a top-secret mission. 

The cast includes, Eugene Cordero (Ensign Rutherford), Noel Wells (Ensign Tendi), Jack Quaid (Ensign Boimler), Tawny Newsome (Ensign Mariner), Fred Tatasciore (Lieutenant Shaxs), Dawnn Lewis (Captain Freeman), Jerry O’Connell (Commander Ransom) and Gillian Vigma (Dr. T'ana).

(Image credit: CBS All Access)

"Lower Decks" is the second cartoon incarnation of "Star Trek," following on from "The Animated Series." Set aboard the USS Enterprise during Captain Kirk's tenure, it was voiced by all the original cast members and played a vital role in keeping "Star Trek" alive during the off-period in-between "The Original Series" and "The Motion Picture" movie.

Plus, don't forget, we've still got a Section 31 spin-off in pre-production, starring Michelle Yeoh and another animated series in production for Nickelodeon. 

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Scott Snowden
Scott Snowden

When Scott's application to the NASA astronaut training program was turned down, he was naturally upset...as any 6-year-old boy would be. He chose instead to write as much as he possibly could about science, technology and space exploration. He graduated from The University of Coventry and received his training on Fleet Street in London. He still hopes to be the first journalist in space.

6 Comments Comment from the forums
  • COLGeek
    Looks like a knock off of "Final Space". Still, I'll watch it since there isn't much stuff worth watching on CBS All Access (paid subscription). Other than Picard, Discovery, and the Short Takes, the service has been disappointing.
    Reply
  • Spaced Out
    The Star Trek Lower Decks pitch has been floating around for decades. I never thought I'd finally see it happen, even less so as a cartoon, and with such a comedic vibe.
    Triple surprised here.
    Reply
  • jeremywales801
    Cool.😃💜👍
    Reply
  • Hammer
    Star Trek has been dead to me since Enterprise signed off. JJ RUINED the Trek universe.

    Seems my other response has been censored......
    Reply
  • Hammer
    COLGeek said:
    Looks like a knock off of "Final Space". Still, I'll watch it since there isn't much stuff worth watching on CBS All Access (paid subscription). Other than Picard, Discovery, and the Short Takes, the service has been disappointing.
    "disappointing" is being kind
    Reply
  • Mergatroid
    I have watched the trailers for this. Talk about horrid. Once again, taking attitudes and commonalities from today and etching them onto Star Trek. Literally, I was horrified by the trailer, it's so bad with 1 dimensional characters and just bad overall. Can't see myself watching this even if it was free.
    Reply