Rick & Morty EP to board Star Trek: Lower Decks animated series for CBS

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

As CBS continues to grow its Star Trek universe after the successful launch of 2017's STAR TREK: DISCOVERY, the network has announced that they'll soon be introducing a new animated series to their lineup with STAR TREK: LOWER DECKS. Built as a half-hour adult animated comedy series, the project is set to be helmed by none other than Mike McMahan, the head writer and executive producer of RICK AND MORTY. The arrival of Lower Decks will mark CBS All Access’ first original animated series and the first project to be produced by CBS Eye Animation Productions, an up-and-coming animation studio belonging to CBS Television Studios.

Partnering with McMahan for the endeavor is Alex Kurtzman’s CBS TV Studios-based Secret Hideout and Roddenberry Entertainment. Together, the collective of creators will set their phasers to "Stun," as they hope to delight animation fans with STAR TREK: LOWER DECKS, a series that focuses on the support crew serving on one of Starfleet’s least important ships.

Executive producing this intriguing new project are Alex Kurtzman, Heather Kadin, Rod Roddenberry and Trevor Roth, as well as former Cartoon Network executive Katie Krentz. Meanwhile, Aaron Baiers will serve as a co-executive producer. While a list of names isn't always that impressive on paper, it's important to remember where these individuals come from, and that they're combining their talents for yet another exciting animated series. For real, the RICK AND MORTY name drop alone should be enough to get some Trekkies feeling like someone's flipped the anti-gravity switch.

“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,” Kurtzman said. “He’s brilliantly funny and knows every inch of every Trek episode, and that’s his secret sauce: he writes with the pure, joyful heart of a true fan. As we broaden the world of ‘Trek’ to fans of all ages, we’re so excited to include Mike’s extraordinary voice.”

McMahan then continued, “As a life-long Trekkie, it’s a surreal and wonderful dream come true to be a part of this new era of Star Trek. While Star Trek: Lower Decks is a half-hour, animated show at its core, it’s undeniably Trek – and I promise not to add an episode at the very end that reveals the whole thing took place in a training program.”

Those concerned about McMahan's grasp on the Star Trek universe can rest easy, as he was previously hired by Simon & Schuster to pen a readers’ guide to a fictitious eighth season of STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION, titled Star Trek: The Next Generation: Warped: An Engaging Guide to the Never-Aired 8th Season. What's more is that McMahan is also the writer behind Start Trek: Short Treks, the bite-size Trek presentation that hails from All Access/CBS TV Studios. So yeah, McMahan's got some Trek chops, if you will.

“We couldn’t have imagined a better creative team to work with on CBS All Access’ first original animated series than Mike McMahan, Secret Hideout and Roddenberry Entertainment,” said Julie McNamara, EVP, Original Content, CBS All Access. "Star Trek: Lower Decks is a fantastic complement to our growing lineup of original series and our ongoing expansion of the Star Trek universe on CBS All Access.”

Are you excited about McMahan helming a new Star Trek animated series? Let us know in the comments section below.