In 2027, Star Trek Could Get Its Biggest Boost in a Decade Thanks to Skydance—Really
A wider streaming audience
Skydance plans to offer Paramount+ and HBO Max together for one price in early 2027. CEO David Ellison described the bundle as the first step toward unifying the services, though he said combining them will take time.
HBO Max has 140 million subscribers, while Paramount+ has 79 million. A bundle followed by a single service could make Star Trek easier to discover among a larger pool of viewers.
A franchise at a turning point
Fans have voiced concern about Star Trek’s future under Skydance. The planned acquisition of Paramount Global in 2023 preceded the gradual cancellation of Paramount+ series executive produced by Alex Kurtzman, though the shows’ costs and streaming numbers also contributed.
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds are set to have their final seasons after 2027. With no new Star Trek series in production, some fans fear the franchise could go quiet, while others worry Skydance’s direction could depart from Gene Roddenberry’s progressive vision.
A chance to reach newcomers
Since 2017, Star Trek has largely been available behind Paramount+’s paywall. In the 1990s, audiences could watch the franchise on free television through syndication or UPN; Pluto TV now offers classic series and occasional episodes of Paramount+ shows at no cost.
Putting Star Trek alongside HBO titles such as The Pitt, House of the Dragon and The White Lotus could raise its profile beyond science-fiction fans. Skydance considers the franchise a major property, but its near-term focus appears to be relaunching the movies before making more television series.
Key points
- A Paramount+ and HBO Max bundle is planned for early 2027.
- HBO Max has 140 million subscribers, compared with Paramount+’s 79 million.
- Starfleet Academy and Strange New Worlds are set for final seasons after 2027.
- Skydance appears focused on restarting Star Trek movies before developing more TV shows.