Boldly Reimagining Voyager's Future: Star Trek: Legacy Paves the Way

The cancellation of Star Trek: Prodigy has sparked interest in the potential for the show Star Trek: Legacy to serve as a continuation of Admiral Kathryn Janeway and the crew of Star Trek: Voyager. Prodigy, which targeted a younger audience, also acted as a sequel to Voyager, delving into the stories of Captain Chakotay and Admiral Janeway. The conclusion of Prodigy season 1 set the stage for an exciting second season where Janeway, Dal R'El, and their young crew would embark on a mission to rescue Chakotay and the crew of the USS Protostar from an alternate future.

Although Paramount+ confirmed that Prodigy season 2 would air in 2023, they later retracted this announcement. Despite this setback, they assured fans that the creative team would still be able to complete the 20-episode run. This gives hope that Prodigy may find a new home elsewhere, but it also highlights the vulnerability of the Star Trek franchise in the era of streaming. While some fans rally to save Star Trek: Prodigy through petitions, a separate petition gains momentum to commission Star Trek: Legacy. This prompts the question of which show is better positioned to continue the story of Star Trek: Voyager on Paramount+.

Will Star Trek: Prodigy Get To Continue Voyager's Story?

Star Trek: Prodigy has completed and aired its first season and has an additional 20 episodes in various stages of completion, making it an appealing option for other streaming platforms seeking new content. This bodes well for Prodigy's future and its ability to continue the Janeway and Chakotay storyline. While there were hopes that Nickelodeon, the co-producer of Prodigy, would continue to broadcast the second season, a reliable source mentioned in the original Variety report stated that Nickelodeon has also decided against proceeding with Prodigy.

This means there may be a significant wait for the show's return as CBS explores potential networks to carry the series. Star Trek: Picard showrunner Terry Matalas and actor Garrett Wang indicated that Harry Kim would be part of Star Trek: Prodigy season 2. It can be assumed that other Star Trek: Voyager characters would also make appearances as Janeway embarks on her mission to rescue Chakotay. A tease on Prodigy's Instagram page hinted at the inclusion of Lt. B'Elanna Torres (Roxann Dawson), and there was even a suggestion that the hero ship for Prodigy season 2 would be the USS Voyager-A.

What Does Prodigy's Cancelation Mean For Star Trek Legacy?

- Unfortunately, the cancellation of Star Trek: Prodigy implies that fans of Star Trek: Voyager might not witness the fruition of these intriguing hints on screen. The hope is that the overwhelming support for Prodigy, coupled with the absence of scripts due to the ongoing WGA strike, will persuade a network or streaming platform to take a risk on the show. However, numerous obstacles still loom over the continuation of Prodigy's narrative, particularly the fact that it will be isolated from the rest of the franchise residing on Paramount+. It remains uncertain whether a streaming platform would be interested in acquiring Prodigy while not having access to, at the very least, Star Trek: Voyager.

If the potential cancelation of renewed series like Star Trek: Prodigy is a concern, then it's not a promising sign for the development of brand-new shows. Star Trek: Legacy, a proposed project by Terry Matalas, aims to continue the story of the USS Enterprise-G, led by Captain Seven of Nine (played by Jeri Ryan), along with a crew of young Starfleet officers. While it explores a more mature tone, it shares a similar premise with Star Trek: Prodigy, where Janeway mentors aspiring Starfleet members. Although Prodigy's premise alone didn't secure the desired audience numbers for Paramount+, Legacy possesses additional factors that work to its advantage.

If Star Trek: Legacy is commissioned, it would serve as a continuation of the immensely popular Star Trek: Picard season 3. This particular season has garnered impressive Nielsen ratings and generated significant awards buzz, solidifying its status as the most successful Trek show. Given that Patrick Stewart is hesitant about returning for a fourth season of Picard, Legacy presents the optimal opportunity to build upon these achievements. Additionally, by featuring a Star Trek: Voyager character as the Captain, Legacy can further explore the narratives of Seven's former colleagues. Despite the significant time gap between Prodigy and Picard, Legacy has the potential to pay homage to the established storylines by providing viewers with updates on the show's main characters, potentially through their live-action counterparts.

Star Trek: Prodigy Is Still The Best Way To Continue Voyager's Story

Ideally, Terry Matalas' Star Trek: Legacy and the Hageman Brothers' Star Trek: Prodigy would both be available for fans to enjoy. Despite the efforts of Star Trek fans through online petitions and social media, obtaining this ideal situation remains a challenge. It seems like Prodigy season 2 would be the perfect opportunity to uncover what happened to Janeway and the Voyager crew. Once season 2 is completed, there will be 20 fresh episodes of Star Trek that shouldn't just be forgotten and stored away. We must find a way to bring these episodes to the screen, whether through a television network, physical media, or a streaming service.

Star Trek: Legacy is an exhilarating notion, yet currently it remains solely within Terry Matalas' imagination. The most feasible method of progressing the Star Trek: Voyager narrative is by revisiting Admiral Janeway and her youthful crew as they embark on a mission to save Chakotay. Though the outlook may appear grim for Star Trek: Prodigy at present, it should be noted that Kathryn Janeway successfully returned the USS Voyager home from the Delta Quadrant in a mere 7 years. With the combined force of dedicated fans and a receptive broadcasting partner, it is conceivable that Star Trek: Prodigy could make a triumphant return to our screens in the near future.