Monday, May 13, 2019

New Jean-Luc Picard Star Trek TV series baldly going to Amazon Prime Video globally.


Amazon Prime Video has picked up the global rights for the new as-yet-untitled Star Trek Jean-Luc Picard series, with Star Trek: Discovery that will remain on Netflix outside of the United States.

It means that South African and African viewers will continue to watch the Star Trek: Discovery on the Netflix streaming service and which has been renewed for a third season, with the upcoming series with Sir Patrick Stewart reprising his iconic role that will become available on Amazon Prime Video.

CBS Studios International is the distributor of the Picard series and signed a contract with Amazon Prime Video to have the series, which doesn't have a starting date yet, on its streaming platform in 200 countries and territories outside of America.

Episodes of the Star Trek Jean-Luc Picard series will become available on Amazon Prime Video globally within 24 hours of its premiere in the United States.

The new series is set in the future, years after the last of the of Star Trek: The Next Generation films, and will revolve around the character questioning certain later life choices.

The series is being produced by CBS Television Studios together with Secret Hideout and Roddenberry Entertainment, with Alison Pill, Harry Treadaway, Isa Briones, Santiago Cabrera, Michelle Hurd and Evan Evagora who have already been cast.

The Picard Star Trek series is executive produced by Stewart, Alex Kurtzman, James Duff, Akiva Goldsman, Michael Chabon, Heather Kadin, Rod Roddenberry and Trevor Roth, with Aaron Baiers of Secret Hideout serving as co-executive producer.

Hanelle Culpepper will direct the first two episodes of the series which will make her the first woman to direct a pilot or debut episode of a Star Trek TV series in its 53-year history.

Brad Beale, Vice President, Worldwide Content Licensing for Amazon Prime Video, says "We’re thrilled to partner with CBS to bring the newest edition of the storied Star Trek franchise to our international Amazon Prime Video customers".

"With the incredible Sir Patrick Stewart returning as the beloved Jean-Luc Picard, we’re excited we can give Trek fans both old and new the opportunity to see him back in action. It’s a terrific addition to our already robust catalogue of exclusive Amazon Prime Video content."

Armando Nuñez, president and CEO of the CBS Global Distribution Group, says "For 50 years, the Star Trek series have been a global sensation, spanning generations and audiences of all ages. It’s an honour to welcome Sir Patrick Stewart back for what is sure to be another world-class extension of the historic franchise".

"We look forward to working with the team at Amazon Prime Video to bring this next chapter of the incredible Star Trek franchise to its passionate international fan base."

Alex Kurtzman says "There’s only one word that can begin to describe Sir Patrick Stewart as Starship Commander Jean-Luc Picard, and that’s ‘legendary’. We are thrilled beyond measure to have him back in command, bringing the optimistic messages of Star Trek to audiences around the world.


ALSO READ: TV CRITIC's NOTEBOOK. 'Make it (no longer) so': The trend of further content fragmentation continues as the best TV shows from CBS Studios International will no longer all necessarily be on DStv and M-Net - and that's a bad thing.