Star Trek: Lower Decks Doubling Down with Star Tawny Newsome in Live-Action Role

Star Trek has had its fair share of ups and downs, especially since Alex Kurtzman took the reins for streaming programs. And now, it seems like Paramount+ is doubling down on their Star Trek content by developing a new live-action comedy show starring Tawny Newsome from Lower Decks.

Back in 2017, Star Trek: Discovery made its debut as the first small-screen Star Trek show since Enterprise ended in the early 2000s. However, fans weren’t too pleased with the show, criticizing it for ignoring established lore and focusing too much on identity politics. In fact, it became the lowest-rated Star Trek show on IMDB, and ratings for episodes in later seasons only went downhill.

Alongside Discovery, Star Trek also launched Picard, Strange New Worlds, and the comedy cartoon, Lower Decks, which blends reference porn with edgy humor. While Picard struggled with fans initially, things turned around when Season 3 brought back The Next Generation cast for a final send-off, earning the show a spot in the top ten streaming ratings on Paramount+.

Lower Decks, on the other hand, didn’t quite hit the mark with fans. Despite some initial laughs, many felt that the concept didn’t have staying power. Now, as the show is coming to an end after five seasons, Tawny Newsome, who plays Beckett Mariner in Lower Decks, is set to develop a new live-action comedy for Paramount+.

In an interview with Collider, Newsome shared her excitement for the project and expressed her joy in working on it. The new show’s logline, revealed at San Diego Comic-Con, hints at Federation outsiders discovering that their daily antics are being broadcast across the quadrant. It’s a fresh take on Star Trek, focusing on misfits and outsiders rather than the usual crew dynamics.

With Lower Decks wrapping up its fifth season, there’s speculation that this new comedy show might spin directly out of the cartoon. The possibility of alternate realities opening up in the current season could provide a seamless transition into live-action, possibly featuring Newsome as Beckett Mariner.

While Paramount+ has yet to make a final decision on the comedy series, Newsome is already busy working as a writer on Starfleet Academy, another upcoming show linked to Discovery. It’s an exciting time for Star Trek fans as the franchise continues to expand and explore new horizons. What do you think of a potential live-action Star Trek comedy series inspired by Lower Decks? Let us know in the comments!