Editorial Staff
CBS All Access’ “Star Trek : Discovery” has parted ways with showrunners Gretchen Berg and Aaron Harberts, who originally took over the role at the helm of the drama from Bryan Fuller.
Alex Kurtzman, somewhat of a “Trek” vet, will take over showrunner duties from season two, says The Live Feed. In addition to calling the shots on the series, Kurtzman will also oversee the writers room.
“We’ve made some producer changes at Star Trek: Discovery. The series continues under the creative vision and leadership of executive producer and co-creator Alex Kurtzman. Discovery remains on course for season two in 2019 with new and continuing stories that build on its successful premiere season,” producers CBS Television Studios said Thursday in a statement to the trade.
According to numerous sources, Berg and Harberts were let go because of their “leadership and operational issues”, with numerous writers on the series complaining about their behaviour.
Insiders also stress that Berg and Harberts became increasingly abusive to the Discovery writing staff, with Harberts said to have leaned across the writers room table while shouting an expletive at a member of the show’s staff. Multiple writers are said to have been uncomfortable working on the series and had threatened to file a complaint with human resources or quit the series altogether before informing Kurtzman of the issues surrounding Berg and Harberts. After hearing rumors of HR complaints, Harberts is said to have threatened the staff to keep concerns with the production an internal matter.
Sources told Heat Vision that “Discovery” is nearing what has been characterized as ”a planned production hiatus” after episode five, which will allow Kurtzman time to regroup the show’s writing staff. Production is not expected to be impacted by the showrunner change.
Also gone from “Discovery”, Akiva Goldsman, who opted not to return to the producer’s committee after helping get the show off the ground in season one. A clash with the writer’s staff was said to also be responsible for his departure.
