Star Trek: Discovery Fires Showrunners, Alex Kurtzman Taking Over

Star Trek: Discovery has fired its showrunners due to operational issues, according to a new report. THR reports that Gretchen Berg and Aaron Harberts are out and Alex Kurtzman, who is an executive producer and co-creator on the show, will take their place for season two. Kurtzman will now oversee the writer’s 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,” CBS Television Studios said in a statement.

THR reports that Berg and Harberts let the budget for the season two premiere get over the top, and that overages will have to come out of subsequent episodes. The two also reportedly became abusive to the writer’s room. According to the outlet, Harberts at one point learned across the table in the writer’s room “while shouting an expletive at a member of the show’s staff” and multiple writers were uncomfortable working on the series, threatening to file a complaint with HR or quit. Harberts allegedly threatened the staff after word got out to keep concerns an “internal matter.”

The show is near completion on the first five episodes of the new season, with Kurtzman taking over starting with episode six. Berg and Harberts’ departure follows the pre-season one departure of Bryan Fuller, who was set to be the showrunner but left over creative and budgetary differences.

CBS is reportedly pleased with the work that has been done on season two thus far, outside of these issues. The show is expected to return in 2019 on CBS All-Access.