'Star Trek: Lower Decks': Release date, plot, cast, trailer, and everything you need to know about the adult animated show

The show is set after 'Star Trek: Nemesis' and will focus on the more everyday and less heroic side of the Star Trek universe

At the San Diago Comic-Con, CBS All Access revealed to audiences the first look at the cast and characters of its upcoming animated series 'Star Trek: Lower Decks'. The upcoming adult animated web series is the first animated series created for All Access and follows the support crew of one of Starfleet's least important starships. 

The show is set after 'Star Trek: Nemesis' and will focus on the more everyday and less heroic side of the Star Trek universe. At the panel at SDCC, the creators carefully clarified that 'Lower Decks' isn't a parody and will be retaining the tone and ethos of 'Star Trek' even if these characters are less important compared to, say, the crew of a flagship like Enterprise.

Release date

Ten-episodes of 'Star Trek: Lower Decks' is expected to premiere in 2020.

Plot

Set in the year 2380 (a year after 'Star Trek: Nemesis'), 'Star Trek: Lower Deck' revolves around the support crew that serves on one of the least important ships of Starfleet. The cast includes new Starfleet recruits and characters who aren't all that good at their jobs. Their ship does support work for the rest of the fleet. 

Cast

Tawney Newsome as Ensign Mariner, Jack Quaid as Ensign Boimler, Eugene Cordero as Ensign Rutherford, Noël Wells as Ensign Tendi, Dawnn Lewis as Captain Freeman, Fred Tatasciore as Lieutenant Shaxs, Jerry O’Connell as Commander Ransom, and Gillian Vigman as Dr T'ana make up the main voice cast for 'Star Trek: Lower Decks'. 

Jerry O'Connell, Mike McMahan, Heather Kadin, Alex Kurtzman, Tawny Newsome, and Jack Quaid speak at the "Enter The Star Trek Universe" Panel during 2019 Comic-Con International at San Diego Convention Center on July 20, 2019 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Creators

The series is created by Mile McMahan (of 'Rick and Morty' fame) and produced by CBS’ Eye Animation Productions, CBS Television Studios’ new animation arm Secret Hideout and Roddenberry Entertainment. Secret Hideout's Kurtzman and Kadin and Roddenberry Entertainment’s Rod Roddenberry and Trevor Roth and Katie Krentz will serve as executive producers alongside creator McMahan. Aaron Baiers (Secret Hideout), who brought McMahan to the project, will serve as a co-executive producer. 

During the panel at SDCC, McMahan offered audiences a gist of the show:

"'Lower Decks' is a half-hour animated show, so it feels like about the same length as a 'Simpsons' episode. It focuses on four ensigns who are serving on a not-so-important ship in Starfleet. And they have stories that I think feel very Starfleet. They are stories about working on a ship. They are social and emotional stories mixed with sci-fi stories, because every Star Trek is about a family, and our show is also about a family, it is just not the same kind of family you have seen before… It takes place in 2380, right after 'Star Trek: Nemesis'. I am a TNG guy," he said.

Trailers

A trailer for 'Star Trek: Lower Decks' isn't out yet, but should be out by late 2019. But you can catch up on the panel at SDCC here:



 

Where to watch

'Star Trek: Lower Decks' will be airing on CBS All Access in the US. According to some reports, the series will be distributed concurrently internationally by CBS Studios International. The second season for the series has already been confirmed. 

If you liked this, you'll love these:

'Rick and Morty'

'Final Space'

'Star Trek: Nemesis'

'Star Trek: Picard'

'Futurama'

'Alien News Deck'

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