CBS Television Studios Announces New Five-Year Overall Deal with Alex Kurtzman and Secret Hideout Productions

Alex Kurtzman, a prolific writer-producer of film and television and co-creator of STAR TREK: DISCOVERY, has extended his production agreement with CBS Television Studios through 2023. Under the agreement, CBS Television Studios will have exclusive rights to produce all television content created and developed by Kurtzman and his Secret Hideout production banner for the next five years. Heather Kadin serves as president of Kurtzman's company, and Aaron Baiers is senior vice president of television.

As part of the new production deal, Kurtzman will supervise the expansion of CBS' "Star Trek" franchise for television, developing new series, mini-series and other content opportunities, including animation. Under Kurtzman's leadership, the newest addition to the franchise, STAR TREK: DISCOVERY, made an impressive creative and commercial mark in its first season. DISCOVERY launched to widespread critical acclaim and commercial success in the U.S. on CBS ALL ACCESS and around the world. Production for season two of DISCOVERY is under way, and Kurtzman directed the premiere episode.

In addition to growing CBS' "Star Trek" universe, Kurtzman and Secret Hideout will develop new, original series across the full spectrum of broadcast, cable and streaming platforms. As part of this process, Secret Hideout will expand its production operation, adding diverse voices and cultivating new creative talent to align with the company.

"There is a very short list of writer-producer-directors that every film and television studio wants to be associated with, and Alex and his Secret Hideout team are always at the top," said David Stapf, President, CBS Television Studios. "His talent, taste and ability to shepherd a successful project is unparalleled. Alex has done remarkable work for our Studio, dating back seven years to the launch of HAWAII FIVE-0, and we are thrilled that he, Heather and their team will be partnering with us for a long time to come."

"Heather, Aaron and I are thrilled to continue Secret Hideout's amazing partnership with CBS Television Studios," said Alex Kurtzman. "Since our first collaboration with HAWAII FIVE-0 almost a decade ago, Les, David and the full team at CBS Studios have been our foremost collaborators and champions, treating each project with integrity, supporting the creative visions and working breathlessly to make each episode of every show the best it can be. CBS has also allowed us the great pleasure of reintroducing the world of Star Trek audiences new and old, and we are very excited to keep working alongside them to expand that world."

Since 2010, Kurtzman has served as executive producer of the series HAWAII FIVE-0, which remains one of the top-20 most-watched programs on television and a mainstay of CBS' Friday night schedule. He is also currently developing "The Man Who Fell to Earth" for Hulu with Jenny Lumet ("Rachel Getting Married"), Tandem Productions, Timberman/Beverly and Studio Canal. The series, based on a novel by Walter Tevis, is about an alien who arrives on earth at a moment of intense geopolitical crisis and must confront his own past to determine the world's future.

Kurtzman is known as one of the most prolific creators in film and television, co-creating and launching some of the most successful franchises of the past two decades including multiple films in the "Star Trek," "Now You See Me" and "Transformers" series. He has also written, directed or produced such projects as INSTINCT, SALVATION and the recently completed run of "Scorpion" for CBS, as well as "Mission Impossible III," "The Proposal," "Sleepy Hollow," "Alias" and "Fringe."

To post a comment, you must register and login.