We know him as a battle-hardened warrior torn between two cultures, but apparently he's also a pretty funny guy. Star Trek: The Next Generation's tough and grumpy Worf was apparently the subject of a pitch for a new Star Trek show that would have been "incredibly funny, poignant and touching."
Star Trek supremo Alex Kurtzman discussed the proposed Worf spinoff in an interview with The New York Times. The pitch came from Graham Wagner, producer of Portlandia and HBO's startup-skewering satire Silicon Valley.
Lt. Worf was the Klingon security chief aboard The Next Generation's starship Enterprise. Having last played the role in the 2002 movie Nemesis, actor Michael Dorn has discussed his desire for a Worf series, but he's yet to join former crewmembers returning to the screen in TNG sequel Star Trek: Picard starring Patrick Stewart. Surely a return would be the least they could do after years of shutting down Worf's suggestions.
The Times interview focuses on Kurtzman's pivotal role in the growth of streaming service Paramount Plus. Formerly known as CBS All Access, Paramount Plus is home to three series in the Trek universe: Star Trek: Discovery, TNG sequel Picard and adult animation series Lower Decks.
They're soon to be joined by kids cartoon Prodigy produced with Nickelodeon and Strange New Worlds featuring stars of Discovery warping into new adventures aboard the USS Enterprise.
Kurtzman classified the Worf dramedy pitch as an example of how future Trek shows can span multiple genres.
"Anything goes," Kurtzman told the Times, "as long as it can fit into the Star Trek ethos of inspiration, optimism and the general idea that humankind is good."
