There are few franchises as impactful and resilient as that of Star Trek. The space saga has left an indelible mark on society for decades and continues to leave a lasting legacy. That legacy continues with ongoing shows like Strange New Worlds and Starfleet Academy. Star Trek celebrates its 60th Anniversary this year, an achievement that was spotlighted at the 53rd Annual Saturn Awards on March 8. We attended this year’s Saturns and spoke with Rod Roddenberry, current CEO of Roddenberry Entertainment. On the red carpet, Roddenberry reflects on 60 years of the beloved franchise, as well as carrying forward the legacy his father created all those decades ago.
The Star Trek universe is credited to the late visionary Gene Roddenberry. The original series premiered in 1966 and ran for three seasons. It changed science fiction undoubtedly. After Gene’s passing in 1991, the Roddenberry empire was passed down to his son, Rod Roddenbury. Speaking to Nerdist at this year’s Saturn Awards, Roddenberry said he is proud to carry the family name forward.
“This has been a part of my life for a long time,” he said. “I’m very proud that the Roddenberry name still means something. It really means something to the future for people. And that’s what I’m here for. Not just for the shows, but for the ideas behind them.”
We’ve fallen in love with Star Trek for many reasons over the years. Its character-driven storylines, hopeful vision for the future, and intergalactic charm all keep the show relevant to this day. What other elements about a franchise like that keep it going for 60 years? Keep fans engaged even after all these years? That’s a question that Roddenberry confessed was “hard to sum up quickly.” But due to the fast-paced nature of a red carpet, sum it up he did.
“A forward-thinking attitude,” he answered. “To realize that we have to grow, and learn, and evolve beyond our current thought processes. In the ’60s, we were dealing with a lot of social and civil issues. We’re still dealing with a lot of those today.”
“We need Star Trek now more than ever. We need these ideas in everything more than ever. This is why we’re here, and I would assume a lot of people are here for the same reason.”
And he’s right. There is so much that plagues our world still today. It’s important for forward-thinking ideas to be represented, not silenced. Media should enlighten us, show us new perspectives, not distract us. Star Trek has done this for 60 years, and continues to do so.
What’s Next?
The momentum isn’t slowing down anytime soon. Starfleet Academy recently wrapped production for season two. Strange New Worlds looks ahead to season four, which will air on Paramount+ sometime in 2026. Roddenberry also teases that there might be other things in the works, too, none of which he can disclose quite yet. Star Trek officially celebrates its 60th Anniversary on September 8, 2026.