Star Trek Discovery: Bryan Fuller says he won't be involved

When the shocking news broke that Bryan Fuller was stepping down as showrunner of Star Trek: Discovery, some fans held out hope that by staying on as an executive producer the Hannibal writer-producer would remain actively involved in the production.

But that’s not how showrunner changes tend to really work behind the scenes (usually when you’re out, you’re out), and now Fuller himself is confirming that, yup, he’s out.

“I’m not involved in production, or postproduction, so I can only give them the material I’ve given them and hope that it is helpful for them,” Fuller tells Newsweek in a new interview. “I’m curious to see what they do with it.”

Having worked on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Star Trek: Voyager before gaining fame as the showrunner of his own series like Pushing Daisies, Fuller has long publicly advocated for a return to TV for Trek and fans were thrilled he was going to captain the new series. But in October, Fuller was replaced by Gretchen Berg and Aaron Harberts due to the time commitment of his other projects (mainly, Starz’ upcoming American Gods).

Fuller wrote the show’s first two episodes and plotted a season arc before stepping aside. He calls the situation “bittersweet” and, in terms of being involved in a potential second season, notes, “they have my number and if they need me I will absolutely be there for them.”

For more, see the full Fuller interview. Earlier this week, CBS All Access announced Discovery‘s first three official castmembers, but has yet to fill its lead role. One of the new characters is openly gay, a representation among the crew that was important to Fuller. Discovery is expected to launch in May, 2017.