Warning: SPOILERS for Star Trek: Lower Decks' Series Finale - "The New Next Generation"Star Trek: The Next Generation's 24th-century era. But what future, if any, does the brave crew of the USS Cerritos have?

In biggest crossover in Star Trek history before the USS Cerritos heroically saved the entire multiverse. Star Trek: Lower Decks season 5 ends with a paradigm shift, promotions, and new missions, closing this chapter of the Lower Deckers' Starfleet careers. So, what's next?

Star Trek: Lower Decks Season 6 Isn't Happening On Paramount Plus

It's Over For The USS Cerritos On Paramount Plus

Star Trek: Lower Decks' run on Paramount+ is over, and there is no Star Trek: Lower Decks season 6 in development. After wrapping production on season 5's finale, Star Trek: Lower Decks' offices have shut down. The 50 episodes and five seasons of Star Trek: Lower Decks comprise the completed run of the series. Hence, Star Trek: Lower Decks' series finale closed this chapter of the USS Cerritos while hinting that more voyages could happen one day.

Although Star Trek: Lower Decks is finished making new episodes, there are thankfully no signs the 50 episodes of the animated comedy will be pulled from Paramount+ the way Star Trek: Prodigy's were when the streamer canceled it in 2023. Hopefully, Star Trek: Lower Decks will always live alongside the other Star Trek series and movies on Paramount+. However, viewers repeatedly binging those 50 episodes could be the key to Star Trek: Lower Decks getting a new future.

Can Star Trek: Lower Decks Season 6 Happen On Netflix Or Another Streaming Service?

#SaveLowerDecks! #SaveLowerDecks! #SaveLowerDecks!

It's logical to hope that Star Trek: Lower Decks could be picked up by another streaming service the way Netflix saved Star Trek: Prodigy. It would make sense for Netflix, in particular, to pick up Star Trek: Lower Decks to allow them to produce more episodes. This would let Netflix corner the market on modern Star Trek animated series. However, just as Star Trek: Prodigy for season 3, there is no known movement toward Star Trek: Lower Decks jumping to Netflix.

A #SaveLowerDecks campaign started when it became known Star Trek: Lower Decks season 5 was the final season on Paramount+, but the fan movement never caught fire the way Prodigy's did. The end of Star Trek: Lower Decks (and possibly Star Trek: Prodigy too) is doubly disappointing, since both animated series have delivered some of the best Star Trek episodes of the modern era, and made it possible for numerous legacy characters from Star Trek: Voyager, Star Trek: Enterprise, and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine to return.

Will Star Trek: Lower Decks' Characters Appear Again?

How The Crew Of The USS Cerritos Can Return

Even if Star Trek: Lower Decks doesn't return as a series, there is potential for some of the USS Cerritos' beloved crew to reappear in future Star Trek projects - and possibly in live-action. Star Trek: Lower Decks' Tawny Newsome is developing the first live-action Star Trek comedy set in the early 25th century. If Tawny's show gets a green light, it seems like a tailor-made vehicle for her to bring in her Lower Decks cast mates and their characters.

Tawny Newsome is also a writer and "continuity cop" on Star Trek: Starfleet Academy.

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is also filming two back-to-back seasons in Toronto, and that series can also bring back live-action Star Trek legacy characters like The Doctor (Robert Picardo). Starfleet Academy is set in the 32nd century after the end of Star Trek: Discovery, but holograms, flashbacks, or other sci-fi means could potentially bring back any Star Trek character. Mike McMahan has also mused about his dream of live-action Star Trek: Lower Decks, and perhaps that could be the next phase for the USS Cerritos someday.