“They didn’t accept my pitch so, you know, f--- ‘em,” Weir quipped during a recent podcast appearance.

Project Hail Mary author apologizes for trashing new *Star Trek *shows after his pitch was rejected by Paramount

"They didn’t accept my pitch so, you know, f--- 'em," Weir quipped during a recent podcast appearance.

By Shania Russell

Shania Russell

Shania Russell is a news writer at *, *with five years of experience. Her work has previously appeared in SlashFilm and Paste Magazine.

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March 30, 2026 5:04 p.m. ET

Ethan Peck as Spock, Anson Mount as Capt. Pike and Rebecca Romijn as Una on 'Star Trek: Strange New Worlds'. Credit:

Marni Grossman/Paramount+

*Project Hail Mary* and *The Martian** *author Andy Weir is voicing his regrets after publicly criticizing the latest era of *Star Trek* TV.

The 53-year-old sci-fi novelist came under fire this week for making several disparaging remarks about the shows on the *Critical Drinker* podcast.

"Those shows are s---," Weir at one point told host Will Jordan. He also revealed that he had a pitch for the franchise turned down by *Trek* executive producer Alex Kurtzman, adding, "But they didn’t accept my pitch so, you know, f--- 'em."

Weir's remarks were roundly criticized on social media. *Crime 101* author Don Winslow weighed in on X, writing, "Congrats on the success of *Project Hail Mary* and *The Martian*. I’m a real fan. But when you have your moment don’t use it to crap on other writers' work. For the record, Alex Kurtzman is a visionary writer, creator, producer and you owe him an apology… writer to writer."

On Monday, Weir delivered that apology via an open letter to Kurtzman shared on Facebook.

"I'm posting to apologize about stuff I said on the *Critical Drinker*'s podcast," Weir began. "I feel like my quotes were taken out of context as salacious sound bytes. I hope you saw the other parts where I said how much I like you as a person and what a nice guy you are. Also how I like [*Star Trek: Strange New Worlds*] and [*Star Trek: Lower Decks*]."

Andy Weir and Alex Kurtzman.

Slaven Vlasic/Getty; Michael Tullberg/Getty

Weir explained that he was "trying to be funny" but now realizes that his remarks came off as "disrespectful and mean."

He continued, "I'm sorry for that. I was also trying to be self-deprecating when I said 'But they didn't like my pitch so f--- 'em!" but out of context it can read like I actually meant it. I'm a blunt person - always have been. And it's been 10 years since the media cared what I had to say about anything so I kind of forgot to watch my words when I have a film in theaters. In a couple months I'll be back in my cave writing novels and no one will care again."

He concluded by extending an invitation to Kurtzman to talk one-on-one, "even if it's just to rip me a new one."

Representatives for Paramount and Kurtzman did not immediately respond to **'s request for comment.

Weir's divisive criticisms began after podcast host Jordan remarked how refreshing it was to see *Project Hail Mary *succeed at the box office, especially for audiences who grew up on* Star Trek* and now suffer from "a lack of" successful sci-fi efforts.

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Weir replied, "I wish I could remember who it was who said it — some analyst — he said something like: 'All modern science fiction TV shows and movies have been *heavily* influenced by the original *Star Trek *— *except* for the current batch of *Star Trek s*hows.'"

Jordan agreed and they both laughed. Later, when the host suggested that everything since the 2001 prequel series *Star Trek: Enterprise* should be removed from the franchise's canon, Weir responded: "Okay, you’re a little more severe than I am."

Sandro Rosta as Caleb and Holly Hunter as Captain Nahla Ake in 'Star Trek: Starfleet Academy'.

Michael Gibson/Paramount+

He continued, "I’ll give you my opinion and I’m just a consumer. I like *Strange New Worlds*. I think it’s pretty good. I didn’t hate *Enterprise*. I thought it was kind of weird. *Lower Decks* I thought was entertaining and fun. All the others, they can go."

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Weir then brought up his failed pitch, explaining that he brought an idea to Paramount and "spent a lot of time talking to" Kurtzman about it. From there, Weir said "I don’t like a lot of the new *Trek*," called Kurtzman "a really nice guy," and made his "those shows are s---" comment.

Kurtzman has overseen seven* Star Trek* series since signing his 2017 production deal with Paramount: *Discovery*, *Picard*, *Strange New Worlds*, *Lower Decks*, *Prodigy*, *Short Treks*, and *Starfleet Academy — *the last of which was canceled earlier this month after making its polarizing debut in January. As for Kurtzman's future with the United Federation of Planets,* Starfleet Academy* has already shot its second season and* Strange New Worlds *has been renewed for a fifth and final season. Kurtzman's deal with CBS Studios is set to go through the end of 2026.

Original Article on Source

Source: “EW TV”