Fresh off debuting the first trailer for the second season of Star Trek: Discovery, now comes word on a Discovery spin-off of sorts.

As announced by CBS All Access at San Diego Comic Con, a short-form spin-off miniseries titled Short Treks will debut later this year. This miniseries will be made up of just four episodes, all running between ten and fifteen minutes in length. Each episode will be used for deeper exploration of key characters and themes seen in Star Trek: Discovery and the greater Star Trek universe as a whole.

It’s already been confirmed that one of the episodes will focus on Rainn Wilson’s Harry Mudd, with Wilson directing that episode, too. Aldis Hodge’s Craft will take centre-stage in another episode, with him being the only human on a deserted ship. Doug Jones’ Saru will have his backstory fleshed out in one episode, with that effort looking at him being the first Kelpien to become a part of Starfleet. And finally, Mary Wiseman’s Tilly will be the focus of one of these shorts.

On this news, Discovery showrunner Kurtzman enthused, “There is no shortage of compelling stories to tell in the Star Trek universe that inspire, entertain, and either challenge our preconceived ideas or affirm long held beliefs, and we are excited to broaden the universe already with Short Treks. Each episode will deliver closed-ended stories while revealing clues about what’s to come in future Star Trek: Discovery episodes. They’ll also introduce audiences to new characters who may inhabit the larger world of Star Trek.”

That all sounds absolutely cracking to us!