You may remember back in June, we reported on rumblings about Patrick Stewart reprising his role as Star Trek: The Next Generation’s Captain Picard…well, it’s official, Jean-Luc is back, Stewart has officially signed on to star in a new Star Trek series for CBS All Access.
The new series will not be a reboot of The Next Generation, but instead is being described as an exploration of the next chapter of Picard’s life.
Stewart confirmed his return to the franchise Saturday at the annual Star Trek convention in Las Vegas, where he made a surprise appearance on stage. Watch the video below…
“With overwhelming joy, it’s a privilege to welcome Sir Patrick Stewart back to the Star Trek fold. For over 20 years, fans have hoped for the return of Captain Jean-Luc Picard and that day is finally here. We can’t wait to forge new ground, surprise people, and honor generations both new and old,” said Kurtzman, who leads a creative team that also includes James Duff (The Closer, Major Crimes), Akiva Goldsman (Discovery), Michael Chabon (the John Carter writer who is also penning one of the recently announced Star Trek: Discovery shorts) and Kirsten Beyer (Discovery).
“I will always be very proud to have been a part of Star Trek: The Next Generation, but when we wrapped that final movie in the spring of 2002, I truly felt my time with Star Trek had run its natural course. It is, therefore, an unexpected but delightful surprise to find myself excited and invigorated to be returning to Jean-Luc Picard and to explore new dimensions within him. Seeking out new life for him, when I thought that life was over. During these past years, it has been humbling to hear many stories about how The Next Generation brought people comfort, saw them through difficult periods in their lives or how the example of Jean-Luc inspired so many to follow in his footsteps, pursuing science, exploration and leadership. I feel I’m ready to return to him for the same reason — to research and experience what comforting and reforming light he might shine on these often very dark times. I look forward to working with our brilliant creative team as we endeavor to bring a fresh, unexpected and pertinent story to life once more.”
It is an unexpected but delightful surprise to find myself excited and invigorated to be returning to Jean-Luc Picard and to explore new dimensions within him. Read my full statement in the photo. #StarTrek @cbsallaccess Photo: @shervinfoto pic.twitter.com/8Ynuj3RBNm
— Patrick Stewart (@SirPatStew) August 4, 2018
Star Trek: The Next Generation ran for seven seasons and more than 170 episodes, earning 19 Emmys and a Peabody Award. There were also the four movies that continued the TNG timeline.
At the live panel for the announcement at Star Trek Las Vegas, Stewart was also quoted as saying that “it may not be the Jean-Luc you know and love,” citing experience and time as changing factors in the development of the character.
Joining Stewart as exec producers on the new untitled series are Kurtzman, Duff, Goldsman, Chabon, Kurtzman’s Secret Hideout president Heather Kadin, Rod Roddenberry, the son of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry and the CEO of Roddenberry Entertainment and Trevor Roth.
Additional details about the new series, including its title, episode count or a premiere date, are being kept secret. The creative team for the newest Star Trek series includes Alex Kurtzman, who serves as showrunner on Star Trek: Discovery and whose recent overall deal with CBS TV Studios included marching orders to expand the beloved and global franchise.
Fans of The Next Generation will no doubt be furiously discussing where this series will take the much-loved character…and indeed, will it open up the possibilities of cameos from other TNG stars? Will Picard have Irumodic Syndrome? Is he married to Dr Beverly Crusher? Will the new series include events from the novels – like the whole B4 debacle and the destruction of Romulus?
A number of different theories have arisen online, some serious, some less so…
Picard, now the landlord of a small apartment complex in a beach community south of New Paris on Moxi-Epolon 3, has to deal with the zany antics of an apartment when an Andorian, an Orion and a Gorn decide to be roommates. Hilarity ensues.
f86sabreSuspect they might go with a more West Wing-style show – Picard returning after a long period as an ambassador to discover the Federation sliding away from its utopian ideals
@Andy3EBecause there’s no interesting life in the Federation outside of Starfleet.
AnotherTallguyI bet he’s just gonna be the headmaster/dean on the Academy show they’re making.
asdkals;dka;lsda
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