Sir Patrick Stewart may be known for his role as Professor X in the X-Men series, but his most famous role is that of Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation. The actor became a global star after the show’s success, having only been a stage actor till then.
While Stewart was barely interested in getting into TV and film, much less a sci-fi revival, his co-star LeVar Burton was reportedly the exact opposite. The Roots star was reportedly a huge fan of the original series and had met with a producer on another show. His passion for the series reportedly led him to be chosen for the role of Geordi La Forge.
LeVar Burton Used His Passion For Star Trek To Get A Gig In The Show
The Star Trek: The Original Series only lasted three seasons in its initial run but found a new cult fandom after the emergence of Star Wars. The original cast returned to star in films based on the series and thus a new global franchise was born. Actor LeVar Burton, who played Geordi La Forge in The Next Generation was reportedly a huge fan.
Burton has mentioned multiple times about his love for the original series and how he respected creator Gene Roddenberry to have an optimistic and inclusive vision for the future. Hence, he was reportedly even more excited when he found out that a producer on the original series was also a part of his gig in the film Emergency Room.
The actor mentioned that he basically hounded producer Robert Justman every day to learn more about the original series which led to him being remembered while they were developing TNG. He said to CreativeLive,
Every day, I would find a reason to sit next to him and just pump him for stories about ‘Star Trek’… And years later, he remembered my passion. … When he was working with Gene Roddenberry at Paramount to launch ‘The Next Generation,’ they had this character, Geordi La Forge, and [Justman] remembered how passionate I was about ‘Trek’ and called me up and said, ‘Would you be interested in coming in and seeing us about a ‘Star Trek’ series?’
Burton would go on to have a long relationship with the franchise as he played Geordi La Forge for seven seasons and then returned for the spinoff shows Voyager and Deep Space Nine as a director.
Patrick Stewart Thought Star Trek: The Next Generation Would Only Last A Season
Before being one of the most admired TV characters in history, Sir Patrick Stewart was reportedly a stage actor who had done small roles in film and TV. The actor had appearances in Dune (by David Lynch) and reportedly preferred only classic literature as opposed to sci-fi material.
While he was selected after producer Robert Justman found him at a literary reading at UCLA, Stewart was reportedly apprehensive about signing a contract for six years. He told BBC (via Trek Movie) that none of his lawyers and agents were confident about Star Trek: The Next Generation lasting more than a season and hence urged him to finish it.
I was not an actor looking for Hollywood work. Today it is different with a focus on film and television and not theater. But my agent and everyone else I consulted reassured me that I need not fear a six-year contract I had to sign.
Not only would the series not make it to six years, but it was unlikely to make it through its first season because everyone said ‘You cannot revive an iconic series, it is impossible.’ So come and make some money for the first time in your life, get a suntan, and go home.
However, the series went on to last seven seasons and four original films, as well as several other spinoff shows. Stewart returned to the role in Star Trek: Picard.
Star Trek: The Next Generation is available to stream on Paramount+.
