Sir Patrick Stewart gained worldwide fame when he starred as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in the show Star Trek: Picard. He played the role of the empathetic yet assertive leader of the USS Enterprise-D for seven seasons and returned with the cast for four films.
While returning to the role in Star Trek: Picard, Stewart reportedly was on the fence as he did not want to tarnish the legacy of the original show. He mentioned that his stardom was so huge that he could not walk on the streets of China as he was thronged by fans.
Sir Patrick Stewart’s Picard Fame Reached China
When Sir Patrick Stewart was cast as Captain Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation, the actor was still a relative unknown, who was only known for his work on the stage and his roles in David Lynch’s Dune. The actor was reportedly chosen when he was doing a dramatic reading at the library of UCLA.
However, Stewart became a household name when the series hit all the right chords with fans. The actor’s portrayal of the ethical, empathetic, and diplomatic Captain Picard became a staple for effective leadership, and the success of the series was largely credited to Patrick Stewart’s performance.
Hence, when Stewart was approached to reprise his role in the series Star Trek: Picard, he was apprehensive. He mentioned that he did not want to impact the legacy the show had and the amount of fame he had received. Describing the impact in an interview with Gold Derby, he said,
Because Next Generation had been such an iconic series that I didn’t want to risk the impact of that, which it still has. I mean, it grows in worldwide observation. It gets bigger and bigger and bigger. I think there are millions and millions and millions all around …
I mean, for instance, it wasn’t shown in China for a long time, Star Trek. But now it is, and I get lots of responses filtered through to me from China, I was actually in Beijing about three years ago, and I found I couldn’t go out on the street alone. I was so recognizable there.
However, the actor was reportedly convinced by creators Akiva Goldsman, Terry Matalas, Michael Chabon, and Alex Kurtzman, who said that the character would not be the same and would have grown since his last appearance.
Patrick Stewart Was Not Aware Of How Huge Star Trek: The Next Generation Was Until One Moment
Sir Patrick Stewart became a worldwide star when he starred in Star Trek: The Next Generation. The actor would go on to work on many franchise films such as X-Men, the MCU, and more. He is often considered to be one of the greatest actors of the generation and has been known for his work on the stage as well.
Though he was admittedly not sure if TNG would be a hit initially, the actor reportedly did not believe the stardom he had and the impact of the show until he went to a convention in Denver. He mentioned in an interview with BBC,
It was a long time before any of us realized that we were very slowly becoming well-known as actors. That was a very, very slow process, largely brought about by the fact that we were too busy working to lift up our heads and pay attention to what was happening. We knew that the series was doing well, but it really wasn’t until the first season ended that I went to my first Star Trek convention.
It was in Denver and [I] had expected that I would be standing in front of a few hundred people and found that there were two and a half thousand people and that they already knew more about me than I could ever possibly have believed.
The actor used to reportedly be averse to conventions until then but then decided to make regular appearances.
Star Trek: The Next Generation is available to stream on Paramount+.
