Taking on the role of Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation, Patrick Stewart has reprised his role in the numerous shows and movies within the franchise. Despite his longstanding tenure as Picard, Stewart once questioned if there were any new avenues to explore for the character until he was introduced to the 2022 TV series, Star Trek: Picard.
However, before he officially returned as retired Starfleet Admiral Jean-Luc Picard in the show, rumors arose that he could potentially be replaced by his X-Men co-star Ian McKellen. Stewart promptly dispelled these rumors, stating that the series would not have progressed without him.
Star Trek: Picard Would Not Have Happened Without Patrick Stewart
In a conversation with The Guardian, Patrick Stewart reflected on his return as Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: Picard. He shared that he was skeptical about reprising the role as he believed that there was nothing much left to explore about the character after his last appearance in Star Trek: Nemesis.
He also addressed the possibility of another actor embodying the older Jean-Luc Picard in the show, potentially his fellow actor Ian McKellen. “Oh, I would have watched that,” he said while denying any such prospect. He said that the makers assured him that the show would not have progressed without him.
What a clever idea. No. They were absolutely clear: if I passed on it, there would be no show. And I believed them and thought that was generous.
However, he was intrigued by what the creators had in store for the 2022 TV series. The show focuses on a retired Jean-Luc Picard and things take an unexpected turn when he is visited by a mysterious young woman seeking help, who also holds the key to the secrets of his past.
“We would not be treading old ground just because that’s what a lot of people might like to see,” he said before adding, “It would be a new person with a different set of values and relationships.” Despite initial reservations, Patrick Stewart ultimately returned for the series, which spanned three successful seasons.
Patrick Stewart is Open to Returning as Jean-Luc Picard in The Future
His experience working on the hit Star Trek TV series has opened the actor to revisit his iconic role in potential future projects. Speaking with Variety, Patrick Stewart shared that he would love to return to the potential spin-off series Star Trek: Legacy in the future.
Yes. The circumstances, as it was with “Picard,” would be the important factor in all of that — And if I can occasionally crop up to offer a little bit of comedy myself, then I shall be happy to do that.
While there were discussions surrounding a potential spin-off series titled, Star Trek: Legacy, showrunner Terry Matalas has denied the possibility. He has revealed that despite the anticipation, there have been no discussions surrounding the show at Paramount.
“They have Star Trek that they are making and they only have so much money and streaming space,” he told TrekMovie. However, he still expressed optimism about what the future holds and remained open to potential opportunities within the Star Trek universe.
Star Trek: Picard is available to stream on Paramount+.
