It’s now official: Patrick Stewart is returning to the role of Capt. Jean-Luc Picard in all-new Star Trek series.
While appearing at a Star Trek convention in Las Vegas on Saturday, the 78-year-old Stewart made the announcement on stage that he will be returning to the role of Picard. The untitled series will appear on CBS All Access and be produced by Alex Kurtzman who is currently involved with Star Trek: Discovery.
Stewart followed the announcement with an official statement on his Twitter account:
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.
Rumors have been circulating for a few weeks now after Kurtzman signed a new deal with CBS.
There is no word yet as to the title, setting, and so on, but it does sound as though he will be playing an aged Picard. This also suggests that the CBS All Access series continue to inhabit the original timeline and not the ‘Kelvin timeline’ from the films.
With the character of Picard back in play, this, of course, also leaves the door open for other Next Generation cast members to make a return along the way. Jonathan Frakes (Riker) seems like a given to me, but only time will tell.
