Patrick Stewart will reprise his role as Jean-Luc Picard in a new Star Trek series, the actor announced at a fan convention this weekend.
Stewart, who played the iconic role in the Star Trek: The Next Generation television series from 1987 to 1994, and then again in the film series, made a surprise appearance at Star Trek Las Vegas, where he proclaimed, “Jean-Luc Picard is back.”
The 78-year-old actor, whose character captained the starship Enterprise on TNG, took to the stage at the convention with Alex Kurtzman, who will executive produce the new series for CBS All Access, launching Fall 2019.
The new streaming on-demand series, which Stewart will also executive-produce, according to THR, will not be a reboot of The Next Generation. Instead, it will reportedly be an “exploration of the next chapter of Picard’s life.”
No word yet on the title of the series, which will join Star Trek: Discovery (for which Kurtzman is showrunner) in the CBS subscription on-demand line-up, along with the upcoming Star Trek: Short Treks, starting December 2018.
See below for Stewart’s full statement, as well as video from the convention announcement.
For anyone who cannot read Stewart’s embedded Twitter post, here’s the full transcript:
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.
Patrick
This is beyond exciting news!!! Captain Jean-Luc Picard is, hands down, not only one of the greatest Star Trek characters, but one of the best in television ever — and in science fiction! Stewart last appeared in the role in 2002’s Star Trek: Nemesis, which saw him battling Tom Hardy as his younger, vengeful clone.
Aside from Trek, the actor brought the iconic comic book character Charles Xavier aka Professor X to life on the big screen in FOX’s long-running X-Men movie franchise, including 2017’s Logan.
Video
Sir Patrick Stewart To Return As Jean-Luc Picard In A New Star Trek Series For CBS All Access
Watch the announcement from the 2018 Official Star Trek Convention Las Vegas today, August 4, 2018.
[Source: THR]
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