Patrick Stewart Says Star Trek: Picard Season 3 TNG Reunion Isnt A Walk Down Memory Lane – TrekMovie

Season three of Star Trek: Picard is bringing back the main cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation for what promises to be a “proper sendoff.” Little is known about the upcoming season, but now star Sir Patrick Stewart is talking more about bringing back his TNG co-stars for the finale season.

Stewart took convincing to bring back TNG cast

Last month Paramount+ revealed LeVar Burton, Michael Dorn, Jonathan Frakes, Gates McFadden, Marina Sirtis, and Brent Spiner will all be joining Stewart in season three of Star Trek: Picard. And in the last week, we have learned that most of the original cast of Picard is exiting the series ahead of season three. And Gates McFadden has revealed she is at least six episodes. So it is becoming clearer that the TNG cast will be the big focus for season three. Speaking to Variety, Stewart wouldn’t confirm exactly how many episodes each of his TNG co-stars would be in, but he did reveal how they will be spread throughout the season:

That is a question I can’t answer… But every single one of my leading colleagues from “Next Generation” will be in Season 3 at different times.

Before agreeing to return for Star Trek: Picard, Sir Patrick Stewart told executive producer and co-creator Alex Kurtzman he wasn’t interested in going back and recreating The Next Generation. And in his Variety interview, Stewart explains it took convincing to get him to sign on to bring back the TNG cast for the final season:

It was something which initially, I had my doubts about. It would seem to me that it would be paying too much attention to the fan appreciations of what “Next Generation” had meant to them. I know how intense the social reconnections can be. But when we talked about it, when I talk to Akiva [Goldsman] about it and my fellow producers and the other writers, I could see that it could be done without rewinding the clock. There was no reason for us to walk down memory lane in every scene. Not at all. And the brilliant thing the writers did in Season 3, is that they engaged the cast of “Next Generation.” But that’s as much as I’m allowed to say.

Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Stewart had this to say about what it was like to be reunited with his TNG co-stars:

We have been bonded together for years and years in different ways and for different reasons. I adore them, and I love them all deeply. What they brought into my life in 1987 was rich and complex. They all are as committed as any group of actors I’ve ever worked with. And yes, we had a lot of fun, and we joked. But nevertheless, we were a serious group of actors, and I was so proud of the work that we did.

Patrick Stewart as Picard and Whoopi Goldberg as Guinan in the season two finale

Saying goodbyes in season 2

In his TNR interview, Stewart talked about the emotion of saying goodbye to some of the actors as they wrapped up season two:

I watched the episode for the first time this morning, and I was so deeply moved by those scenes with John de Lancie and the content of those scenes because he was making himself, as a character, vulnerable. John can bring complexity to the simplest line. I mean that as a compliment. I’m envious. His whole attitude and the things he was saying and his gentleness and sensitivity, it choked me up.

And then when we came to the moment when [Borg Queen] Alison Pill took off her mask. We had this curious angle shot, rather low into her face, looking up into her eyes. I’m afraid I began to weep, it was so touching. Because, of course, it meant that I was saying goodbye to John and to Alison, who are both wonderful actors.

Executive producer Terry Matalas shared a behind-the-scenes video for de Lancie’s final scene with Stewart with de Lancie thanking (and hugging) Stewart and thanking the crew.

Monday chat with Jeri and Michelle

In addition to Stewart, the only members of the season two cast who are confirmed to be back in season three are Michelle Hurd (Raffi) and Jeri Ryan (Seven). And both of them will be doing a live Twitter Spaces event on Monday.

ICYMI: Season 3 cast annoncement

There is no word yet on when the third season of Star Trek: Picard will debut.

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