Make it so! The Star Trek timeline is finally moving forward, as our favorite facepalmer and lover of tea, Earl Grey, hot, is returning to the Trek universe in a new CBS All Access series. As reported by Deadline, Sir Patrick Stewart made the surprise announcement at the Star Trek convention in Las Vegas. The show will not be a Next Generation reboot, but will cover the next chapter in Picard’s life. Presumably, other Next Gen characters who still exist in the same era are free to make appearances, though the least likely would probably be Data/B-4, unless they find a way to explain the android naturally aging like his actor.
It is 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. Read my full statement in the photo. #StarTrek @cbsallaccess Photo: @shervinfoto pic.twitter.com/8Ynuj3RBNm
— Patrick Stewart (@SirPatStew) August 4, 2018
Stewart was encouraged to return in part by all the fans who’ve told him he was a comforting presence over the years, saying, “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.” Given how much comfort all his memes with Sir Ian McKellen have given us over the years, we have to wonder (and hope) whether the Magneto actor could be persuaded by his pal to make appearances. Heck, just the two of them clowning around in Star Trek‘s version of a retirement home would be a show we’d watch. Stewart had previously stated he’d be willing to return for a Quentin Tarantino Star Trek film.
Expect this to sell subscribers to CBS All Access in a big way–unlike Discovery, it’s offering a familiar, proven quantity and will be our first step back into the Next Gen timeline since we briefly saw Romulus explode in J.J. Abrams’ first Star Trek movie. It will also give us an opportunity to see how much of the alternate future glimpsed in “All Good Things” turned out not to be the reality.
Has this return “engaged” your excitement? Beam down to comments and tell us!
Images: CBS/Paramount
