Patrick Stewart Hints At Star Trek: Discovery Role

CBR

Patrick Stewart May Be Hinting At Star Trek: Discovery Role

By Tom Chapman

Published Jun 5, 2018

With a single, sly sentence, Patrick Stewart ignites speculation that he may be mulling a return to Star Trek with a role on Discovery.

Known for his iconic role as Captain Jean Luc-Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation, Patrick Stewart may have hinted at his return to the franchise during an exchange about Star Trek: Discovery.

Debuting last year on CBS All Access, the series is set about a decade before the events of Star Trek: The Original Series. Depicting the Federation-Klingon War, with a side trip to the Mirror Universe, the first season ended with the titular Discovery responding to a distress call from Enterprise, captained by Christopher Pike. With Inhumans star Anson Mount already cast as Pike and an appearance of Spock coming in Season 2, the ties to classic Star Trek are set to continue.

Asked by Red Carpet News whether he's seen Discovery, Stewart cryptically answered, "No, I haven't, but I may have good cause to look at it very soon." Stewart's sly smile may signal that knows something the audience doesn't, so let the speculation begin.

A return of Jean-Luc Picard is certainly possible, even with The Next Generation set long after both Discovery and The Original Series. Discovery's first season showcased both time travel and the Mirror Universe, meaning virtually anything is possible. Of course, Stewart could easily cameo as a different character.

Otherwise, Stewart could simply mean he is about to start watching Discovery. Fans know that TNG veteran Jonathan Frakes is directing some of Season 2 and that Marina Sirtis visited him on set. Stewart hasn't been part of the franchise since Star Trek: Nemesis in 2002, but has always remained open to returning to the role. Only last year, he said he would love to join Star Trek again and specifically pointed toward Quentin Tarantino's upcoming movie as a possible place for Picard.

Season 2 of Discovery promises just as many shocking revelations of the first, as the showrunners reiterate they want to include the show in more of Star Trek's extensive canon.

Stewart joins a long list of Star Trek alumni who have spoken about Discovery, which even included William Shatner reportedly turning down a role in the reboot.

Available for viewing now on the CBS All Access streaming platform, Star Trek: Discovery stars Sonequa Martin-Green, Doug Jones, Anthony Rapp, Shazad Latif, Mary Wiseman, Wilson Cruz, Mary Chieffo, Jason Isaacs and Michelle Yeoh.