While Star Trek: Picard will feature many nods to The Next Generation and other elements of the Star Trek mythos, an alternate future Jean-Luc Picard's choice in facial hair will not make the cut.
The series finale of The Next Generation took place across multiple timelines as Picard was challenged by Q to save alternate visions of the past, present and future simultaneously. The future incarnation of Picard had retired from Starfleet to run his family's vineyard in France -- not unlike where the iconic character will first be seen in the upcoming CBS All Access series -- where he sported a full beard in his twilight years. According to Stewart, this version of Picard's retirement will eschew the facial hair completely.
"I remember vividly those scenes [in the future]," reflected Stewart in an interview with Yahoo. "I grew a beard and they made me up. I looked older than I will in the upcoming series!”
The new series will take place approximately eighteen years after the events of Star Trek: Nemesis, with Picard deeply affected by the destruction of Romulus seen in the prime timeline of the 2009 Star Trek reboot. Living a quiet life on his family vineyard, Picard will take to the stars once again for a brand new adventure.
Star Trek: Picard stars Patrick Stewart, Alison Pill, Michelle Hurd, Evan Evagora, Isa Briones, Santiago Cabrera and Harry Treadaway. The series is set to premiere on Jan. 23, 2020.