Star Trek: Picard showrunner Terry Matalas recently expressed confidence that the Paramount+ series' Next Generation cast members will return to screens again.
Matalas teased the possibility of Jonathan Frakes, Michael Dorn, Marina Sirtis, LeVar Burton, Gates McFadden and Brent Spiner reprising their Next Generation roles once more in an interview with SFX. "They certainly did have a great time [on Picard Season 3] and they certainly all would love to do this again," he said. "I think there are ways of seeing these characters again, in a kind of 'Next, Next Generation' story. Not all these characters -- I'm not gonna say they all necessarily make it out safely of Season 3. But I will say that in science fiction, there are always ways of seeing people again. So of course, who wouldn't want to do this forever?"
At least one Star Trek: The Next Generation veteran appears to share Matalas' optimism regarding the cast's post-Picard prospects. Jonathan Frakes, who plays Will Riker, previously hinted on Twitter that Picard won't be his last Star Trek outing. Responding to a tweet by Paramount that branded the show's upcoming third season "the final voyage" for Jean-Luc Picard and his crew, Frakes wrote, "Maybe not final...". It's currently unclear whether Frakes was referencing his directorial duties on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 2, or a starring role in an as-yet-unannounced movie or TV show.
Star Trek: Picard Boss Talks Tasha Yar
By contrast, Frakes' Next Generation co-star Denise Crosby doesn't appear to be headed back to the Star Trek universe any time soon. Matalas shot down speculation that Crosby will reprise the Tasha Yar role in Picard Season 3, although he confirmed there is "definitely a reference" to the USS Enterprise-D's late security officer in the 10-episode run. This places Crosby in the same company as fellow Next Generation alumnus Diana Muldaur, who Matalas previously stated will not return as Katherine Pulaski in Picard's third season.
But what of Picard himself, Patrick Stewart? Star Trek: Picard is supposed to wrap up with Season 3, however, Stewart recently suggested he could be lured back for at least one more season. The acclaimed actor said he would be willing to return for Picard Season 4 if he believed it could "maintain the work quality" of the previous three seasons.
Star Trek: Picard Seasons 1 and 2 are currently streaming on Paramount+. Season 3 is set to premiere on the platform on Feb. 16, 2023.
Source: SFX