Stewart understands importance of ‘Picard’
In “Star Trek: Picard,” Patrick Stewart reprises his iconic role as Jean-Luc Picard, a character he played for seven seasons on “Star Trek: The Next Generation” and in four feature films.
It almost didn’t happen. Stewart, who hadn’t played Picard since the 2002 movie “Star Trek: Nemesis,” long resisted a return, believing he had completed his job as one of the franchise’s most popular captains.
But he changed his mind after reading a lengthy proposal put together by Berkeley author (and diehard “Trek” devotee) Michael Chabon, Alex Kurtzman and a few others. Now he’s on board for a possible three-season run. (The show already has been renewed for a second season on CBS All Access).
Stewart recently fielded questions during a TV industry event.
“It is my hope ... that we will have encountered all of the principal actors from ‘Next Generation.’” — Patrick Stewart
Q: Had you gone through the process of saying goodbye to the character for good?
A: Oh, yes, years ago. But the context in which the work was done, the fact that we were then, as we are now, an ensemble and not a star-led series, it has been far easier than I expected to make this transition nearly 20 years later. But because ... the man exists inside me, the interesting question for me is ... what happened in those 20 years? So now I have a very, very clear vision, and little snippets of that backstory will creep into the series.
Q: Has this role been a career burden at times?
A: Yes. I’ve been honest about this. I found quite soon after we wrapped the fourth of our movies, “Nemesis,” that I had hung a, kind of, albatross around my neck. And so I went out of my way to try to find as many diverse roles as possible, and that was fun. It has taken a while for me to truly absorb the impact of this work. And being with a new ensemble you’ve seen already some of it, a brilliant ensemble I feel, once again, the sense of pride of being ... not the leader, but in a sense, I’m a kind of symbol.
Q: Jonathan Frakes and Brent Spiner appear in “Picard.” Is there anybody else from “Next Generation” who is going to appear in the series?
A: We actually talk all the time. The whole “Next Generation” cast are very, very close. I love all of them, and they are dear, dear friends. Jonathan,
Marina Sirtis, Jonathan Del Arco, and Brent, of course, do appear in Season 1. It is my hope that whenever that point arrives in which we are wrapping the series, that we will have encountered all of the principal actors from “Next Generation.”
Q: Why do you think “Star Trek” has endured as a franchise for all these years?
A: Hope. It is the dominant emotion behind everything that we did on “Next Generation” and, as I’m beginning to discover, on “Picard” too. It has always been part of the content of “Star Trek” that it will be attempting to create a better future with the certain belief that a better future is possible if the right kind of work and the right kind of people are engaged in that. And my feeling was ... there has never been a more important moment when entertainment and show business can address some of the issues that are potentially damaging our world today.