It seems Captain Jean-Luc Picard has been called to the holodeck.
One source close to British tabloid The Mirror (h/t ComicBook.com) suggests Patrick Stewart is on the verge of a Star Trek return.
This comes mere days after it was reported that Stewart was mulling over a possible lead role in Alex Kurtzman and Akiva Goldsman’s new Trek show, which will be launched alongside CBS Television’s plans for a “new series, mini-series and other content opportunities, including animation.”
Those negotiations may be further along than we initially thought, too, with The Mirror’s source alleging that Stewart already has a “verbal agreement” with the Powers That Be over at CBS, so at this rate, it’s only a matter of time before the Star Trek legend dusts off Captain Jean-Luc Picard’s famous costume.
Patrick is looking pretty good to get back on board the Enterprise. There are some aspects of the deal to be finalized, but there is a verbal commitment from all parties. An announcement will be made in the next few weeks and the show should be out next year.
One thing’s for sure: the Star Trek TV franchise is expanding, with or without Patrick Stewart. Former Discovery showrunner Alex Kurtzman has already agreed to develop multiple series, one of which could be a full-fledged reboot of The Next Generation.
That would certainly explain Stewart’s rumored involvement, and we imagine fans will want to see Captain Jean-Luc Picard in familiar territory above all else. Then again, this is just a rumor, and CBS has so far declined to comment on The Mirror’s report, so perhaps it’s best to adopt a ‘wait and see’ policy when it comes to Star Trek‘s TV future.