We finally know when to expect to see Patrick Stewart’s grand return to Star Trek. After a break of 17 years, the fan favorite actor will be returning to the franchise as Jean-Luc Picard in a brand new series on CBS All Access towards the end of next year.
That’s official, as this info comes from CBS’ new chief creative officer David Nevins, who announced when the Picard show would air while speaking at the the 46th Annual UBS Global Media and Communications Conference. He promised that fans would have not just the second season of Star Trek: Discovery to look forward to in 2019 but also the first season of the currently-untitled Picard series, saying:
“In 2019, it’s not one ‘Star Trek,’ it’s two ‘Star Treks.’ ‘Discovery‘ at the beginning of the year, and Picard will start at the end of the year.”
We previously learned that the show was due to head into production in April 2019, with estimates putting the airdate in early 2020. So, it’s a nice surprise that it’s on course to arrive sooner than we thought.
It was confirmed in October that the plan isn’t to make the Picard revival as a one-off limited show but a new ongoing drama much in the same vein as Discovery, with CBS hoping to produce multiple seasons with Stewart in the lead. However, no other stars of The Next Generation are expected to appear on the series.
As for the plot and what it’ll entail, we’re still none the wiser. In his speech to the crowd at Star Trek Las Vegas that announced his return to the franchise, though, Stewart teased that all bets are off when it comes to where Picard will be in his life on the show. “He may not be a captain anymore,” the actor said. “He may not be the Jean-Luc that you recognize and know so well. It may be a very different individual.”
Color us intrigued, and as soon as we learn more about Picard’s return to the Star Trek universe, we’ll be sure to let you know.