Star Trek: Picard has announced some Star Trek: The Next Generation cast returns for Season 3 in a new teaser video released by Paramount+. Fans will finally get to visit a few more of the crew of the Enterprise D as Patrick Stewart will be joined in the upcoming third (and final) season by LeVar Burton (Geordi La Forge) Michael Dorn (Worf) Jonathan Frakes (Will Riker) Gates McFadden (Dr. Crusher) Marina Sirtis (Deanna Troi) and Brent Spiner (Data, an 83rd Soong, who knows).
While Spiner has been a staple cast member of the first two seasons of Picard, along with having appearances from Franks and Sirtis, this is the first time we’ve seen them all back on screen since 2002’s Star Trek: Nemesis.
The announcement earlier today brought plenty of cheers and excitement from fans, along with a few wishing a few more cast members had been announced, including Wil Wheaton. (Yet somehow no love for Colm Meaney)
Here is the full press announcement from Paramount:
April 5, 2022 – Make it so! In honor of First Contact Day, Paramount+ today revealed that Patrick Stewart’s “Star Trek: The Next Generation” co-stars LeVar Burton, Michael Dorn, Jonathan Frakes, Gates McFadden, Marina Sirtis and Brent Spiner will star alongside Stewart in season three of the service’s hit original series STAR TREK: PICARD. Season three is the concluding chapter in the STAR TREK: PICARD saga.
“I remember watching the premiere of ‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’ almost 34 years ago with my father like it was yesterday. It was the spark that ignited my love for science fiction,” said Terry Matalas, season three showrunner and executive producer. “So, it’s most fitting that the story of Jean-Luc Picard ends honoring the beginning, with his dearest and most loyal friends from the U.S.S. Enterprise. It would be an understatement to say that giving these characters a proper send-off is an honor. The entire STAR TREK: PICARD team and I can’t wait for fans to experience this final, high-stakes, starship-bound adventure in season three!”
As depicted in the film “Star Trek: First Contact,” starring the aforementioned “Star Trek: The Next Generation” cast members, April 5, 2063, is the day that humans first make contact with Vulcans, marking a pivotal moment of exploration and acceptance in “Star Trek” history. Since the film’s debut, “Star Trek” fans around the world celebrate First Contact Day annually on April 5.
STAR TREK: PICARD features Patrick Stewart reprising his iconic role as Jean-Luc Picard, which he played for seven seasons on “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” and follows this iconic character into the next chapter of his life. The series is produced by CBS Studios in association with Secret Hideout and Roddenberry Entertainment. For season three, Alex Kurtzman, Akiva Goldsman, Terry Matalas, Patrick Stewart, Heather Kadin, Aaron Baiers, Rod Roddenberry, Trevor Roth, Doug Aarniokoski and Dylan Massin serve as executive producers. Terry Matalas serves as showrunner for season three.
Season 2 of Star Trek: Picard is currently streaming on Paramount+ with new episodes hitting on Thursdays.
I’ll be frank though, with this news, Season 2 needs to wrap up, we need to get through Strange New Worlds, and whatever else we have to do until I can see that glorious TNG crew one last time!