In Picard season 3, nearly every main cast member of Star Trek: The Next Generation is returning to reprise their roles from the earlier series. A few of the Star Trek: TNG characters have already made cameos in Picard, such as Jonathan Frakes and Marina Sirtis who returned to reveal a new family history between William T. Riker and Deanna Troi. Some TNG characters haven't returned to the franchise for a decade and the next Picard season will finally show where they've been.
It was confirmed in April 2022 that a huge list of the Star Trek: The Next Generation actors will be returning with Patrick Stewart for Picard season 3. Executive Producer Alex Kurtzman dropped the Picard season 3 teaser trailer at Comic Con which revealed new character portraits for each returning cast member from TNG. Picard stars Alison Pill, Isa Briones, Santiago Cabrera, and Evan Evagora are not returning for the season, however, so it appears Picard season 3 will focus on a story reuniting the central Star Trek: The Next Generation figures.
The original cast has not been wholly reunited since the final installment of the Star Trek: The Next Generation films, Star Trek: Nemesis, in 2002. Questions have circulated for nearly a decade about the fate of Geordi La Forge, Worf, and Beverly Crusher who have been absent throughout Star Trek in recent years. Those three characters, in particular, have not been seen since Nemesis and there are still unanswered questions about them that Picard season 3 can answer. This includes the nature of Beverly and Picard's romance, which was never openly addressed and can finally find closure. While the main cast of TNG is returning to reunite their original characters, Brent Spiner will be reprising his Picard roles of Dr. Altan Inigo Soong and Adam Soong. Data's death in Picard season 1 means that it is unlikely that Spiner will truly return as Data again. Every Star Trek: The Next Generation character returning to star in Picard season 3 can be found listed below.
LeVar Burton as Geordi La Forge
LeVar Burton is returning in Picard to reprise his Next Generation role as Chief Engineer Geordi La Forge. La Forge's last appearance in Star Trek was in Star Trek: Nemesis where he was seen mourning the tragic loss of his close friend Data. He has been the Chief Engineer for both the Enterprise-D and the Enterprise-E. It is unknown where Geordi's career has taken him since Nemesis, though the Picard prequel comic Countdown suggests he could now be the commander of the Utopia Planitia Shipyards orbiting Mars. In the Picard season 3 teaser trailer, each character is spotlighted with a new quote. Geordi La Forge says, "Those days on the Enterprise made me a better man, a better father, a better friend."
Michael Dorn as Worf
Michael Dorn is returning in Picard season 3 to reprise his role as Worf. As well as appearing in the TNG movies and Star Trek: The Next Generation, Worf is a central figure in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine in which he accepts the position of Federation Ambassador to Qo'noS. In TNG, he replaces Tasha Yar as Chief of Security after her untimely death. His time as Klingon Ambassador is seemingly over by the time he returns in Star Trek: Nemesis, though his reason for returning to Starfleet is vague. Dorn is confirmed to return as Worf for Picard season 3, so perhaps the mystery behind Worf's career path will be answered clearly. In the teaser, Worf states, "You're not presumed to know what I have and have not sacrificed for this."
Jonathan Frakes as William Riker
Jonathan Frakes has already returned in Lower Decks and Picard season 1 to reprise his role as William T. Riker and is returning to do the same in season 3. Picard season 1 reveals that Riker and Troi moved to the planet Nepenthe with their two children, one of which died from a disease caused by silicon-based viruses. The last time Riker is seen in Picard, he is shown to be reinstated into Starfleet and heading command of the USS Zheng He. It is unknown whether he will remain in command of the ship when Picard season 3 airs but it is unlikely since the returning cast is confirmed to majorly contribute to Picard's plot. In the teaser, Riker may be addressing Captain Picard when he says, "There's a whole universe out there. Wherever you go, we go."
Marina Sirtis as Deanna Troi
Marina Sirtis is confirmed to be returning for Picard season 3 as Deanna Troi. Troi is a half-Betazoid who has been the Enterprise's counselor under Captain Picard's command but she implies her retirement when Picard visits her and Riker on Nepenthe. In The Next Generation season 7, Troi takes an exam that grants her the status of bridge officer. In Picard season 3 she may finally put these skills to use as she did in the TNG movies. Her role in Picard season 1 is small and it would be refreshing to see her placed in the middle of the action once again. The quote used for Deanna in the teaser is inspiring and indicative of Picard season 3's upcoming adventures:"We have to be willing to go through that door to what's next."
Gates McFadden as Beverly Crusher
Beverly Crusher is another character who has not been seen in Star Trek since Star Trek: Nemesis. Gates McFadden returning for Picard season 3 to reprise her role as the Enterprise's iconic doctor will answer many franchise questions. Since Wil Wheaton is confirmed not to be returning for next season, Doctor Crusher can answer the question of where Wesley has been in Star Trek and if he's still with the Traveler. Beverly Crusher helps Picard face Shinzon in Nemesis and remains his close confidant. A deleted scene from Nemesis implies that Beverly has become the head of Starfleet Medical but that career path is unconfirmed for Picard season 3 as of now. She will likely affect Picard's romance with Laris as there has been romantic tension lingering between Beverly and Picard since the TNG movies. Hopefully, there will be definitive closure that will help answer whether Picard and Beverly are meant for each other. In the teaser trailer, Beverly states, "Here in this moment, let's do what we spent our lives learning to be great at."
There are several supporting characters from Star Trek: The Next Generation that will not be returning, such as Lieutenant Reginald Barclay, though perhaps more actors in the future can reprise their roles and expand Star Trek's ever-increasing lore. It has been confirmed that each of the original characters will play a major part in the new season, except Data since Brent Spiner will probably not be playing the curious android again. All of the characters returning for Picard season 3 will readily arrive with fresh stories to tell and new adventures to boldly take on.