Patrick Stewart has opened up about if he will continue playing Jean-Luc Picard after Star Trek: Picard ends. Stewart has been playing the character since 1986, and he has been happily picking up the role throughout the decades. Stewart readily agreed to take part in Star Trek: Picard, which sees the character 20 years after Star Trek: Nemesis, having retired from Starfleet and settled down to a somewhat normal life in the wake of Data's death. With Picard now working to protect synthetic humans as much as he can, he is thrown back into action and has to become a hero again.
Yet, with Star Trek: Picard coming to an end after season 3, there have been questions about whether it will be Stewart's last hurrah as Picard. With Star Trek setting up a brand new era and getting ready to leave the Next Generation crew behind, the 82-year-old Stewart has an easy opportunity to bow out of the franchise with a hero's farewell. Yet, during the Star Trek: Picard TCA presentation, Stewart made it clear that he isn't quite ready to put an end to his time with Star Trek. Check out his quote below, via ComicBook.com:
If we can maintain the work that we did on Seasons 1, 2 and 3 of Picard, then absolutely, yes. Because there is still enormous potential for narrative in what we've been doing, and there are doors left open, still. We didn't close all of them.
How Long Will Patrick Stewart Continue To Play Picard?
There is no way to know how long Stewart intends to continue playing Picard. Given how long he's been sticking to the role, it's very possible that he will continue with Star Trek for as long as he possibly can. Even if Star Trek: Picard never sets up another starring role for Picard, the character will always have the opportunity to appear for cameos or other smaller roles, given his importance to the franchise. Since the story of The Next Generation will likely end in Star Trek: Picard with the crew finally reuniting, it may be the perfect opportunity to put an end to Picard's own story and save him for a few smaller appearances for whichever generation of Starfleet crewmates next take up their roles.
Yet there is always a chance that Stewart can still play a key role in the franchise. Given that he has played the role of the compassionate mentor, he could be a great advisor to new generations, and that role can help Stewart stick with Star Trek long after Star Trek: Picard without having to worry about taxing stunts. Star Trek's future still lies with Picard, as it has for decades, as his story can easily set up decades of storytelling within the Star Trek universe. It would be a shame if Stewart doesn't get the opportunity to keep going as Picard as long as he'd like.
Everything We Know About Star Trek: Picard Season 3
Star Trek: Picard season 3 will be 10 episodes long and will be releasing on Paramount+ on February 16. The season will feature the Star Trek: The Next Generation crew reuniting for one last adventure. Familiar Star Trek: Picard characters, such as Cristobal Rios (Santiago Cabrera), Agnes Jurati (Alison Pill), and Soji (Isa Briones) will not be appearing in the season, presumably to make room for the Next Generation characters. Star Trek: Picard season 3 will work to fix the many errors of Star Trek: Nemesis by providing an ending fitting for the Star Trek: Next Generation heroes and a temporary farewell to Stewart.
Source: Star Trek: Picard's TCA presentation (via ComicBook.com)