Is Star Trek: Picard lasting 7 seasons a possibility?

[Danlav05]

Patrick Stewart is getting up there in years, didn't they film seasons 2 and 3 at the same time just out of doubts of his continuing availability?

Presumably he wants to go back to the theatre? This is the guy who was adamant he'd never be Picard again, so I'm grateful that he did come back. Hopefully the new ending will be more satisfying than Nemesis!!

3 seasons is a nice number. 30 episodes! so (this + 178 TNG + Emissary) = 209 + 4 movies = 213 appearances as JL! On top of that 10 video games, a voiceover for The Experience, Family Guy and Robot Chicken :P

Michelle Hurd has seemingly confirmed 3 is the end https://collider.com/picard-season-2-jeri-ryan-michelle-hurd-interview-season-3-series-finale/

 

[Danja]

Presumably he wants to go back to the theatre? This is the guy who was adamant he'd never be Picard again, so I'm grateful that he did come back. Hopefully the new ending will be more satisfying than Nemesis!!

3 seasons is a nice number. 30 episodes! so (this + 178 TNG + Emissary) = 209 + 4 movies = 213 appearances as JL! On top of that 10 video games, a voiceover for The Experience, Family Guy and Robot Chicken :P

Michelle Hurd has seemingly confirmed 3 is the end https://collider.com/picard-season-2-jeri-ryan-michelle-hurd-interview-season-3-series-finale/

Killing Eve is stopping after S4 (32 episodes)

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing_Eve#Episodes_and_broadcast

 

[Grizzlor]

Streaming services are financially not often sensible past 3-4 seasons. To be honest, I fear the ratings are likely to shuffle this series out after 3.

 

[fireproof78]

3 is perfect.

 

[GothicPudding]

Streaming services are financially not often sensible past 3-4 seasons. To be honest, I fear the ratings are likely to shuffle this series out after 3.

I assumed that the California tax credits would run out after Season 3, and additional seasons would be less financially viable.

Picard appeared to be eligible for $15.6 million for Season 1, $20.4 million for Season 2, and $20.6 million for Season 3. The credits appear to cover about 20% of the budget for each season, so seasons 2 and 3 cost over $10 million an episode.

There were reports that suggested Netflix was covering most of the cost of Discovery for the international rights, so it's possible that most of Picard is paid by Amazon, since presumably both Netflix and Amazon bid on the international rights.

The renewal decision will probably be based on non-public information, such as how many seasons Amazon is contractually obligated to pay for, whether Paramount wants to buy back the international rights, whether Paramount wants to continue to have Star Trek filming take place around LA in addition to Toronto, whether or not Stewart would want to sign a contract for additional seasons, and the development status of other live-action Star Trek series.

 

[Danja]

Streaming services are financially not often sensible past 3-4 seasons. To be honest, I fear the ratings are likely to shuffle this series out after 3.

Disco is going on S5.

 

[Grizzlor]

Disco is going on S5.

True but that's kind of in its own world, whereas Picard skirts the existing TNG canon, and you wonder what "ideas" they have left for this guy that aren't completely farcical.

 

[fireproof78]

True but that's kind of in its own world, whereas Picard skirts the existing TNG canon, and you wonder what "ideas" they have left for this guy that aren't completely farcical.

Picard as chancellor of the Academy is farcical?

 

[Grizzlor]

Picard as chancellor of the Academy is farcical?

Finding yet another Noonien Soong Android farm (as if the man constructed androids in his sleep) is farcical. A race of evil machines trying to climb through a portal as if this were an Avengers movie is quite farcical. Being transformed into an android himself. Honestly even that the Federation would ban a medical technology rather than seek alternatives flies directly in the face of the TNG ethos.

 

[fireproof78]

Finding yet another Noonien Soong Android farm (as if the man constructed androids in his sleep) is farcical. A race of evil machines trying to climb through a portal as if this were an Avengers movie is quite farcical. Being transformed into an android himself. Honestly even that the Federation would ban a medical technology rather than seek alternatives flies directly in the face of the TNG ethos.

I don't follow any of this. I will just agree to disagree because I don't find any of it to be a farce.

 

[sttngfan1701d]

So the helpful Google feed on my phone recommended me an article from SyFy Wire in which there was an interesting quote from Patrick Stewart, regarding the third and final season.

Recently speaking with Collider, actor Patrick Stewart (who reprised his fan favorite character from The Next Generation) promised that the series finale will be "unexpected and questionable."

He continued: "I'm thrilled about that because it leaves a question mark hanging over his head. Now I'm not saying in three years’ time or 10 years’ time, there will be another series and I'll be back again tending in my grapes in the vineyard. But I've had some fallings out with some of our people, because they look on this as a closure that is coming up, and I don't."

So it sounds like he doesn't really like the ending that they picked, and he didn't want it to be a closure. I think the plan all along was to have a three-season run, with Stewart's age firmly in mind here, but this kind of vibes with the rumors that came out a year or so ago with him having disagreements about the creative direction of the series. It stands to reason that they were able to iron some of them out, but not completely. Of course he's going to play whatever they want him to play, but maybe, despite being 81, he thought there was a little more story to tell... Whereas they decided to definitively end it.

 

[Ometiklan]

So the helpful Google feed on my phone recommended me an article from SyFy Wire in which there was an interesting quote from Patrick Stewart, regarding the third and final season.

Recently speaking with Collider, actor Patrick Stewart (who reprised his fan favorite character from The Next Generation) promised that the series finale will be "unexpected and questionable."

He continued: "I'm thrilled about that because it leaves a question mark hanging over his head. Now I'm not saying in three years’ time or 10 years’ time, there will be another series and I'll be back again tending in my grapes in the vineyard. But I've had some fallings out with some of our people, because they look on this as a closure that is coming up, and I don't."

So it sounds like he doesn't really like the ending that they picked, and he didn't want it to be a closure. I think the plan all along was to have a three-season run, with Stewart's age firmly in mind here, but this kind of vibes with the rumors that came out a year or so ago with him having disagreements about the creative direction of the series. It stands to reason that they were able to iron some of them out, but not completely. Of course he's going to play whatever they want him to play, but maybe, despite being 81, he thought there was a little more story to tell... Whereas they decided to definitively end it.

I interpret that very differently. It sounds like to me he liked the ending and felt that it isn't a finale end - it doesn't imply ultimate closure. That he could be back - but won't necessarily. But that these other people (it's not clear if these are members of the current cast or show staff or former TNG people) feel disappointed that this is an end to Picard (and potentially and end of their involvement in Trek).

 

[WarpFactorZ]

3 is perfect.

It's the classic three act play, and apt exit for the character and an ode to Sir Pat's theatre origins.

 

[Phily B]

I remember when they were first talking about the show, three seasons was generally what they expected but things could change. And nothing seems to have changed, they've got two seasons in the tank now and will probably just see where it goes from here. If we're not putting Picard back on the bridge and exploring, then there aren't a lot of places to go.

 

[Mondragon]

I remember when they were first talking about the show, three seasons was generally what they expected but things could change. And nothing seems to have changed, they've got two seasons in the tank now and will probably just see where it goes from here. If we're not putting Picard back on the bridge and exploring, then there aren't a lot of places to go.

"Nope, it was always intended to be 3 and done" - .https://twitter.com/JeriLRyan/status/1501310549434400768

This thread (besides being crass) was always off.
The only worth question seemed is if they continue spin-offs (without him) Either with Ryan as a Fenris Rangers theme.
or Rios and the Stargazer.
Or some combo of both. But it won't (and never was) going to continue beyond 3 with Picard.

 

[Uhura's Song]

I thought I read speculation somewhere that Picard was essentially an ode to All Good Things. Loosely, of course. A present, a past, and a future. S1 was Picard's present. S2 about his past. And S3 his future. He'll have to fix things in each timeline (season). What he learns in each one will help him in the others.

In S1 he fixed both the fact that he had given up and his health issues. And had to fight for the rights of synthetics to exist and become one himself. And let Data die.

In S2 it looks like he is going to have to travel back into the past to fix the timeline. He is going to have to deal with what is in his past (with his mother) that makes him fear commitment. And he is going to have to reckon with his attitudes to his two greatest nemeses (see what I did there), the Borg and Q.

 

[Danja]

I'ma be honest here: I never liked the fact "Picard" - the series - had a diverse "crew" set up to begin with. It felt too much like formula.

It should have been Picard + one or two friends, and that's it. And then have it be Cabrera's crew, that they met all at once.

Like on TNG, we followed a ship, that had one or two guest stars on board any episode who had their own stories. This time, it should have been one or two main characters on their journey, being guests on another man's ship. And then disperse in the end. (And if there's a second season - Picard just books the same ship again. But don't have the same diverse group of people with very diverse jobs & goals stay together " just because".)

It's. Not. TNG.

The whole point of the show is to take Picard AWAY from his comfort zone. AWAY from TNG.

 

[Vger23]

It's. Not. TNG.

The whole point of the show is to take Picard AWAY from his comfort zone. AWAY from TNG.

 

[Rahul]

It's. Not. TNG.

The whole point of the show is to take Picard AWAY from his comfort zone. AWAY from TNG.

You read "Like on TNG..." and then shut off your brain, right?

This whole post was about how it shouldn't have been "like on TNG".

Because it IS too much "like TNG" the way this crew is set up. Which was the whole point of my original post!

It felt too much like [TNG] formula.

 

[Rahul]

I remember when they were first talking about the show, three seasons was generally what they expected but things could change. And nothing seems to have changed, they've got two seasons in the tank now and will probably just see where it goes from here. If we're not putting Picard back on the bridge and exploring, then there aren't a lot of places to go.

"Nope, it was always intended to be 3 and done" - .https://twitter.com/JeriLRyan/status/1501310549434400768

This thread (besides being crass) was always off.
The only worth question seemed is if they continue spin-offs (without him) Either with Ryan as a Fenris Rangers theme.
or Rios and the Stargazer.
Or some combo of both. But it won't (and never was) going to continue beyond 3 with Picard.

I had the feeling season 1 was already written in a way that it could "end" the show:

Patrick Stewart is of old age. Being the main character of a new show is pretty demanding for your health. I'm pretty sure - if it would have been obvious Stewart didn't have the condition to continue, Picard's "death" in season 1 would have been final.

Since Stewart is a tough guy (and still hits the gym) they found out he's on board for another two seasons - so he got resurrected as a robot.

That means - it's an absolute possibility there will be a season 4. But I guess they won't make this decision now - they will make it in a year, depending on weather Stewart is still game by the time.

Until then, I suspect season 3 will again serve as an end/not-end, with a somewhat "proper" ending, that still allows to get back in action later on.