TNG Returns!

[The Lensman]

Agree to disagree about the quality of Star Trek VI. That aside, Star Trek VI was crafted by Nimoy and Nicholas Meyer with the intention of it being the grand finale of TOS. Nemesis was not intended to be Next Gen's finale by either the filmmakers or the cast. The tagline of the movie was "A generation's final journey begins.", which Stewart and the others made abundantly clear while promoting it meant that they were planning to do a least one last film following Nemesis.

I don't recall anyone saying anything about continuing on after Nemesis back then. I don't recall ever thinking it was anything BUT the final movie with the TNG crew and it seemed crafted as just that. Just like the show held the characters pretty much in stasis until the final ep, so too did the movies until the final one. Riker and Troi got married, Riker gets his own ship, Data dies, don't really remember anything about Geordi, somehow Worf went from prestigious Ambassador to guy firing the phasers.....even Wesley showed up. Picard stays behind and welcomes a new first officer. It was just like your typical last episode of a t.v. show where all of sudden half the cast is moving on because they're not going to be making the show anymore so you can finally have them move on with their lives.

 

[Scargate]

I love this news. I just hope they get a great creative team behind it.

 

[Greg Cox]

I love this news. I just hope they get a great creative team behind it.

The creative team has already been announced:

"Alongside Kurtzman on the as-yet-untitled Trek series are James Duff (EP on Discovery), Akiva Goldsman (former Discovery producer), author Michael Chabon (The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay), and Kirsten Beyer (Discovery writer). Overseeing everything are Stewart, Chabon, and Goldsman serving as executive producers, as well as Kurtzman, Duff, Heather Kadin (from Secret Hideout), Eugene “Rod” Roddenberry (son of Gene Roddenberry and Roddenberry Entertainment President), and Trevor Roth (Roddenberry Entertainment COO)."

And, yes, I think we need to distinguish between "a new Picard series" and "a new TNG series." We've been told that the series is about a new chapter in Picard's life, which does not necessarily imply a full-scale TNG reunion.

Although I'll surprised if there aren't some guest-appearances from former TNG cast members.

 

[Lord Garth]

It probably won't be TNG Phase II. Otherwise, as a full reunion, they'd have to explain what Riker did to get demoted!

 

[mos6507]

Basically like "Orville" I want it to have a modern sense of humor and even modern type of speech but it still feels like TNG should feel like.

Wouldn't it be a little silly for TNG to come back by copying The Orville which copies TNG?

If you like The Orville, watch it and be done with it.

 

[mos6507]

"Alongside Kurtzman on the as-yet-untitled Trek series are James Duff (EP on Discovery), Akiva Goldsman (former Discovery producer), author Michael Chabon (The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay), and Kirsten Beyer (Discovery writer). Overseeing everything are Stewart, Chabon, and Goldsman serving as executive producers, as well as Kurtzman, Duff, Heather Kadin (from Secret Hideout), Eugene “Rod” Roddenberry (son of Gene Roddenberry and Roddenberry Entertainment President), and Trevor Roth (Roddenberry Entertainment COO)."

In other words, the vast majority of the people working on this also worked with Discovery. Not a good sign. It almost looks as if the Discovery team would rather shift over to this as a lifeboat than focus on Discovery.

 

[mos6507]

Frakes looks fine for a 65 year old.

Go see Mission Impossibe: Fallout and think through that Tom Cruise is only 9 years younger.

 

[Lord Garth]

In other words, the vast majority of the people working on this also worked with Discovery. Not a good sign. It almost looks as if the Discovery team would rather shift over to this as a lifeboat than focus on Discovery.

Obviously I'm biased in favor of DSC but I think it's less them abandoning Discovery and more they want to have a chance to write TNG. Having a chance to write something Patrick Stewart is in would probably be a dream come true for a lot of them.

 

[Lt. Tyler]

Oh great. Just when I started getting excited about this, I read the Discovery team will be in charge of this new Picard series! Hmmm, what's next, lets see.......the first lesbo kiss now?? Oh wait no thats already been.... It's a shame.

 

[gottacook]

Go see Mission Impossibe: Fallout and think through that Tom Cruise is only 9 years younger.

Oh, come on. No one cares what a director looks like, and Frakes would just as soon remain a director.

Separately: If the announcement of the writing staff can be construed as a sign that Discovery is being abandoned - well, that's OK with me, especially if Stewart has input into the writing of Jean-Luc Picard, P.I. or whatever it becomes. Although I believe Stewart had some responsibility for Insurrection and Nemesis going wrong, I think he knows what to avoid as a result - all the more so if he finishes watching all the TNG episodes he says he hasn't seen yet.

 

[Paul69]

He'll be hard at work at the Picard family vineyard when a sudden call from Starfleet brings him back into action...
Just a guess

 

[Greg Cox]

In other words, the vast majority of the people working on this also worked with Discovery. Not a good sign. It almost looks as if the Discovery team would rather shift over to this as a lifeboat than focus on Discovery.

Nah. More like these are simply the people making STAR TREK for CBS All Access these days, so naturally they're going to be involved in this project as well. The same way you basically had a lot of the same people involved with the whole TNG-DS9-VOY-ENT era. Don't recall folks arguing back in the day that people were fleeing TNG to seek a lifeboat on DS9 . . ...

Seriously, why would anyone expect that a whole new creative team would be involved in this project? It's not like it's being made for a completely different network or market. This show is being made to expand the latest cycle of Trek shows, not as an alternative to DISCO.

Presumably, they want us to watch and enjoy both.

 

[thribs]

Will he still be married with a kid, or are they "Luke Skywalkering" him?

 

[The Lensman]

Perhaps most interesting to me about this is that it would be set in 2399 or 2400, at the turn of the 25th century. That could allow for a wonderful story that uses Picard to reflect on both personal and professional darkness, chaos, and conflict and turns to the light of a hopeful, undiscovered tomorrow.

Yes! This is along the lines of what I'm hoping it will be. Something more down to Earth, personal and a strong character piece.

He'll be hard at work at the Picard family vineyard when a sudden call from Starfleet brings him back into action...
Just a guess

This is pretty much what I'm hoping it won't be.

In other words, the vast majority of the people working on this also worked with Discovery. Not a good sign. It almost looks as if the Discovery team would rather shift over to this as a lifeboat than focus on Discovery.

Except that it doesn't look that way at all. They make 13 or 15 episodes a season where 22 used to be the standard, so now they're utilizing the existing staff to work on another show that will most likely be a mini-series or low season count show. Unless he's struggling for work, I don't see Stewart doing this for any great length of time. It sounds like he was enticed back with the promise of doing something different with Picard, not the same old thing he did on TNG and certainly not rehashing the old "we need you to come back" cliche.

 

[Indysolo]

I'm cautiously optimistic. I love Stewart and TNG and Star Trek should be looking forward not backwards. But in this modern age of reboots, they still can't let go of the past.

 

[sttngfan1701d]

Will he still be married with a kid, or are they "Luke Skywalkering" him?

They better not. Disney fractured the SW fanbase in half with that bonehead decision and that bonehead movie. Whatever Picard is up to, and whatever he does for the duration of this series, I fully expect to be true to his character (unlike the TLJ dumpster fire). Even if Picard dies, I foresee Stewart only signing off on it if it's in an "Inner Light" sort of way.
Plus, I doubt they'll do to Picard what they did to Kirk.

I see Picard married, with a child, as either an Ambassador or an Admiral and having to deal with a diplomatic crisis at the dawn of the 25th century. Perhaps Starfleet has to bring him back in to deal with something that only he can deal with.

EDIT: Having just seen Stewart's full convention comments, you may be right, though I REALLY hope they don't "Luke Skywalker"-him. Not only will they be accused of copying Star Wars, it will just be a bad move. That's not a road I want to see Picard go down. If he's retired, make him an author and an archaeologist or something...not a grumpy, apathetic misanthrope.

 

[Captain59]

MODS: In order for us to discuss the new show announced today, I suggest opening a new forum named Star Trek: Picard until we know the real name.

 

[Jayson1]

This is great news but it feels like old news to me. Wasn't this seen as a done deal a couple of weeks ago? To be honest I thought he had already signed aboard. Anyways I can't wait to find out more info on the show. I am confused about something. IS Beyer going to be the showrunner basically in the Pillar and Behr role? They mentioned other writers but I am confused as the writing chain of command so to speak.

Jason

 

[Flying Spaghetti Monster]

With today's news about Patrick Stewart, I'm watching "The Inner Light," one of his finest hours. I think the new show, with Picard set 20 years after Nemesis, would benefit from some reflection. How do the events of that episode affect him later in life? Or the events of Best of Both Worlds? Or Chain of Command? By going forward, but keeping it character based, they could go backwards in a unique way.

 

[Tarek71]

If Worf makes an appearance will he look like a Disco Klingon or a TNG Klingon? Hopefully we are done with the bizarre droopy faced Disco Klingons.