Another Star Trek: The Next Generation alum is coming to Star Trek: Picard.
LeVar Burton, who played chief engineer Geordi La Forge in all seven seasons of The Next Generation, teased a possible appearance in Season 2 of the CBS All Access series during a recent interview with Entertainment Tonight.
Burton’s former cast members Brent Spiner (Data), Jonathan Frakes (William Riker), and Marina Sirtis (Deanna Troi) all appeared in the first season of the Patrick Stewart-led series. So when Burton was asked if fans would also see him on the show in the future, the actor let it slip that he’s actually in talks to reprise his The Next Generation role in Picard.
“I think it is reasonable to think that those people are still a part of Picard’s life,” Burton said. “You will see us all, probably not all at the same time but… You know, never say never.”
As for how Burton would like to see La Forge return to the screen, he shared that he’d like to see his character as a teacher. “I have suggested to the producers that perhaps we find Geordi in a position where he is teaching, passing that knowledge on to another generation of people. We’ll see,” Burton said. “[Series co-creator] Alex [Kurtzman] and the folks in charge [are] doing an amazing job. When they call, and whatever it is they want me to do, I’m pretty sure It’s going to be spectacular.”
Though Burton made it clear nothing has been filmed yet, he assured fans that his impending appearance “has been talked about.”
Work on Season 2 of Picard had already started before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, given the uncertainty brought about by the global health emergency, it’s likely that it will face some delay. No release date for the show’s sophomore run has been announced yet, but it’s expected to arrive on CBS All Access sometime in 2021.