Major Star Trek: The Next Generation cast members are reuniting for Star Trek: Picard season 3.
Star Trek: Picard season 3 cast
Paramount+ announced on Tuesday that Star Trek: The Next Generation alums LeVar Burton (Geordi La Forge), Michael Dorn (Worf), Jonathan Frakes (William T. Riker), Gates McFadden (Beverly Crusher), Marina Sirtis (Deanna Troi), and Brent Spiner (Data) will star alongside Patrick Stewart (Jean-Luc Picard) in the third and final season of Star Trek: Picard.
Though Frakes, Sirtis, and Spiner have already appeared alongside Stewart in Star Trek: Picard, it will be the first time that they will be joined by Burton, Dorn, and McFadden.
The streaming service released a video teaser to reveal the season 3 cast. But because it only features voiceovers from the abovementioned returning Star Trek: The Next Generation alums, fans are yet to have their first peek at the actors’ beloved characters several years after the last time they appeared in the sci-fi franchise.
Incoming transmission from #StarTrekPicard season 3! ✨ https://t.co/c1Yma43NE3 pic.twitter.com/0onT2GdOW6
— Star Trek (@StarTrek) April 5, 2022
Though it’s been a while since Trekkies last saw La Forge, Worf, and Crusher, a statement from Terry Matalas, Star Trek: Picard season 3 showrunner and executive producer, suggests that the three characters remain as Picard’s trusted allies.
“I remember watching the premiere of Star Trek: The Next Generation almost 34 years ago with my father like it was yesterday. It was the spark that ignited my love for science fiction,” shared Matalas. “So, it’s most fitting that the story of Jean-Luc Picard ends honoring the beginning, with his dearest and most loyal friends from the U.S.S. Enterprise. It would be an understatement to say that giving these characters a proper send-off is an honor. The entire Star Trek: Picard team and I can’t wait for fans to experience this final, high-stakes, starship-bound adventure in season 3!”
The cast announcement coincided with First Contact Day. As depicted in the 1996 film Star Trek: First Contact, starring the Star Trek: The Next Generation cast members, April 5th, 2063, is the day that humans first make contact with Vulcans, marking a pivotal moment of exploration and acceptance in Star Trek history. Since the film’s debut, Trekkies around the world celebrate First Contact Day annually on April 5th.
Unfortunately, the announcement didn’t mention whether Star Trek: Picard main cast members Alison Pill (Agnes Jurati), Isa Briones (Kore Soong), Michelle Hurd (Rafaella Musikre), Santiago Cabrera (Cristobal Rios), Evan Evagora (Elnor), Jeri Ryan (Seven of Nine), and Orla Brady (Laris) will return for season 3.
Star Trek: Picard season 3 plot
Since season 2 of Star Trek: Picard is still ongoing, it’s unclear where the show’s story will go next season. But Matalas previously teased that season 3 will feature a universe-altering event.
In a cover feature for SFX magazine ahead of the season 2 premiere of Star Trek: Picard, Matalas revealed that the Star Trek universe won’t be the same again after Star Trek: Picard season 3.
When SFX asked about the weight of canon bearing down on Star Trek: Picard season 2, Matalas answered: “Not so much in season 2. [But] definitely in season 3, there are some game-changing Star Trek universe ideas. Season 2, as epic in scope as it is, is an intimate story.”
Star Trek: Picard season 3 release date
Star Trek: Picard season 3 doesn’t have a release date yet, but since it already finished filming last March, it is expected to premiere on Paramount+ in early 2023.