Details are still scarce, but Alex Kurtzman (Star Trek: Discovery’s co-creator and co-writer of J.J. Abrams’s Star Trek and Star Trek Into Darkness), Patrick Stewart, and author Michael Chabon (The Yiddish Policemen’s Union) are among the creative team behind Star Trek: Picard for CBS All Access. This new series will be the first iteration of Star Trek in almost two decades to move the story of the franchise forward, since it is neither a reboot or prequel, and will be set after the events of Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and the TNG movies.
While sentiments about it are much improved, the first two seasons of Star Trek: Discovery have been divisive among Trek fandom. This was evidenced in a fractured Trek fanbase which has argued online about whether Discovery is “real” Star Trek, with some even pointing to Seth MacFarlane’s The Orville as being truer in spirit to what the franchise is supposed to represent. Kurtzman took over the day-to-day duties for season two of Star Trek: Discovery and has been put in charge of expanding Star Trek with both continuing, limited, and animated series, along with Trek short films, for the CBS All Access streaming service. Among the shows reportedly in development are a series set at Starfleet Academy (which would try to appeal to the younger Riverdale demo), both a children’s and adult animated series set in the Trek universe, and a limited-run miniseries which would tell the tale of Khan Noonien Singh’s rise to power and dictatorship on Earth during the Eugenics Wars.
Today, CBS released the first teaser trailer for Star Trek: Picard, which plays almost like a wine commercial for the Picard family vineyard.
“15 years ago today you led us out of the darkness ... you commanded the greatest rescue armada in history ... then the unimaginable … What did that cost you? Your faith? Your faith in us? Your faith in yourself? Tell us, why did you leave Starfleet, Admiral?”
There’s not much in this teaser, other than a good look at what farming equipment and techniques in three centuries might look like. But the narration and imagery does lead to some suspicion as to where this might be going.
- What is the “unimaginable” thing that happened?: In previous comments about the series, Stewart has said the show will take place 20 years after the events of Star Trek: Nemesis. That would place Picard in 2399. Given Kurtzman hinted to TV Guide earlier this month the destruction of Romulus will be significant to the show, the mention of Picard leading a “rescue armada” seems to indicate the precipitating event for the Kelvin Timeline may be what forced Picard into retirement.
- What is the Kelvin Timeline and how does it connect to this?: The J.J. Abrams Star Trek films are set in an alternate timeline from the “Prime” timeline of the TV shows. However, they are connected. As Abrams’s 2009 Star Trek explains, Romulus was destroyed by a supernova near the end of the 24th century. The United Federation of Planets' attempt to stop it failed, and caused Ambassador Spock (Leonard Nimoy) and a crew of Romulans led by Nero (Eric Bana) to be thrown back in time. The changes in the past caused by this created a separate timeline, which is distinct and severely altered from the “Prime” one. It’s possible the double impact of both failing to stop the destruction of Romulus, along with whatever political impact the fall of the Romulan Star Empire might have on the Alpha Quadrant, as well as losing Spock may have driven Picard back to France.
- If It’s 2399 … : Picard would be in his 90s.
- Retreating To The Vineyard: The teaser trailer evokes both TNG’s “Family,” where Picard is trying to psychologically heal after his assimilation by the Borg, as well as TNG’s final episode, “All Good Things,” where Q (John de Lancie) shows Picard a possible future where his mental faculties have degraded and he’s retired to the family vineyard. Also of note about the “All Good Things” future, the Romulan Empire had fallen there too, having been conquered by the Klingons, with tensions between the Federation and Klingons escalating.
- The Voice In The Teaser: The voiceover actress is Merrin Dungey, who has recently starred in The Fix and Big Little Lies. She had notable recurring roles on Alias and King of Queens among many others.
- Starfleet Uniforms: The version of uniform worn by Starfleet definitely evokes the Deep Space Nine and Voyager era. Since the scene is reportedly taking place at Starfleet
Academy Headquarters, there has been some speculation this might be a “cadet” uniform and not the main ones used in the series.
- Will Elements Of TNG Canon Be Altered?: The design of the TOS Enterprise was altered from the classic look to something different for Star Trek: Discovery, along with other aesthetic changes which have been the source of many arguments. Therefore, this creates questions about the Picard series: Will the Klingons, and even Worf (Michael Dorn), remain like the TNG-era Klingons, or changed to reflect the changes Discovery made to the Klingons? Does everything from TNG get an “update” which changes the designs a little?
- Does Anyone Else From The Next Generation Appear In This?: Just because Patrick Stewart is doing this series does not mean The Next Generation cast is getting back together, since it’s not even a given the show will be set on an iteration of the Enterprise. Also, for some of the old cast, it becomes a question of whether they can write them in a believable way. Brent Spiner, like all of us, has aged a bit, and can he still play Data/B4 as a somehow aging “old Data?”
- How Much Of The Extended Universe Gets Pulled In?: The rules of Star Trek canon are that anything which appears in a movie or television series is part of the franchise’s official lore (with one open question being Star Trek: The Animated Series), while books, video games, etc., are not. Both TNG and DS9 have had continuations in book form and Star Trek Online is a continuation of the prime timeline into the 25th century. These properties developed ideas, characters, and story ideas which in theory could be pulled from (e.g., the Typhon Pact) for this series.
- What Is The Shape Of The Federation And Alpha Quadrant Now?: The flip side to the questions about whether Data/B4 can appear is that this show wouldn’t be limited to just The Next Generation cast. It could touch on characters and aspects of the franchise which might be fun to return to. The last time the franchise was in this time period there were major events occurring. The Federation had barely survived the destruction of the Dominion War. The Cardassians had betrayed all the major powers, and were almost exterminated. The Romulan government had been torn apart at its seams. The Borg had been dealt a crippling blow which severely hindered their abilities to expand. All of these story aspects of previous series might be interesting places to wonder what happened next? Also, they could touch on characters and places. Captain Sisko had disappeared into the Bajoran Wormhole to join the Prophets. Janeway had returned with the crew of Voyager. What are they doing now? What is the state of Deep Space Nine? It’s possible these things could be touched on.
Patrick Stewart: [Jean-Luc Picard] may not, and I stress may not, be a captain anymore. He may not be the Jean-Luc that you recognize and know so well. It may be a very different individual. Someone who has been changed by his experiences. Twenty years will have passed, which is more or less exactly the time between the very last movie – Nemesis – and today … It will be, I promise you, I guarantee it, something very, very different. It will come to you with the same passion, and determination and love of the material and love of our followers and our fans, exactly as we had it before.