Could Star Trek: Picard return for a fourth season?

Michael Dorn as Worf, LeVar Burton as Geordi, Jeri Ryan as Seven of Nine, Michelle Hurd as Raffi, Marina Sirtis as Deanna Troi, Brent Spiner as Data, Jonathan Frakes as Riker, Patrick Stewart as Picard and Gates McFadden as Dr. Beverly Crusher in the teaser art of the Paramount+ original series STAR TREK: PICARD. Photo Cr: Joe Pugliese/Paramount+. © 2022 CBS Studios Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Michael Dorn as Worf, LeVar Burton as Geordi, Jeri Ryan as Seven of Nine, Michelle Hurd as Raffi, Marina Sirtis as Deanna Troi, Brent Spiner as Data, Jonathan Frakes as Riker, Patrick Stewart as Picard and Gates McFadden as Dr. Beverly Crusher in the teaser art of the Paramount+ original series STAR TREK: PICARD. Photo Cr: Joe Pugliese/Paramount+. © 2022 CBS Studios Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Star Trek: Legacy is on everyone’s radar, but, instead, could Paramount+ bring back Star Trek: Picard? 

Star Trek: Picard ended on a poignant note with all of the characters from Star Trek: The Next Generation sitting around a card table playing poker. The credits included a scene with Q and Admiral Picard’s son, Jack Crusher, that indicated the ensign would be seeing much more of the omnipotent being in the future. So that upped the level of hope in fans that want to see the continuing stories of the fantastic characters that appeared on season three of the series.

But, instead of a brand new series, could Paramount+ be considering a Star Trek: Picard season four renewal? Patrick Stewart has already indicated he’s interested in returning for a movie, and while a movie might be less stressful on the 83-year-old actor than another season of a series accomodations could be made that only bring the actor back in limited appearances.

The third season of Star Trek: Picard proved fans are interested in more from the cast.

The third season of Picard was so incredibly successful that the series was named one of the best shows of 2023 so far. But fans have been behind the idea of a Star Trek: Legacy series so, if Picard is brought back, would that nix the idea for a Legacy series? Actually, the two series could be completely separate with Patrick Stewart working with the original members of Star Trek: The Next Generation again while Legacy would cover the adventures of Captain Seven of Nine and her crew aboard the new Enterprise.

Back in January of this year, Alex Kurtzman, when asked about Picard continuing, gave a noncommittal “Who knows?” to Variety while Stewart said if the series could maintain the quality of its first three seasons, he would be open to reappearing.

It might be more advantageous to give the fans a fourth season of Picard with The Next Generation characters to ascertain if the numbers are still there before moving onto Star Trek: Legacy. While season three was supremely successful, a season four of Picard would determine if Terry Matalas and the writers can maintain that level of quality for a spin-off series. (I’m sure they could!)

On top of that, with Star Trek: Discovery ending and Star Trek: Prodigy being cancelled, there are two open slots if Paramount+ decides to continue its five series rotation. Starfleet Academy is already in one of those slots if it does move forward. While the intricacies of Legacy are being worked out, a fourth season of Picard would keep the interest growing.

So many fans weren’t as excited about seasons one and two of Picard, it’d be great for it to return for one more really powerful season to not only prove the staying power of the series but to also let the fans see The Next Generation cast back in sharp shape. We’ll never get a season eight of that series, but we could get a season four of Picard.