For those hoping we might get another big reunion of the Star Trek: The Next Generation cast, one key cast member is sadly pouring water on it!
Picard had its ups and downs, but many will agree that season 3 was exactly the show everyone wanted. It featured the moment fans had waited over two decades for as, at last, the entire cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation reunited on screen.
Better yet, this wasn’t some brief scene. The entire season revolved around Picard regathering Riker, Troi, Crusher, Worf, Geordi, and a resurrected Data on a grand adventure, uncovering a Changeling conspiracy within Starfleet. The character dynamics were wonderful from Crusher and Picard having a son, Jack, to Worf being more of a pacifist and Geordi as a father.
The finale was a fantastic affair as the crew used the old Enterprise-D to take down the Borg. A time jump had the Titan now renamed the Enterprise-E with Seven of Nine as its captain and Jack in her crew. Fittingly, the final scene was the TNG crew playing cards together.
The huge success of that has led to hopes that another reunion can take place, or even somehow continue the adventures of a reunited crew. Sadly, one cast member seems to indicate that time has passed.
Marini Sirtis reveals why we won't see a Next Generation reunion
The plan was for Picard to spin off into Star Trek: Legacy, following the adventures of the Enterprise-E with the possibility of TNG characters appearing. However, Paramount passed on that spinoff.
Speaking on Instagram, Marini Sirtis answered fan questions about another TNG show and her words indicate the window may have closed.
“I think that the opportunity was missed at the end of Picard, if we were going to continue with TNG. I think that would have been the opportunity to do that, but, obviously, that didn’t happen. So the chances of all of us getting together again, I think, are pretty zero to none.”
It is sadly believable that the chances of getting the TNG cast back together are almost nil. It’s frankly astounding the producers of Picard managed to make it work for season 3. Troi was a bit in the background but came into her own in the finale, even helping pilot the Enterprise.
Sirtis did make it clear she would be more than open to coming back to another series if it was right.
“I’m not saying I would never go back. I think that if they asked me to be on one of the other shows, depending on the role or the storyline, I would absolutely consider it. I mean, I wouldn’t go back just to say, ‘Captain, he’s hiding something.’ But, you know, if it was meatier than that, I would definitely give it my consideration. I’ve never said I would never go back to Star Trek.”
So while a full TNG reunion isn’t in the cards, here’s hoping Star Trek can find a way to work in a couple of the actors down the road as a fitting tribute to that show’s legacy.
Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Picard streaming on Paramount+.