“Jean-Luc is the most significant role of my career.”
Sir Patrick Stewart didn’t mince words when it comes to his deep appreciation for having the opportunity to play Jean-Luc Picard and be a part of the Star Trek franchise. Certainly, fans will always remember him as the captain of the USS Enterprise-D and E, but Stewart’s association with the X-Men and now the Marvel Cinematic Universe makes what he said in a brand-new interview all the more special.
“Without question, Jean-Luc is the most significant role of my career,” Stewart said (per TV Insider). “And I will be forever grateful to have had the opportunity to be a part of what is now such a historic franchise.”
Picard first portrayed the role of the Starfleet commander in The Next Generation’s 1987 premiere “Encounter at Farpoint.” However, after seven years of TNG airing on television, he was hardly done with the role. Stewart said during the same sit-down:
“The final scene of The Next Generation [the famed poker sequence from ‘All Good Things…’] has always felt like such a beautiful send-off, but of course we then filmed multiple movies after the series wrapped. I truly thought Nemesis [2002 film] was my last time playing Jean-Luc, but then along came Picard — and I’m delighted with how that series ended.”
For those who may be new to the fandom, the streaming series Picard ran for a total of three seasons which started in 2020. And, as good as the finale of The Next Generation was, I still believe the final episode of Picard, “The Last Generation” far surpassed it.
Not only did Jean-Luc and the “core seven” TNG characters share one last poker scene together to close out the episode — minus Q (John de Lancie) appearing before Jack Crusher (Ed Speleers) as a teaser for what might happen in the future — but the Enterprise-D was brought out of mothballs to help save the day against the Borg Queen.
I love Jean-Luc Picard, even though James T. Kirk will also be my favorite starship captain. Now, share your thoughts and comments with us on Patrick Stewart’s undeniable importance to the Star Trek franchise with us on the Redshirts Always Die Facebook and X pages.
Live long and prosper, Trekkies!
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