Star Trek Icon Patrick Stewart To Play Picard Again In New Series For CBS All Access

Iconic Star Trek actor Patrick Stewart has announced that he will once again portray Jean-Luc Picard in a new Star Trek series. As reported by CNET, the announcement was made during a Star Trek convention being held at Las Vegas, where Stewart appeared on stage to reveal his involvement and discuss his decision to return to the character. Stewart later posted a lengthy statement on Twitter, saying that it is "an unexpected but delightful surprise" to play Picard again.

"I will always be very proud to have been a part of Star Trek: The Next Generation, but when we wrapped that final movie in the spring of 2002, I truly felt my time with Star Trek had run its natural course," he said. "It is, therefore, an unexpected but delightful surprise to find myself excited and invigorated to be returning to Jean-Luc Picard and to explore new dimensions within him. Seeking out new life for him, when I thought that life was over.

"During these past years, it has been humbling to hear stories about how The Next Generation brought people comfort, saw them through difficult periods in their lives or how the example of Jean-Luc inspired so many to follow in his footsteps, pursuing science, exploration, and leadership," he continued.

"I feel I'm ready to return to him for the same reason--to research and experience what comforting and reforming light he might shine on these often very dark times. I look forward to working with our brilliant creative team as we endeavor to bring a fresh, unexpected, and pertinent story to life once more."

According to the Star Trek: Discovery Twitter account, the new show "tells the story of the next chapter in Picard's life." In June Alex Kurtzman, who has worked on recent Star Trek movies and TV show Star Trek: Discovery, signed a five-year deal with CBS Television Studios to release several new Star Trek shows. The series focused on Picard is the first to be confirmed since that announcement, and the show will air on CBS All Access.

Disclosure: CBS is GameSpot's parent company.