Changes: Star Trek: Picard

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Star Trek: Picard is the eighth main series set in the Star Trek universe, the ninth including the companion series Star Trek: Short Treks, and the eleventh Star Trek series overall. Picard is produced by CBS Television Studios and stars Patrick Stewart, reprising the role of Jean-Luc Picard from Star Trek: The Next Generation. [1] The new series is set twenty years after the events of Star Trek Nemesis, [2] dealing with "the new chapter in Picard's life." Stewart has hinted that Picard may not be a captain in the series, and may be "a very different individual" from when he was last seen. [3]

The series forms part of Alex Kurtzman's five-year deal with CBS to expand the Star Trek franchise, and airs on CBS All Access. Star Trek: Picard at StarTrek.com Kurtzman serves as executive producer on the series along with Stewart, as well as James Duff, Akiva Goldsman, Michael Chabon, Trevor Roth, Heather Kadin, and Rod Roddenberry. In addition, Aaron Baiers serves as co-executive producer. [4] Writer Kirsten Beyer devised the concept for the series, [5] and she features as part of the writing staff alongside Kurtzman, Duff, Goldsman, and Chabon. Chabon serves as the first season's showrunner. Star Trek: Picard at StarTrek.com

Production history

The series was announced at the Star Trek Las Vegas convention on 4 August 2018, where Stewart appeared alongside Kurtzman to reveal his involvement. At the time of the announcement, the series was still early in pre-production, with no scripts written yet. [6] According to the actor, the possibility of Picard's return had been suggested to him about a year before, but he originally planned to reject the idea. However, upon revisiting episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation and realizing the power and influence of the series, he changed his mind. [7] On making the announcement, Stewart referred to the news as "unexpected, but delightful". [8]

It was reported that, on the day before the announcement, CBS applied for a number of trademarks in classes relating to entertainment, which could be connected with the new series. Marks applied for included "Star Trek: Reliant", and "Star Trek: Destiny", a title that shares its name with a post-TNG Star Trek novel trilogy. [9]

Work in the writers' room began in September 2018, and an image of the staff with Stewart was shared by the actor at the end of that month. [10] This image featured Stewart, Duff, Goldsman, Beyer, Chabon and also Diandra Pendleton-Thompson, who had not been previously announced as one of the series' writers. Production was expected to begin in April 2019, according to Kurtzman, [11] and the series is filmed in California. [12] In December 2018, CBS Corporation Chief Creative Officer David Nevins stated that CBS expected the series to launch late in 2019. [13]

In January 2019, Kurtzman announced that the series would acknowledge the prime universe elements of Star Trek, stating that "Picard's life was radically altered by the dissolution of the Romulan Empire." [14]

On 1 March 2019, it was announced that Hanelle M. Culpepper would be directing the first two episodes of the series. Star Trek: Picard at StarTrek.com This marks the first time that a black woman was directing the series premiere of a Star Trek series.

On 4 March 2019, the first two series regulars besides Stewart were announced, Santiago Cabrera and Michelle Hurd. Star Trek: Picard at StarTrek.com Later in March, Evan Evagora was added to the cast as a series regular. [15]

On 17 April 2019, it was announced that Alison Pill, Harry Treadaway, and Isa Briones were joining the cast. [16]

On 22 April 2019, production on the show began. [17] The Star Trek: Picard production is based out of Santa Clarita Studios (SCS). SCS is an independent studio production facility based in Santa Clarita, California, 35 miles north of Hollywood. Although Star Trek was returning to Hollywood, like all of the previous series save Star Trek: Discovery, it is not being shot at Star Trek's previous home of Paramount Studios. [18] Paramount lost not only its television division, but the entire franchise as well, when the former Viacom was split in late 2005 into the new Viacom (Paramount's holding company at the time Picard began filming) and the CBS Corporation, with Star Trek ownership passing over to the latter. (The two corporations re-merged to form ViacomCBS in December 2019.)

Shortly before filming began, Michael Chabon was appointed as showrunner.‘I Heard Patrick’s Voice in My Head’: Michael Chabon on Making ‘Picard’ and Being a Fanboy at Rolling Stone However, CBS did not announce Chabon's position until 27 June 2019. Star Trek: Picard at StarTrek.com

On 13 May 2019, the announcement was made that Amazon Prime had acquired the international streaming rights for the new series, each episode to be aired 24 hours after its American premiere on CBS All Access. [19] Star Trek: Picard at StarTrek.com Stewart confirmed the news the same day on his Twitter account. [20]

On 15 May 2019, the first seven-second teaser, revealing the new show's title and logo, was released. Star Trek: Picard at StarTrek.com This was followed on 23 May by the first live-action teaser trailer in both the CBS All Access and Amazon Prime Video variants. [21] Star Trek: Picard at StarTrek.com The voice of the teaser trailer's female narrator was not from any of the then-known contracted actresses, but rather from voice actress Merrin Dungey. [22] It was after the series had premiered, that it became apparent that Dungey was also given the guest-starring part of Richter.

On 20 July 2019 the first official Season 1 trailer, coming in at 130 seconds, was unveiled at the 2019 San Diego Comic Con. The trailer featured footage of former Next Generation co-star Brent Spiner, and Star Trek: Voyager star Jeri Ryan reprising her role as Seven of Nine. It was also announced that Jonathan Frakes and Marina Sirtis would each be reprising their roles as William T. Riker and Deanna Troi, respectively.

Robert Picardo revealed on 29 July 2019 that he has been approached about a possible appearance in a second season of the show. [23]

On 31 August 2019, Michael Chabon posted on Instagram that filming for the first season had been completed. [24]

On 17 September 2019, Patrick Stewart told The Huddersfield Daily Examiner in his native Yorkshire that "there is ... the possibility of a second Picard series filming in March next year." [25]

On 5 October 2019, a second trailer debuted at New York Comic-Con, and it was announced that the first season would air on CBS All Access beginning on 23 January 2020.

On 7 October 2019, Kurtzman confirmed that a second season of Picard was "already in the works". [26]

An interview released on 29 November 2019 mentioned Ayelet Waldman as a member of the writing staff for Picard. [27]

On 10 December 2019, it was announced that Michael Chabon would step down from his role as showrunner, but would remain involved in the program. [28]

On 20 December 2019, a third teaser trailer debuted almost exactly one month ahead of the CBS All Access series premier online. The teaser revealed new pieces of footage with Jean-Luc Picard in what appears to be Ten Forward, the bar on the USS Enterprise-D, among other quick new moments with William T. Riker, Dr. Agnes Jurati, and what appears to be a Borg flashback. [29]

The renewal of Star Trek: Picard for a second season was informally revealed on 16 December 2019, and formally announced on 12 January 2020. [30] [31] The same day, it was announced that Terry Matalas had joined the staff of Picard, and was likely to take over as showrunner from Chabon. [32]

The series premiered in North America on 23 January 2020 on CBS All Access with its first episode "Remembrance", with the rest of the world following suit the next day through Amazon Prime Video.

Main cast

Picard in PIC — Teaser image of Picard in *Picard*

With

Santiago Cabrera as Cristóbal "Chris" Rios

And

Harry Treadaway as Narek

Special guest stars

Jonathan Frakes as William T. Riker
Marina Sirtis as Deanna Troi
Jeri Ryan as Seven of Nine
Brent Spiner as Data and Dr. Altan Inigo Soong

Recurring guest stars

Episode list

Season 1

PIC Season 1, 10 episodes:

Title	Episode	Production number	Date	Original airdate
"Remembrance"	1x01	101	2399	2020-01-23
"Maps and Legends"	1x02	102a	2399 / 2385	2020-01-30
"The End is the Beginning"	1x03	102b	2399 / 2385	2020-02-06
"Absolute Candor"	1x04	103	2399 / 2385	2020-02-13
"Stardust City Rag"	1x05	104	2399 / 2386	2020-02-20
"The Impossible Box"	1x06	105	2399	2020-02-27
"Nepenthe"	1x07	106	2399	2020-03-05
"Broken Pieces"	1x08	107	2399 / 2385	2020-03-12
"Et in Arcadia Ego, Part 1"	1x09	108	2399	2020-03-19
"Et in Arcadia Ego, Part 2"	1x10	109	2399	2020-03-26

Season 2

PIC Season 2, 10 episodes: [33] [34]

Development

Production

Picard lead Patrick Stewart had initially no intention whatsoever to reprise his role, feeling that the role had run its course, but decided to heed the invitation for a talk with the producers after all, as he felt it was only courteous to explain him declining the part in person. However, during the meeting and its follow-ups, Producer Michael Chabon was able to change Stewart's mind as he was fully willing to take Stewart's take on an older Picard into account. In the process Chabon entirely discarded his original story treatment he had written for the opening episode, and started anew, heeding Stewart's concerns. (TRR: "Remembrance") Stewart himself has confirmed this (including his initial disinclination to take on the role again) during his appearance on the British talkshow The Graham Norton Show (Season 26, Episode 16, 17 January 2020), shortly before the series premiered. [35]

Marina Sirtis appeared with the same wig and contact lenses that she wore in Star Trek Nemesis. She held on to them after that production finished, and informed Picard producers of this, likely saving them time and the $10,000 it would have cost to make a new wig. [36]

Promotion

In the months leading up to the premiere of the new series, a monthly prequel three-volume comic book mini-series, Star Trek: Picard - Countdown, was released by IDW Publishing, starting in November 2019. The comic book series introduced several characters, later featured in the live-action production, as well as dealing with events that led up to the ones featured on the show.

Additionally, the Star Trek: Picard Movie & TV Collection Blu-ray Disc set saw a release in October/November as an appetizer. The majority of the titles included in the collection contained events referenced to in the series, which held especially true for TNG: "The Best of Both Worlds", Star Trek: First Contact and Star Trek Nemesis.

The London, UK, "Picardilly Circus" subway station

Aside for Patrick Stewart's own remarks on the new show, it was also revealed in the above-mentioned The Graham Norton Show episode, that the London Underground station Piccadilly Circus was was temporarily dubbed "Picardilly Circus" in anticipation of the new series, whereas Stewart himself had related how he came across a New York City subway line map into which an imaginary subway line was incorporated, outlining the Starfleet arrowhead logo. [37] Both of these occasions had been part of the official franchise overall marketing strategy. London public transportation Head of Customer Information, Design and Partnerships at Transport for London, Julie Dixon, clarified, "We're thrilled to partner with Amazon Prime Video to create this exciting takeover of one of London's most well-known Underground stations to celebrate the launch of Star Trek: Picard. The Star Trek franchise is a global sensation and we're excited to mark this next chapter in a creative and engaging way that connects with tens of thousands of people. We hope that the out of this world activity has brought a bit of unexpected fun to our customers and that they boldly go on their commute, young or old." [38] The New York City MTA metro company Stewart had come across, additionally dispensed Star Trek: Picard-themed cards/tickets at six pre-selected metro stations, aside from displaying the series billboards and having adjusted its subway line map where the six stations were linked to form the Starfleet arrowhead. [39] [40]

Official publicity imagery

Products

FanSets debuted its first Star Trek: Picard pins in 2019.

CherryTree previewed a prototype of its Borg Cube ATX Limited Collector's Edition computer in July 2019, [41] and the final version reached retail in January 2020. [42]

In June 2019, Eaglemoss Collections' project manager Ben Robinson reconfirmed that the company will manufacture starship miniatures from this series. [43] The company later indicated that the ships will be about 150 to 250 mm in length, similar to their DIS starships line. The first four sets of CG models from the show's starship assets were received in March 2020, and the first product, a model of La Sirena, is slated to reach retail approximately one year later. [44]

Media

Star Trek television series

The Original Series • The Animated Series • The Next Generation • Deep Space Nine • Voyager • Enterprise • Discovery • Picard • Lower Decks • Prodigy • Strange New Worlds

Companion series: After Trek • Short Treks • The Ready Room

Web content: very Short Treks

In development: Starfleet Academy

External links

Star Trek: Picard at Wikipedia
Star Trek: Picard at the Internet Movie Database
Star Trek: Picard at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works

@@ Line 120: / Line 120: @@
 === Promotion ===
 In the months leading up to the premiere of the new series, a monthly prequel three-volume [[comics|comic book]] mini-series, ''[[Star Trek: Picard - Countdown]]'', was released by [[IDW Publishing]], starting in November 2019. The comic book series introduced several characters, later featured in the live-action production, as well as dealing with events that led up to the ones featured on the show.
+Additionally, the ''[[Star Trek: Picard Movie & TV Collection]]'' [[Blu-ray Disc]] set saw a release in October/November as an appetizer. The majority of the titles included in the collection contained events referenced to in the series, which held especially true for {{TNG|The Best of Both Worlds}}, {{film|8}} and {{film|10}}.
 [[File:Picardilly Circus.jpg|thumb|The London, UK, "Picardilly Circus" subway station]]