CBS All Access is bringing Jean-Luc Picard back in a new Star Trek series, and soon the world will have more canon adventures with one of Starfleet's most celebrated captains. Now we finally have an idea when to expect its arrival. CBS' new chief creative officer David Nevins revealed the new show will arrive after Star Trek: Discovery Season 2, but still within the year:
In 2019, its not one 'Star Trek,' it's two 'Star Trek_s.' '_Discovery' at the beginning of the year, and Picard will start at the end of the year.
The good news is the untitled Picard adventure will arrive in 2019. The bad news is that it won't premiere until the end of the year, and may be split between 2019 and 2020. While David Nevins didn't specifically say during his time at the 46th Annual UBS Global Media and Communications Conference (via The Wrap), the keyword "start" would imply the entirety of Season 1 won't air in 2019.
If that's the case, it's not completely surprising given Star Trek: Discovery Season 1 aired in the same fashion. The show premiered on CBS All Access in late September and aired its midseason finale in mid-November. Discovery returned the first week of January and aired weekly until the season's completion. With the Picard series getting a release date along the same time, it's possible CBS is planning the same premiere window for the upcoming program.
Premiere speculation aside, CBS' decision to air Picard in late 2019 as opposed to alongside Star Trek: Discovery is logical. For starters, it appears the series is still somewhat early in development, as little news on the project has surfaced beyond writer's room pictures. Additionally, Star Trek: Discovery did a lot to pull subscribers to CBS All Access, so airing Picard late in the year and possibly immediately after Season 2 concludes may encourage subscribers to stick around.
Additionally, the Picard adventure will also entice classic Star Trek fans, specifically those who have stayed away from Star Trek: Discovery. Patrick Stewart's status as one of the franchise's most-beloved Starship captains and the prospect of Star Trek: The Next Generation cameos will give some fans nostalgic feelings they've felt denied of by Star Trek: Discovery's changes. This is all assuming the Picard series doesn't make similar creative changes and turn those same fans off the character's next chapter.
The chances of that aren't entirely known, although what is known is that Patrick Stewart has been in the series' writer's room from the very early stages. This is a positive sign for fans hoping the show honors the character's legacy and past adventures, as Stewart portrayed Picard for 15 years. That means he's an excellent resource for writers to bounce ideas off of, and perhaps the ultimate sage behind what Picard will and wouldn't do in the new show.
We're apparently around a year away from the premiere of CBS All Access' Picard show, so CinemaBlend will keep an eye out for more updates as the program continues development. In the meantime, check out what's coming to television in the near future via our fall and midseason premiere guides.
