The Star Trek franchise has gone back to its television roots in recent years. When Star Trek: Discovery debuted on CBS All Access in 2017, it paved the way for other series, including Star Trek: Picard and the upcoming spinoff Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. Given that the former is all about Patrick Stewart’s Star Trek: The Next Generation character, does that mean Dr. Beverly Crusher could appear on the show in Season 2? Actress Gates McFadden recently shared her thoughts on the matter.
Gates McFadden’s Beverly Crusher was a staple of Star Trek: The Next Generation for six of its seven seasons. She was smart, confident, and often took Captain Picard to task whenever the need arose. Crusher and Picard were later very flirty with each other, even sharing a kiss in the series finale. The characters were even married in an alternate timeline (though it was erased). Star Trek: Picard already brought back other fan-favorite TNG stars, so might McFadden reprise her role on the CBS All Access series when it returns for Season 2? Here’s what the actress told TrekMovie:
Well, I don’t know. There’s a good chance, let’s put it that way. But I have no contract signed.
That’s exciting! It sounds like Gates McFadden has at least been in talks with the showrunner and producers of Star Trek: Picard, which is great because the show would definitely benefit from her inclusion. Even if nothing has been made official just yet, the fact that there’s “a good chance” that Crusher might be in Season 2 of Picard is fantastic.
Crusher’s potential appearance in Star Trek: Picard might mean that she and Picard could pick up where they left off all those years ago. Gates McFadden conceded that she doesn’t know if they’d get to have a romantic relationship on the show, but she thinks it “would be lovely.”
That said, it’s been nearly two decades since the actress played Dr. Beverly Crusher, with her final appearance being in the film Star Trek: Nemesis. Has Gates McFadden ever considered what Crusher has been up to over the last 20 years? Here’s how McFadden put it:
I have, but it doesn’t mean anything, because it’s going to be what the writers have… I hate to ever say anything because then I think it kind of jinxes stuff in a way. But I think she definitely would be somebody who was very engaged in the world and trying to make it a better place. I would not see her as somebody retiring. And you know—she obviously raised a kid while she was a full-on command officer, so I think the sky’s the limit in terms of what her life could be. This is the way I feel about my life now. I’m endlessly fascinated with a million things that I would like to study more and do more and get, I find the world is endlessly fabulous with which to engage, so who knows.
If Gates McFadden gets to officially return as Crusher, perhaps we’ll get a concrete answer regarding what the character’s been up to, and what her family situation is. For now, we can only wait and see what happens.
Star Trek: Picard Season 1 is currently streaming on CBS All Access. There’s no scheduled premiere date for Season 2, but stay tuned to CinemaBlend for updates. In the meantime, be sure to check out our 2020 summer TV premiere guide.
