Star Trek: Picard Season 2 is currently in production, and on the heels of the exciting news that at least one former cast member from The Next Generation will return to make things interesting Patrick Stewart's character, fans have had their hopes high to see at least one more familiar face. After all, Jonathan Frakes took that photo earlier this year that first sparked speculation that both John de Lancie and LeVar Burton would be involved with Season 2, though Burton's recent comments about Picard's future are making some fans wonder if he's actually involved at all.
Luckily, Star Trek: The Next Generation vet Whoopi Goldberg was able to use The View to get to the bottom of it when LeVar Burton popped by as a guest. Goldberg straight-up asked the Reading Rainbow icon if he will appear in Picard Season 2, and if not then, whether we could ever expect to see him on Star Trek: Picard in the future.
I can say unequivocally that I am not doing Season 2 of Picard... Here is the thing. I believe it is reasonable – in fact practical – to assume that Picard still knows these people. They’re his friends. I think we might see more of his friends. At least I hope we do before this is all over.
It's hard to take that two different ways. LeVar Burton will apparently not be a part of Season 2 of Star Trek: Picard, but as he said, it's not impossible to believe that Geordi La Forge will cross paths again with his old friend at some point before the Paramount+ series is over. The last bit made it seem like the conversations haven't really happened yet, since even Burton isn't for sure when down the line his cameo (or more) could come.
Patrick Stewart has said previously that it's his and the Picard crew's intentions to have the entire principal cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation on the streaming spinoff before all is said and done. With that said, the intentions is also for all of these appearances to be organic and relevant to the ongoing story, which may be why we haven't seen the entire cast coincidentally appearing at one big dinner party together for their old captain. Should Geordi La Forge return, it'll likely be tied to some specific story elements, and will be a reprisal that lasts at least for a couple of episodes.
What's interesting about LeVar Burton's interview on The View is that while Whoopi Goldberg got answers from him about Star Trek: Picard Season 2, she actually offered up none of her own. Fans may remember that Patrick Stewart offered a personal invitation for Goldberg to reprise her role as Guinan in a future episode, and she gladly accepted. Since then, however, we've heard nothing about when she may appear. Though if Goldberg were indeed a part of Season 2's production in some capacity, it's easy to think she might have heard something about whether or not Burton would be involved.
Star Trek: Picard Season 2 is set to premiere on Paramount+ at some point in 2022. LeVar Burton may not be appearing in the upcoming season, but he will soon fulfill his dream of appearing as a host on Jeopardy!, and also has another exciting opportunity lined up with Ryan Reynolds.
