SDCC Star Trek panel: a long-awaited reunion, the crossover we never knew we needed, + future Trek

The well for Star Trek seems endless, with five successful series in current production (Discovery, Picard, Lower Decks, Prodigy, and Strange New Worlds) on Paramount + and at least two (and perhaps more) projects being developed (Section 31 and Starfleet). Star Trek head boss Alex Kurtzman obviously feels that there is a boundless appetite for all things Trek and from the popularity of the shows, he’s right.

The Star Trek Universe panel at San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC) 2022 gave Trekkies so much love, in the form of gifts called trailers. And there was a big one for Star Trek: Picard Season 3. Hosted by Back to the Future’s Lea Thompson (who also had a fun cameo in Picard S2), Picard gave us the reunion that The Next Generation fans have been longing for, but on its own terms.

Star Trek Picard: reuniting and it feels so good

Sir Patrick Stewart has always said he wasn’t interested in a recap series of Star Trek: The Next Generation (TNG), with tons of cameos of the old crew, as explained by Kurtzman. When they persuaded Stewart to get onboard for Picard, it was for a fundamentally different narrative that explored a darker, far less idealistic time from where TNG left off, with a storyline that “challenged” Stewart.

Although the last two seasons have been critical mixed bags, bringing back Brent Spiner (in various characters, including Data) and especially, John de Lancie as the mischievous Q have proved exceptional high points (their emotional goodbye stands as one of the best scenes among all of Trek, am I right?).

Fans have been asking for and speculating about other TNG members making appearances on Picard and now we’re getting exactly what we hoped for! Gates McFadden (Dr. Beverly Crusher) said that the crew was “younger” and “smarter” about this go-around, and also shared a smooch with Stewart during the panel.

More of this please, but I don’t think Laris would be happy.

Gathering the TNG members will be an epic roundup reminiscent of a heist movie, which Kurtzman said was both like “returning home” but with a new look and feel, much like the past two seasons of Picard.

In addition to McFadden, TNG regulars LeVar Burton (Geordi), Michael Dorn (Worf, finally!), as well as Picard S1 guests, Jonathan Frakes (Riker) and Marina Sirtis (Troi) will return. Spiner’s back too, but as an “old new character.” Intriguing, as Data would say. Also, in my opinion, Jeri Ryan (Seven of Nine) and Michelle Hurd (Raffi)—the emotional core of the series—are back.

The series will also have a female villain similar to Kirk’s arch-nemesis Khan. There’s a possibility that we might see Picard back on the Enterprise (no confirmation, but there wasn’t a denial either so we’re calling it!).

You can read more quotes from the panel on Comicbook.com.

Star Trek Lower Decks obsession with Deep Space Nine

Kurtzman had talked about having more female leads on Trek. Tawny Newsome (Beckett Mariner) also touched on the subject, noting the emotional satisfaction of playing a female lead of color on Lower Decks and her experience being mentored by Michelle Nichols (Uhura on The Original Series, how cool is that?).

And we got a fun, new trailer (with therapy puppies! OK, you had me at therapy puppies), with lots of Search for Spock (I’ve seriously been waiting for the series to skewer the movie) and Deep Space Nine references, which will get a full dedication episode. The DSN allusions may be foretelling the future:

"“Conversations definitely have been had. Sisko is a critical character,” Kurtzman said about the possibility of a Deep Space Nine spinoff, according to gamesradar.com. “We would all want to make sure it was coming from that place of being able to tell a new story while honoring the old.”"

Hmmm, interesting. Lower Decks S3 premieres on August 25.

Star Trek Strange New Worlds crossover!

And…. Lower Decks, in true zany fashion, crashed the Star Trek Strange New Worlds (SNW) panel. Why, you ask? Because they’re crashing the show itself! Or rather, a crossover, live-action episode in Season 2. How fun is that? Jack Quaid (Boimler) got the honor of making the announcement, to which Newsome teased, “we’re going to show up and stress them out.”

Producer Henry Alonso Myers teased A Christmas Carol-type episode for SNW, Paul Wesley’s highly anticipated Captain Kirk (before Enterprise fame) promised fun, and an episode with the tidbit that it “has never been done in Star Trek before.”

"“We’ll see Spock really wrestle with his human side more,” said Ethan Peck about his character, via gamesradar.com.“I’m looking forward to viewers seeing a different side of Kirk,” said Wesley about the younger version made famous by William Shatner. “There’s more levity, it’s an exciting season.”"

Oh, and it was his birthday, which he celebrated with the crowd. Awwww.

Star Trek Strange New Worlds is a huge hit for Trek and the second season is likely to come out next year sometime.