A Star Trek: Picard movie could be the ideal solution to the ongoing struggles faced by the troubled Star Trek 4 project. Despite initially being set for a December 2023 release, the fourth installment of J.J Abrams' Star Trek series mysteriously disappeared from Paramount's list of upcoming releases. Despite involvement from industry heavyweights such as writer-director Quentin Tarantino and actor Chris Hemsworth, a viable version of the movie has yet to materialize.
In the meantime, actor Patrick Stewart has been actively promoting Star Trek: Picard during the Emmy's campaign, participating in interviews with various media outlets, including IndieWire. It was during one of these interviews that Stewart revealed his concept for a Picard movie, expressing his desire for it to serve as a postscript to the highly successful third season. With no significant updates on Star Trek 4 and the continued popularity of Picard season 3 leading up to the Emmy's, Stewart's movie idea could potentially revitalize the franchise on the big screen.
Picard Is Star Trek's Strongest Brand, Especially For TNG Nostalgia
A final Star Trek: The Next Generation movie has the potential to follow the success of movies like Top Gun Maverick and Avatar: The Way of Water. By tapping into the audience's nostalgia for the 90s TV show and films like Star Trek: First Contact, it could trade on the fondness for the original while taking the story in a new direction. If the movie can deliver a compelling narrative that doesn't rely on viewers having watched all 30 episodes of Picard, it has the chance to be a success.
Star Trek Has Changed And Doesn't Need J.J. Abrams' Kelvin Movies Anymore
With the success of the Star Trek streaming series, the release of Star Trek 4 faces a significant hurdle as it features characters from Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, which has its own portrayal of Kirk, Spock, and Uhura. Strange New Worlds takes inspiration from the original 1960s show while updating the story and tone for the present day. This creates a challenge in finding a place for the Kelvin crew in the current Star Trek franchise, despite the audience's attachment to them. Perhaps it is time for another beloved crew, such as the one from Star Trek: Picard, to bring the franchise back to the big screen.
