Debating Captain Picard's Missing Kiss in Star Trek: Insurrection - Insights from Actors & Producer

Article Overview

Two kissing scenes between Captain Picard and Anij were cut from Star Trek: Insurrection, causing frustration from the actors.

The removal of the kisses sparked debate, as some believed they were not suitable for the intense moments in the film. As a result, the absence of the kisses shifted the dynamic of Picard and Anij's romance, leading to a change in their on-screen intimacy and surprising the actors.

In Star Trek: Insurrection, there was originally more romance between Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) and Anij (Donna Murphy), but two kissing scenes were removed from the film. Anij was a long-lived member of the Ba'ku people who benefited from the rejuvenating effects of the Briar Patch, while Captain Picard and the USS Enterprise-E defended the Ba'ku from Starfleet and the Son'a's plan to forcibly relocate them. In The Fifty-Year Mission: The Next 25 Years, producer Rick Berman explains the decision to cut the kissing scenes, while Patrick Stewart and Donna Murphy express their frustrations. Read Berman's quote below.

Rick Berman explained that some romantic scenes, including two kisses, were removed from the final cut of the film due to debates about their appropriateness in certain parts of the story. Despite discussions with the studio, the decision was made to take them out. Berman believes that their absence did not significantly impact the story. Additionally, Patrick Stewart mentioned that Captain Picard's kisses were removed from both Star Trek: Insurrection and its predecessor, Star Trek: First Contact.

Patrick Stewart mentioned that in Star Trek: First Contact, a scene where he kissed Alfre Woodard's character got cut from the movie, and he joked that there must be something about his kissing that the filmmakers don't like. He also mentioned that a kiss with Alfre, albeit on the cheek, was also removed from the movie. Donna Murphy, who played Anij, discussed how the romance between Picard and Anij in Star Trek: Insurrection feels different without their kisses, as she and Patrick Stewart performed with more "intimacy."

Donna Murphy: Leading Picard through an altered reality, stepping inside a moment and suspending time; a sensual exploration, a heightened sensory response to different ways of touching each other, leading into a kiss. When I saw that was cut, I thought it may have been to give a greater payoff to a kiss at the end of the movie. I was surprised and initially had a negative response because you shape performance thinking that certain pieces of the puzzle are a given. Patrick and I played that relationship as if there was an intimacy that had taken place at a certain point. I was told it was a studio decision that the kisses were not necessary.

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Jean-Luc's Love Life Is Central To Star Trek: Picard

Picard and Anij got a shout-out in season 3

Captain Picard's relationship with Anij in Star Trek: Insurrection was subtly referenced by Captain Liam Shaw (Todd Stashwick) in Star Trek: Picard season 3. While not explicitly stated, it hinted that Jean-Luc followed through on his commitment to take some time off and reunite with Anij on Ba'ku. Nevertheless, their romance evidently did not endure, consistent with the pattern of Jean-Luc Picard's love affairs.

Anij was Picard's only romantic interest in the Star Trek: The Next Generation movies, despite the films disregarding his past with Dr. Beverly Crusher. In Star Trek: First Contact, Jean-Luc was merely friends with Lily.

In Season 2 of Star Trek: Picard, the show explicitly delved into Jean-Luc's avoidance of committed relationships, as it was rooted in his childhood trauma from his mother's suicide. While he began a romance with Laris, the return of Dr. Beverly Crusher and the revelation of their son, Jack Crusher, became a major focus for Picard. Similar to Star Trek: Insurrection, Jean-Luc and Beverly did not share a kiss in Star Trek: Picard Season 3.

Stream Star Trek: Insurrection on Paramount+ now.

Editor's P/S

As a Gen Z fan of Star Trek, I find the debate surrounding the missing kiss between Captain Picard and Anij in Star Trek: Insurrection to be intriguing. The fact that two kissing scenes were cut from the film due to concerns about their appropriateness highlights the delicate balance between storytelling and censorship. While I understand the need to maintain a certain level of consistency and intensity in the narrative, I believe that the removal of these scenes may have inadvertently altered the dynamics of Picard and Anij's romance.

The actors' frustrations are understandable, as they had likely invested time and effort into developing the chemistry between their characters. The absence of the kisses may have left them feeling disappointed and surprised, as they had anticipated a more intimate portrayal of the relationship. As a viewer, I would have appreciated the opportunity to witness these moments of passion between Picard and Anij, as they could have added depth and complexity to their connection.