CHARACTER · STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION
Jean-Luc Picard
- Appears in
- Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)
- Played by
- Patrick Stewart
8 archived facts 4 topics
Jean-Luc Picard is a character in the TV series Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987), played by Patrick Stewart.
8 Interesting Facts About Jean-Luc Picard
Interesting Facts (2)
- #001
Jean-Luc Picard is French, yet he speaks with a distinctly English accent. In Assimilation (2022), roughly 30 years later, he explains why: his ancestors in France fled the Nazi occupation during WWII, when the Nazis used the Chateau Picard mansion as a local headquarters. The Picards relocated to England and stayed there for generations before returning to France and reviving the vineyard and estate. His accent is explained by the family's close ties to the British Picards.
- #002
Contains a major spoiler — show
Commander Sisko's initial hatred of Captain Picard stems from the death of his wife Jennifer at the Battle of Wolf 359, for which he blames Picard. Just before the battle, Picard had been abducted and assimilated by the Borg and used as their "spokesperson," as shown in Emissary (1993). Sisko later made peace with Picard after realizing he was not responsible for his actions while assimilated.
Life & Family (1)
- #003
Contains a major spoiler — show
The Chateau Picard vineyard first appeared in Family (1990), run by Jean-Luc Picard's brother Robert, Robert's wife Marie and their son René. In Star Trek: Generations (1994), Jean-Luc learns that Robert and René both died in a fire, leaving him the last of the Picard line.
About Star Trek: The Next Generation and its cast (5)
- #004
In his memoir Making It So, Patrick Stewart recalls that Ian McKellen warned him off taking the role of Jean-Luc Picard: "When I told him I was going to sign the contract, he almost bodily prevented me from doing so. 'No!' he said. 'No, you must not do that. You must not. You have too much important theater work to do. You can't throw that away to do TV. You can't. No!' There are few people, particularly with regard to acting, whose counsel I trust more than Ian's, but this time I had to tell him that I felt theater would return to my life whenever I was ready for it, whereas an offer of the lead role in an American TV series might never come again... In the years since, we have become dear pals and 'X-Men' colleagues, and Ian has acknowledged that he was wrong and I was right. More than once, in fact - primarily because I like making him say those words."
- #005
When Gates McFadden first signed on, the understanding was that her character would eventually become a romantic partner for Captain Jean-Luc Picard. That never happened, and she grew increasingly frustrated at how little Dr. Crusher was developed. Clashes with Maurice Hurley, showrunner for the first two seasons, led to her contract being terminated (which is why Dr. Crusher is absent from season two) and to her replacement by Dr. Kate Pulaski (Diana Muldaur). Ironically, Muldaur later decided episodic television was not for her, so producer Rick Berman phoned McFadden himself to persuade her to come back for season three. A supportive call from her close friend Patrick Stewart sealed the deal, and she played the character for the rest of the show's run.
- #006
Patrick Stewart cites his earlier film Logan (2017) as an influence on the series, noting that in both the characters remain the same but their world has changed and they must adapt. Jean-Luc Picard and Charles Xavier are both roles Stewart has returned to after years-long gaps. Stewart admits Logan encouraged him to try something different with the part.
- #007
- #008