It’s sure sounding like we’re going to seeWhoopi Goldberg back as Guinanin the CBS All Access seriesStar Trek: Picard. Serving as a sequel series toStar Trek: The Next Generation, the new show features Patrick Stewart reprising his iconic role as Jean-Luc Picard. The first season brought in several familiar faces from the original series, such as Jonathan Frakes as William Riker, Brent Spiner as Data, and Marina Sirtis as Deanna Troi.
Touching on a possible appearance in season 2 ofPicardwith SFX Magazine, here’s what Goldberg recently had to say.
“No, I haven’t seen [Discovery] - but I did watch the first season ofPicard, which was great. From time to time, I talk to Patrick aboutStar Trek. Hopefully, I will be joining their cast for a little while next year. I’m very excited about that.”
As the interview was conducted at the end of 2020, Goldberg’s “next year” comment refers to 2021. It has also been reported that season 2 ofPicardis scheduled to begin in February, so if Goldberg is really going to return, she could be suited back up as Guinan in the near future. It’s also been made clear from both Stewart and showrunner Michael Chabon that Goldberg would be accepted into the series with open arms.
“I’m here with a formal invitation,” Stewart personally told Goldberg onThe Viewlast year, “and it’s for you, Whoopi. Alex Kurtzman, who is the senior executive producer ofStar Trek: Picard, and all his colleagues, of which I am one, want to invite you into the second season.”
Last March, Chabon also spoke about the creative team’s plans to write scenes for Guinan and Picard, telling The Hollywood Reporter, “It’s amazing. I’ve gone back to rewatch some of the more key Guinan episodes from Next Gen, the major Picard and Guinan moments. She’s such an amazing actor; I can’t wait.”
Characters outside ofThe Next Generationare also showing up onPicard. Jeri Ryan, who played Seven of Nine onStar Trek: Voyager, was featured in the first season and will be back for season 2. There are still plenty of others to bring in from the original cast ofTNGas well, and that includes Wil Wheaton’s character Wesley Crusher. While there’s no indication at this time Crusher will be brought in for season 2, the actor has said that he’d be up for coming back if he gets the call.
“If I got to work with Patrick again and if I had the privilege of performing in a scene with him again, it would be such a gift and such a blessing,” Wheaton told Trek Movie in September. “That would be an amazing, amazing experience that I would absolutely love to happen.”
As for Goldberg, Guinan isn’t the only role she is keen on reprising. It has since been announced thatSister Act 3 is in the works at Disney+ with Goldberg returning as Deloris Van Cartierand Tyler Perry producing. As of now, there’s no word on when production will begin on the upcoming sequel. For now, you’re able to catch Goldberg on the CBS All Access seriesThe Stand, which is based on the famous Stephen King novel of the same name. This news comes to us from Trek Movie.
