‘Star Trek: Picard’ Teaser Trailer: A New Beginning for Captain Jean-Luc Picard

CBS has released the first teaser trailer for Star Trek: Picard today. The new Star Trek show will follow Jean-Luc Picard (to be played by the returning Patrick Stewart) and his life after being the Enterprise’s captain. Stewart has become almost synonymous with the role after playing it for seven seasons on Star Trek: The Next Generation as well as the movies Star Trek: Generations, First Contact, Insurrection, and Nemesis. The series is set to premiere later this year on the CBS All-Access streaming service.

Although very short, the trailer hints at the return of a much older Jean-Luc Picard. It starts off showing a vineyard, the scenery is beautiful and captivating yet nostalgic. As a woman narrates a set of events that took place presumably 15 years earlier, we see a man wade through the vineyard, wash his hands and do some work before placing a crate of wine on the table.

Finally, we see who the mystery man is—a retired-looking Jean-Luc Picard.

“Fifteen years ago, today, you led us out of the darkness. You commanded the greatest rescue armada in history. Then, the unimaginable,” the woman says. “What did that cost you? Your faith? Your faith in us? Your faith in yourself? Tell us, why did you leave Starfleet, Admiral?”

CBS

Possible Plot Details of ‘Star Trek: Picard’

The Star Trek: Picard series is set 15 to 20 years after the events of Star Trek: Nemesis and looks to be influenced by the destruction of the extraterrestrial humanoid species world known as Romulus in the 2009 Star Trek movie. The series will be set in Star Trek’s main timeline, unlike J.J. Abrams’ movies which are set in a parallel timeline.

It is safe to assume the rescue mission mentioned in the trailer is the evacuation of the Romulan homeworld before it was destroyed by the Supernova of 2387. And the last time we saw Picard, he was still a Captain so the question on everyone’s lips is this; when was he promoted to Admiral? Even more importantly, if he was promoted to Admiral, why did he retire or resign? What might have caused his departure that prompted him to stay away for a whopping 15 to 20 years?

In answering this, it is imperative to remember the various tragedies that have occurred in Picard’s life up until this moment. Starting with the death of Picard’s nephew and brother, Robert, in Star Trek: Generations, when they were tragically killed in a fire at the family home.

Perhaps, Picard has been through a lot of loss in his life and regardless of his successful rescue mission, the destruction of the Romulans’ homeworld might have done a number on him. In a previous interview, the Star Trek: Picard series showrunner Alex Kurtzman said it will be more of a psychological exploration of Jean-Luc Picard, looking at where his life has taken him and what it would take to bring him back to Star Trek’s ideals of a better world.

Star Trek: Picard Casting and Release Details

Patrick Stewart is joined on the Star Trek: Picard team by an ensemble cast comprised of Michelle Hurd, Santiago Cabrera, Evan Evagora, Alison Pill, Harry Treadaway, and Isa Briones. Not a lot of information has been given on the series premiere other than a “Coming Soon,” but maybe we’ll find out during San Diego Comic-Con this July. You can watch the trailer below: