cast of star trek picard laforge daughter

LeVar and Mica Burton on Playing Father and Daughter in STAR TREK: PICARD

With Star Trek: Picard season three’s sixth episode, we saw the long-awaited return of LeVar Burton as Geordi La Forge. These days, Geordi is actually Commodore La Forge, and runs the Starfleet Museum. But he didn’t arrive alone. He was joined by his real-life daughter Mica Burton, who played Geordi’s daughter, and fellow Starfleet officer, Alandra La Forge. We got the chance to chat with the two Burtons, who told us about what it was like playing on-screen parent and child in the 25th century.

Nerdist: Playing father and daughter on-screen has to be very cool for you both. How did you both react when the Picard producers approached you about the idea for this season? Or was this something that you two pitched to them?

LeVar Burton: Yeah, this was all ( Picard showrunner) Terry Matalas’ fault. When I first started talking to Terry about coming back and playing Geordi again, I shared with him what I felt was important to me. He said, “Well, what do you want to see happen?” And I said, “The only thing that I feel like I need to have happen, Terry, is that we rehabilitate Geordi’s canon, where his relationships with women are concerned.”

I know, I know, that in “All Good Things” [ The Next Generation series finale], we find out that Geordi was married to Leah Brahms , the woman that was stalked in the episode, “Booby Trap.” And that they had two daughters, Sidney and Alandra. I didn’t buy that. Just never bought the idea that the engineer was discomforted by the presence of women. It’s an old, tired trope. So, that was really, really important to me, and Terry took it from there and he made this happen. He created these two daughters for Geordi, and the suggestion was made, “Well, let’s have Mica audition,” and here we are.

Now, you’ve just talked about Geordi and his relationship with women. And we’ve heard “mom” La Forge mentioned in episode six. Are we ever going to find out just who Mrs. La Forge actually is in this timeline?

Mica Burton: It’s Beyoncé. We talked about this on Twitter. Terry Matalas confirmed it. Our mother is Beyoncé Knowles, and she lasted until the 25th century.

Well, of course she did .

Mica: And it was a beautiful wedding. She sang herself at her own wedding. This is Star Trek canon.

LeVar: You know, I have heard that Rihanna is a big Star Trek fan …. and I’m just going to put it out there that maybe Geordi married Rihanna.

Mica: Look, Bad Girl Ri, if you are my mother, please step forward.

Even though Sidney La Forge (Ashlei Sharpe Chestnut ) has an icy relationship with her dad on Picard , it seems Alandra and Sidney have more of an understanding. Mica, did you ever talk to Ashlei about your two characters’ relationship off-screen? What it was like for both of them to grow up as daughters of a legend?

Mica: It’s funny, we actually didn’t. We had this conversation afterward about it. But our sisterly bond forged … “La Forged”.

LeVar: Ba-duh-bum.

Mica: Ba-duh-bum. Day one that I came to set. She is just so warm and lovely, and we bonded like that, and we became actual sisters. So, I think that a little bit of our personal relationship informed this lovely sisterly bond on the show. But we discussed it afterward that even though Sidney and her father have not had the best relationship, that wouldn’t have gotten in the way of the sisters. The sisters love each other. The sisters understand each other through and through. They don’t need a guy around. They don’t need a dad around.

Sidney name-drops her famous dad a lot in the first five episodes. Do you think that Alandra does the same thing when she meets people? Or is that purely a Sidney thing?

Mica: I think it’s hilariously a Sidney thing. It’s one of those “trying not to be like her dad”, but she still wants you to know that’s her dad. Maybe it’s like it almost hovers around Alandra, because she works with him. I don’t think there is anybody in the Starfleet Museum that doesn’t know that she’s Geordi’s kid. So, I think it maybe almost haunts her a little bit.

In this episode, Commodore La Forge and Jean-Luc have a really emotional exchange about fatherhood and other things, and how it has changed Geordi, and made him more cautious. What was it like playing such an intimate scene with Patrick Stewart again after 20 years?

LeVar: Just delicious. Delicious. He’s obviously one of the best actors of this generation, and I’ve known that for a long, long time. And anytime you get an opportunity to do a two-hander with Patrick, it’s a good day.

So, we talked about “All Good Things,” and how some of those things (from the future timeline seen in that episode) came true for Geordi, like having two daughters. But in that episode, he was also a published author. So I’m wondering, does Commodore La Forge write novels on the side?

LeVar : He does. He does.

Mica, I know you’re big in the gaming world. This is a huge thing for you. How would you feel if Alandra La Forge made the jump into a Star Trek game of some kind?

Mica : I genuinely cannot eloquently explain the joy that would bring me to see something come that full circle. Even to know that somebody might cosplay Alandra, as someone who was a cosplayer coming up in her career. When I saw people cosplaying my D&D character from Critical Role , Reani—I still sob every time I see it. So, to think that somebody might cosplay live-action me … to think that they’d have a video game with me, tears. Just drowning. I’m going to start a flood.

On TNG , Geordi was very deferential to Captain Picard. You would’ve never heard him call him “Jean-Luc”, but he does here. Did you fill in the blanks of Jean-Luc and Geordi’s relationship in the missing two decades?

LeVar: Well, there weren’t any conversations. But you take your clues from the text, and the way it was written, it was clear that where Geordi had been, and what he had been doing, and the life that he had been living had changed him significantly. And adventuring around the universe was no longer a priority for him. He became a family man, and he needed and wanted stability. So, we find him in a real stable situation, and that all gets threatened when Picard comes calling, and rightly so.

I think it was the right note to play. Gene Roddenberry was clear that he didn’t want any conflict among the bridge crew. His opinion was that we would’ve evolved beyond that. I’m not so sure, and in terms of storytelling, conflict is essential for a good story. So, having those handcuffs taken off of all of us, I think that has made for much better storytelling.

It feels like a lot of this season is setting up a “next Next Generation ,” and I don’t know if that’s really going to happen. We know Terry Matalas wants to do a Star Trek: Legacy series. So Mica, is that something that you would be interested in being a part of?

Mica: I would literally not want anything more in this world, other than unicorns to be real. But right under unicorns being real, it would be to be a crew member regularly on a Star Trek series. I am so thankful for this opportunity, and I get it. I get the love of the Star Trek family. I’ve always been a part of it, like my dad said tangentially, just growing up with everybody. But leaving that cast and that crew on the last day, I got to know all the camera operators, and everybody on set, and it broke my heart. I loved being a part of that, and I see why I grew up with the family that I did, which was Patrick, Gates, Michael, and Brent. Because, my God, there’s no family like a Star Trek family.

Star Trek: Picard season three drops new episodes every Thursday on Paramount+.

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE...

• Privacy Policy
• Do Not Sell or Share My Information Opens in new tab

v2.08 – © Nerdist All Rights Reserved

How Star Trek’s LeVar Burton Helped Picard Actress Playing Geordi’s Daughter Feel Like She’s Part Of The Family

Ashlei Sharpe Chestnut talked about her new character.

Star Trek: Picard Season 3 will be the ultimate and likely final adventure for the characters of The Next Generation , but there are plenty of new faces who will appear in the last season as well. Ashlei Sharpe Chestnut is one of those newcomers to the franchise, stepping into the very important role of playing Sidney, the daughter of LeVar Burton 's Geordi La Forge. Burton's other real-life daughter, Mica, will play Geordi's other daughter, Alandra. Off-camera, they're not all related, but one could see how this entire crew as a family given how warmly Chestnut says the Burtons welcomed her in. 

Ashlei Sharpe Chestnut spoke to CinemaBlend ahead of the premiere of Star Trek: Picard Season 3 and recalled how LeVar Burton made her feel like she was part of the family. Chestnut talked about the Burtons and the special invite she received when she first moved to Los Angeles: 

They invited me to Thanksgiving when I first moved to LA, so being able to see their family dynamic [really helped]. They’re just really genuine, good people. Mica [Burton] and I, we had lunch not long ago. We still keep in contact. And LeVar too. They’re just great people.

Ashlei Sharpe Chestnut thinks the Burton family is great, but you don't have to take her word for it. LeVar Burton's general public persona after Star Trek has shown he's someone audiences want to stick around, even if he'll never host Jeopardy! full time . Still, it's nice to hear that he and his daughter Mica welcomed Chestnut in with open arms.

The good news for Star Trek: Picard fans is that we'll get to see the fruits of that friendship play out onscreen during Season 3. Ashlei Sharpe Chestnut spoke briefly about Sidney and Alandra La Forge's relationship, and how it's rooted in her real-life friendship with Mica Burton: 

Alandra and Sydney have this really great relationship, and I think that’s a testament to our relationship off-camera and the friendship that we started to build.

Ashlei Sharpe Chestnut's Sidney La Forge is an ensign in Starfleet, though she's not quite the chip off the old block when it comes to her role. While Commodore Geordi La Forge was known for his work in engineering , Sidney serves as the helmsman on the U.S.S. Titan (via TrekCentral ). Apparently,she wanted to fly the ship rather than work on repairs, and truthfully, I'd feel the same way given how often I've seen engineering teams dealing with warp core troubles. 

It seems fated that Star Trek: Picard can't end without Jean-Luc's death. 

The La Forge family joins join a gaggle of other characters, like Worf, Beverly Crusher, and Deanna Troi , in Star Trek: Picard Season 3. This is said to be the final adventure of the series, though with upcoming Star Trek shows popping up all the time, perhaps we'll see some of these characters appear in other shows in the years to come.

Those with a Paramount+ subscription can catch the premiere of Star Trek: Picard Season 3 on Thursday, February 16th. Catch up on the previous seasons now or check out some of the other shows available to binge right now on the platform.

CINEMABLEND NEWSLETTER

Your Daily Blend of Entertainment News

Mick Joest is a Content Producer for CinemaBlend with his hand in an eclectic mix of television goodness. Star Trek is his main jam, but he also regularly reports on happenings in the world of Star Trek, WWE, Doctor Who, 90 Day Fiancé, Quantum Leap, and Big Brother. He graduated from the University of Southern Indiana with a degree in Journalism and a minor in Radio and Television. He's great at hosting panels and appearing on podcasts if given the chance as well.

Margot Robbie Continued A Sweet Tradition She Had On Barbie With Ryan Gosling As Producer On My Old Ass

Three Women’s Betty Gilpin Talks About Her Most Important Takeaway From The Book And Why The Real Lina ‘Will Remain Anonymous’

We Pointed Out Kathryn Hahn Is The First Person To Say 'Eat My A--' On Disney+, And It's Really These Little Things Marvel Fans Live For

Most Popular

• 2 Sydney Sweeney Posted A Chaotic Photo Dump From Halloween Horror Nights, And I'm Obsessed With Her Minions And Mario-Related Antics
• 3 The Shawshank Redemption Cast: What The Stars Of The Beloved Prison Drama Are Up To Now
• 4 Outer Banks’ Chase Stokes Got Real About How His Working Relationship With Ex Madelyn Cline Has Evolved In The Years Since Their Breakup
• 5 ‘It Was A Ton Of Money’: James McAvoy Auditioned For Harry Potter Role Years Ago And Was Offered Big Bucks. Why He Ultimately Turned It Down

LeVar Burton and Daughter Mica on Joining Forces for 'Star Trek: Picard' Season 3 (Exclusive)

'star trek: picard' sneak peek: watch levar burton reunite with the 'next generation' crew, simone biles and jordan chiles on 'goat' tour and celeb support at paris olympics (exclusive), patti lupone recalls the time she almost killed aubrey plaza when they lived together (exclusive), diddy taken into federal custody amid sex trafficking allegations, '90s con: 'charmed' cast on show's longevity and who almost played a different character (exclusive), '90s con: 'melrose place' cast on bonding together, auditions and reboot in the works (exclusive), niecy nash calls travis kelce’s ‘grotesquerie’ performance a ‘touchdown’ (exclusive), 'america's got talent': 17-year-old former contestant found dead from apparent suicide, 2024 emmys fashion recap: stars spill style secrets, 2024 emmys after-parties: how the stars celebrated, 2024 emmys recap: all the must-see moments and behind-the-scenes secrets, '90 day fiancé': tigerlily marries adnan on their first in-person meeting after 4 months of dating, grace van patten on how amanda knox is helping shape miniseries about her (exclusive), selena gomez tears up during heartfelt emmys shoutout from john leguizamo, jane's addiction's perry farrell apologizes to dave navarro after altercation and canceled tour, 'shōgun's anna sawai on her tearful emmys night and where she'll keep her award (exclusive), annie murphy and emily hampshire dish on 'schitt's creek' emmys reunion (exclusive), taylor swift enjoys chiefs game after donald trump says he hates her, watch cardi b's intimate footage of baby no. 3 moments after giving birth, ben affleck and jennifer lopez appear tense as they reunite with kids amid split, ebon moss-bachrach doesn’t know where his emmy is after ‘bizarre’ second win (exclusive), the duo talk to et about sharing the screen on the paramount+ series and the emotional 'next generation' reunion on set..

Spoiler alert! This story contains minor spoilers from the latest episode of  Star Trek: Picard .

It's a family affair for LeVar Burton and his daughter, Mica Burton, on  Star Trek: Picard .

The real-life father and daughter share the screen for the first time on the latest episode of the Paramount+ series, "The Bounty," with LeVar reprising his beloved  Next Generation  character , Geordi La Forge, and Mica portraying one of Geordi's two daughters, Ensign Alandra La Forge. (Geordi's other daughter, Ensign Sidney La Forge, mans the controls of the USS Titan and is played by Ashlei Sharpe Chestnut.) 

The idea for LeVar to don the iconic  Star Trek  uniform alongside Mica was an idea borne out of a conversation he had with showrunner Terry Matalas about returning to the franchise, the  Next Generation  alum revealed in an interview with ET on Wednesday. "Never would I have ever thought of going to them and saying, 'Hey, what about my kids being in Star Trek ?'" the 66-year-old actor admitted. "And I would've said no," Mica, an actress and gamer in her own right, confessed.

So how did it all come together? ET spoke with the father-daughter pair about their onscreen debut together, the surreal reality of reuniting with the  Next Generation  crew and that intriguing cliffhanger at the end of the latest episode.

ET: First off, how did this all come to be?

LeVar Burton: When Terry approached me about reprising the role of Geordi La Forge and he asked me if I had any desires, any wishes in terms of where he would be when we find him, I said, "The only thing I really need is for him to be a family man and have a healthy relationship with his family." I never liked that Geordi, as the chief engineer, as the nerd, was discomforted by the presence of women. That pissed me off. I thought it was really lazy on the writers' part. And even in [the  Next Generation  series finale] "All Good Things," when it's revealed that Geordi is married and has two children -- daughters Alandra and Sidney -- the idea that he was married to Dr. Leah Brahms, the woman that he stalked in the episode, "Booby Trap," creating a holo deck of her, was really creepy to me. And so I really wanted to rehabilitate that part of Geordi's canon and Terry came through, above and beyond. I mean, I never would've dreamt this scenario up and I'm so grateful that he did.

Mica, what was it like stepping onto set with your father and being able to share this experience with him?

Mica Burton : It's interesting because every time I'm asked, "What was it like?" the first thing I can say is, professional. I went to an acting conservatory and he's been doing this his entire life, almost since he was 19, so he's one of the most consummate professionals that I know. And I think that that's what came first and foremost. I did audition for this role and I took it seriously every day at work, but I think the added benefit was we drove to work together and at the end of the day, I was hanging out with my dad and my extended family being the Star Trek family. So it was just a very comfortable environment to be doing my job.

You're playing father and daughter onscreen as Geordi and Alandra. Was that dynamic different or similar to your real-life relationship? 

Mica:  Thankfully our relationship dynamic is completely different on the screen than it is in real life. Alandra's very much that little duckling following behind Geordi. Very respectful, enamored, knows that her father is a commodore and respects that. She's an engineer herself and probably did that because of him rather than realizing that that was her passion all along. Meanwhile, I love embarrassing my father. Nothing brings me more joy than making jokes at his expense.

LeVar:  To see me squirm.

Mica:  Yes, it's so fun for me, but that's because we have that relationship and I think it's because I've grown up being able to pal around with him. We grew up gaming together and we have that easygoing relationship that sadly, Alandra doesn't have with her father. She sees him as this almost untouchable idol rather than just as a father. She sees him as Geordi La Forge trademark. I'm thankful that I don't see him as LeVar Burton trademark. I see him as dad, so I can make fun of him.

LeVar : Yes, exactly.

What were those moments like in between scenes on set because, LeVar, you are back with your Next Generation family, which is monumental. And then Mica, is now a part of that as well.

LeVar:  For me, one of the best aspects of it was... I don't know if coming out party for Mica is the right word, but she's an adult now, and so I had an opportunity to observe her in a dynamic relationship with the cast as an equal, as a grown-up and that was awesome. Very, very cool to be able to hold context for both. She's still in my eyes, the little girl that I used to play Tomb Raider with, but she's also a professional actor and seeing her act with the best acting partners I've ever had, is very cool for me as both an actor and a dad.

Mica:  And I think that that's how it was with everyone because there were moments that we've talked about before I was even in costume my first day on set, Jonathan [Frakes] broke into tears.

LeVar:  But we were just there visiting.

Mica : Just there visiting, but he was just emotional of the fact that this was the beginning of it. But then later he was directing me and we interacted, but that's just so cool that on one hand, I'm like, "Yeah, you've known me since I was literally zero minutes old." Later he was referring to me as an equal. My family was treating me as a professional actor, as an equal and how many people can say that? That Brent Spinner was in a scene with you treating you like you were his scene partner because you were, not just because you were Levar Burton's daughter. That's cool.

This episode that you're both in is quite a major one for  Picard  and includes quite a few  Next Generation  cast returns, notably Bret Spiner's Data, as well as a big revelation related to Jean-Luc. What do you want fans to know about the episode?

LeVar : What would I want the fans to know? Geordi's back and he's mad!

Mica:  I almost spat out my water. How dare you. Geordi's here to kick a** and drink tea, and he is all out of tea.

There was a funny moment with Geordi putting Jack Crusher in his place with regard to his other daughter, Sidney, as there may be something brewing there. Can you talk a little bit about that scene?

LeVar: I think that's the strength of the writing and showing the evolution of this character and all of the Next Gen crew. They've done a remarkable job of writing these characters in a way that we absolutely recognize them, and of course, they're the crew from the 1701-D [also known as the USS Enterprise] and we see that they are not the same people. They're not doing the same things. Riker has his own ship as we always knew he would. Beverly's out there on the frontier doing the Doctors Without Borders thing, right? Worf is now a Pacifist and Geordi is a family man, and his priorities are now keeping his family safe, and we see that Papa Bear comes out in many ways.

At the very end of the episode, we see the return of another Next Gen  crew member, Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis), and learn the Changelings have stolen Jean-Luc Picard.  Literally . What can you share about what's next?

LeVar:  There is literally nothing I can say! Nothing we can say based on that question.

Mica:  Everything you asked cannot be answered.

New episodes of  Star Trek: Picard  drop Thursdays on Paramount+.

Updates on Celebrity News, TV, Fashion and More!

RELATED CONTENT:

'Star Trek: Picard': LeVar Burton Reunites With 'Next Gen' Crew

'Star Trek: Picard': Ed Speleers on Playing Jean-Luc's [SPOILER]

Patrick Stewart: 'Star Trek: Picard' Leaves 'Doors Open' in Season 3

• Star Trek: Picard
• Levar Burton
• ET Black Stories

Star Trek: Picard’s LeVar Burton Proudly Shares His Daughter’s Season 3 Role

Your changes have been saved

Email is sent

Email has already been sent

Please verify your email address.

You’ve reached your account maximum for followed topics.

'I'm Done': Colin Farrell Was Glad to Stop Playing Oz After The Penguin Filmed

One only murders in the building reddit theory suggests the killer was revealed in season 3, the new game of thrones spin-off will explore the franchise's most mysterious character.

Star Trek franchise star LeVar Burton celebrates his daughter, Mica Burton, landing a role in the third season of Picard on Paramount+.

Burton shared his excitement on Twitter with a screenshot of both himself and his daughter on-screen during an episode of Picard . "This is my kid," he wrote. "We’re working together for the first time in our careers. I could not possibly be more proud!" Mica Burton will star in the science fiction drama series as Alandra La Forge, the daughter of LeVar's Lt. Commander Geordi La Forge. Mica's previous roles include the 2015 sci-fi film, Lazer Team , and the TV miniseries, The Eleven Little Roosters .

RELATED: How Picard Season 3 Morphed Into a Star Trek: The Next Generation Reunion

Burton has portrayed Geordi La Forge, a Starfleet officer/engineer who served during the 24th century, in the Star Trek franchise for decades. He first appeared as the character in all seven seasons of The Next Generation from 1987 to 1994. He also reprised the role in four franchise films, including Generations (1994), First Contact (1996), Insurrection (1998) and Nemesis (2002). Burton's character is blind, requiring him to use technological devices to see, including a trademark visor he sported during The Next Generation and Generations .

Burton enters the final frontier once again as Geordi in Picard alongside Sir Patrick Stewart as Captain Jean-Luc Picard. The series is set in 2399, chronicling the captain's struggle to cope with both the death of Data and the destruction of Romulus. After long retiring from Starfleet, Captain Picard returns to action after a visit from one of Data's daughters, leading him to fight for her and other synthetic beings. The cast includes John de Lancie as long-time adversary Q, as well as Alison Pill, Isa Briones, Michelle Hurd, Brett Spiner, Gates McFadden , Jonathan Frakes and the late Annie Wersching who died of cancer on Jan. 29.

RELATED: Star Trek: Picard's Final Season May Harm - or Kill - TNG Characters

Picard Will End with Season 3

Season 3 of Picard will be the Paramount+ show's final season, though Stewart hinted at the possibility of a Season 4 provided the quality of the show can be preserved. A newly-released full-length trailer hailed the third season as Picard's final voyage and showed his reunion with Geordi and the rest of the crew.

Burton's role in Picard Season 3 comes as he's set to release a new podcast on SiriusXM in spring 2023, Sound Detectives , which sees the Reading Rainbow icon return to children's entertainment. The Grammy, Emmy and Peabody Award-winning actor's credits also include Ali , Captain Planet and the Planeteers , Family Guy and Community .

Picard Season 3 premieres on Paramount+ on Feb. 16.

Source: Twitter

• Star Trek: Picard (2020)

'Star Trek: Picard' Season 3: LeVar Burton and Mica Burton on the La Forge Family Dynamic

Your changes have been saved

Email is sent

Email has already been sent

Please verify your email address.

You’ve reached your account maximum for followed topics.

The 10 Best Anime Shows of the 2020s So Far, Ranked

'the rings of power's greatest weakness has never been more obvious in season 2, 'ghosts' is going down under with a brand-new remake.

The third and final season of Star Trek: Picard is shaping up to be one of the best seasons of Star Trek —ever—and a large part of that is due to the care that has gone into crafting a long-overdue Star Trek: The Next Generation reunion. The first handful of episodes reunited Jean-Luc Picard ( Patrick Stewart ) with William Riker ( Jonathan Frakes ), as they set off across the galaxy on a mission to rescue Dr. Beverly Crusher ( Gates McFadden ) and her son Jack Crusher ( Ed Speleers ), who she had hid from Picard for twenty years.

With the Changeling threat looming over all of them , Picard and the crew of the U.S.S. Titan find themselves at the Fleet Museum in Episode 6, where Geordi La Forge ( LeVar Burton ) and his daughter Alandra La Forge ( Mica Burton ) are pulled into the slowly unraveling mystery, reuniting them with old friends and La Forge's other daughter Sidney La Forge ( Ashlei Sharpe Chestnut ). At New York Comic Con last year, in addition to revealing The Next Generation cast that would be returning for Star Trek: Picard Season 3, it was revealed that LeVar Burton's real-life daughter Mica Burton , would be officially joining the Star Trek family as La Forge's daughter Alandra.

Ahead of the Episode 6 premiere , Collider had the opportunity to sit down and speak with LeVar and Mica Burton about working together on the third season of Star Trek: Picard , in addition to discussing how this Geordi La Forge compares to the anti-time future Geordi La Forge in The Next Generation finale, what it was like for Mica to work with her on-screen sister Ashlei Sharpe Chestnut, where she thinks Alandra would fit into a potential spin-off, and what they can tease about the rest of the season, including an Easter egg that fans should keep an eye out for.

COLLIDER: So in the Star Trek: The Next Generation finale, Geordi has kids in the anti-time future, which happened to also be named Alandra and Sidney. How would you compare that version of Geordi with this version?

LEVAR BURTON: In this version, we are certain that the mother of Geordi's children is not Dr. Leah Brahms.

Okay, interesting. Is that something that we might learn, or is there somebody that you have in mind in your head when you're playing the role?

MICA BURTON: Beyoncé. I've made it canon that our mother is Beyoncé. Terry Matalas has confirmed it on Twitter.

Oh, well, there you go. Mica, one of the highlights of the Star Trek panel at New York Comic-Con last year was the announcement that you would be joining your dad in the series. It was so great, I was with my mom, and I was right behind you in the theater, and it was just the coolest thing. But I'm really curious to know what the process was like for you joining the show.

MICA: Well, it wasn't something that I think my dad and I ever thought was going to happen, seeing as I really love to make my name outside of his, and also, I was never a fan of Star Trek … I was a Star Wars kid. But, when Terry wrote this new story for Geordi, and it involved daughters, and it coincided with a time in my career that I felt I had established myself in my own right, and now would be a really fun time to work with my dad, the opportunity presented itself to audition. And audition I did.

Excellent. I worked on a superhero movie with my mom, and it was like the coolest experience to share together. What was this like for both of you to work together in Star Trek ?

LEVAR: On many levels, it was next level. Because not ever having expected this, this soon in her career, this comes as a great surprise, as well as a great gift. And she's been a part of the Star Trek family behind the scenes, off-camera for the whole of her life. She was actually born just a couple of weeks after we finished Star Trek Generations .

Actually, no. In fact, no. She was supposed to have been born a couple of weeks after we finished Generations , but she came a little early. I finished Generations , was going to go on a personal retreat up to the mountains, and the night before I left for retreat, she came.

MICA: I am so sorry I ruined your trip.

LEVAR: So I say that to say, what a thrill it was for me to work with her, but also to see her work with the rest of the cast that have been members of her family since she got here.

MICA: Yeah, I don't think I remember a time in my life without Uncle Michael, Uncle Patrick, Aunt Marina, Aunt Gates, et cetera, et cetera. They've always been there. So it was such a phenomenal experience. And, being as we are all also professional actors, it was incredibly business and professional when the cameras were rolling, but to be able to sit off-set with people that you've known for almost three decades, I'll never have an opportunity like this again. This is a very once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

LEVAR: But also, to see how all of these other professionals, both in front of and behind the camera, regarded Mica as another professional in the mix. That makes both her mother and me very proud.

It's very exciting. Mica, for you in Episode 6, we see that Alandra is a little bit more like her dad than Sidney is, but what would you say is Alandra's guiding light for how she navigates her career and her life?

MICA: I think it really is, it is her father. A mannerism I picked up from my dad on set that he didn't notice until he saw the first picture of us in uniform together, is that I hold my hands exactly how he holds his hands in front of him and behind him. And I think that that is kind of who Alandra is. She so much looks up to her father that she so much wants to be like him, but also envies Sidney for having the courage to be somewhat different. But I think that both sisters have their own little mini versions of Geordi in themselves.

I love that. LeVar, going back to you. I know all of you that have been in The Next Generation , you have a little bit of ownership in terms of your characters and the things you've talked about them over the years in that interim time. But for you, how much do you have mapped out for what's been going on in his life over these last 20 years, or so?

LEVAR: None, except to say he got married and had kids, and it wasn't with Leah Brahms.

Something I really love about Picard is how they've brought back The Next Generation characters and shown that they haven't stayed stagnant from the last time we saw them. They've evolved, for better and for worse, and it makes for really compelling television. Can you talk about playing Geordi as someone who seems a little bit more by-the-books than he was maybe the last time we saw him?

LEVAR: I guess in terms of filling in the blanks, there is more than what I just said because obviously there's been a lot of professional development that has happened in the intervening years. Geordi is an admiral, and is in charge of one of the most precious assets–

MICA: Commodore.

LEVAR: Commodore. Well, that's a Rear Admiral. Commodore is a Rear Admiral.

MICA: I'm sorry I don't know the naval terms! Commodore La Forge, not Admiral La Forge.

LEVAR: You're right, you're right. You're absolutely right. Geordi is a commodore .

MICA: Thank you.

LEVAR: And he's in charge of the Starfleet Museum, which is one of the most precious resources that the Federation owns. Yeah, and he is a parent, and Picard is gallivanting around the galaxy with my kid, Sidney. And Geordi feels a certain way about Picard putting her in danger. So yeah, Geordi is a little bit more by the book. Geordi isn't all lovey-dovey. When we first encounter him in Episode 6, he has a few things he needs to get off his chest.

Just a few. Mica, now that we've seen this glimpse of the next generation of The Next Generation with Sidney and Alandra, and Jack, I feel like the audience is not going to want to let go of these characters. If there is any hope of a potential spinoff—I know Terry and so forth on Twitter have been really hoping for something like that, and I know fans are as well—how do you think Alandra would fit into something like that?

MICA: I mean, Alandra is an engineer. She knows exactly her position, she knows that position well. She'll fit in on any Starship, and also she needs to keep an eye on her sister. Older sisters aren't always right. Older sisters don't always know what they're doing. You need the younger sister's intuition to kind of be there and keep her out of trouble. So I think that any sister dynamic is always fun to watch happen, any sibling dynamic. So two siblings on a Starship, that's never happened before. We need to see that. We need to see how that would go down. I would love to continue this role, and I know that Ashlei Sharpe, who plays Sidney, she has become my sister in real life. Ed and I have also become great friends. All three of us are pals. We would love to continue being the next Next Generation together.

I love that. What has it been like for you getting to explore this sister dynamic with Ashlei?

MICA: So fun. [It’s] just me in my household, I'm the only burden, so I've never had a sibling, I've never had a sister. So, to come in and feel like I have a sister every day on set– I mean, Ashlei and I would text each other every day. We still do. We hang out all the time. She came to Thanksgiving at our house during Picard filming because she didn't have enough time over break to go home. So we were like, "Obviously, you're part of our family." And she really is.

I mean, she was there every step of the way while I was meeting my now-boyfriend, giving me advice, helping me craft texts, and they finally got to meet at the Picard premiere and it was almost like they already knew each other. It was great. I really do feel like—I know it's such a cliche that my onscreen sister is like my sister, but I would fight a million people for Ashlei Sharpe Chestnut, over and over again.

Well, that's how you know she's a real sister now because she's been helping you craft those texts.

MICA: I know! I was like, we've already done girl-talk, sleepover time, and she's helped me nail down my boyfriend. I genuinely don't know if I would've been as smooth in my texts without Ashlei's help.

I love that so much. LeVar, for you, something I've really been impressed with this season of Picard is the amount of Easter eggs and hidden nuggets that can be found, that are built into this set. Were there any that you saw that really caught your attention or something that was like, this is how they know Geordi?

LEVAR: Absolutely. Can I talk about them? I don't think... Can I?

MICA: There's not a lot we can talk about.

LEVAR: I'll say yes, there are, and I can say this: watch very closely at the phone call that Geordi has with Picard. When my character enters the adventure, pay close attention to the environment that Geordi is in.

Okay, that's a good tease. This is a question for both of you, it's a little bit fun. I really love that scene in Episode 6 where Jack and Seven are looking at all of the ships that are at the Fleet Museum. If you could abscond with one of the iconic Star Trek ships, which one would you choose?

MICA: Honestly, and maybe this is because I'm biased, it would be the Titan [which] is, technically, now iconic. It would be the Titan , and no offense, it's because so many of the older ships are carpeted, and I really don't vibe with that. I feel like that's a hazard waiting to happen. I don't want to have to bring a carpet cleaner to space, so I'm going to go with the Titan . No offense to your Enterprise .

LEVAR: That's incredible. I love that, but you know, nobody wears heels on the Enterprise .

MICA: And maybe that was another problem, heels slap. I'm just saying.

Oh, I love that so much.

MICA: What about you? What ship would you take?

LEVAR: Oh, I think it would be one of the Next Gen ships, maybe the one that we didn't crash.

MICA: You crashed all the ships. That’s one thing about Star Trek , as well, is that every crew just decimates these ships. I feel like they don't just grow on trees.

LEVAR: It's a good action sequence.

MICA: Well, man, you know what? I hope one day I get to crash my own ship.

LEVAR: Well, I hope you do too. I hope you get that opportunity.

Put that on the wishlist for the next Next Generation series.

LEVAR: Your sister is already known as Crash La Forge.

MICA: I want to be Crash 2: Electric Boogaloo. That's what I want my nickname to be.

Oh, gosh. For my last question, Mica, what was maybe the most pinch-yourself, you-can't-believe-this-is-happening moment for you with this journey? Was it the sets? Was it getting into a uniform? What was the experience that you're like, "I can't believe this is happening right now"?

MICA: Gosh, honestly, I can't spoil it, but there's this moment where a good majority of all of us are together at once. And I think looking around the room... Oh my gosh, I'm getting choked up. It was almost like a death, a life flashing before your eyes, but I looked around at all of my family who have been there, and I saw Brent and me when I was a kid, and he was doing magic tricks to entertain me at–

LEVAR: Easter brunch.

MICA: [At] Easter brunch. And I saw Patrick calling me, it was the middle of the night in London, but it was the night before my theater school audition, and he called me to encourage me. I saw my parents make fun of me all the time, me flirting with Michael Dorn when I was a baby because I had a crush on him. And I just looked around the room, and I was like, "I can't believe I'm here." And it was just magical. Genuinely. I think that was the moment.

The first six episodes of the third and final Picard are streaming now on Paramount+.

• Star Trek: Picard (2020)

Who Are The Two New Members Of The La Forge Family In Picard's Season 3 NYCC 2022 Teaser?

The final season of "Star Trek: Picard " on Paramount+ may end up being the final chapter for several of the most iconic characters from "Star Trek," but it also might be the jumping-off point for several new characters in the universe. The show has brought back many of the franchise's most popular characters, like the show's namesake, Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart), his former first in command, William T. Riker (Jonathan Frakes), and the engineer with the cybernetic eyes, Geordi La Forge ( LeVar Burton ).

The Season 3 trailer for "Star Trek: Picard" dropped at the NYCC 2022, and with it we learned some very interesting new information about the show. The character of Geordi La Forge has always been close with Picard, dating back to his time with him on the Enterprise in "Star Trek: The Next Generation." So, it's quite an interesting turn of events in the trailer when Admiral Picard says, "La Forge, gun it," and it is a young woman who responds instead of Geordi.

Who is this new La Forge and what is her relation to one of the series' most famous characters?

Geordi La Forge's two daughters carry on the family legacy

There will be two new members of the La Forge family appearing in "Star Trek: Picard" Season 3 as the daughters of Geordi La Forge. In the trailer, Ensign Sidney La Forge (Ashlei Sharpe Chestnut) takes the command from Admiral Picard and prepares to carry out his order. Additionally, LeVar Burton's real-life daughter, Mica Burton, will be playing the role of Ensign Alandra La Forge, though she doesn't appear in the trailer. Both actors have not revealed the extent their characters will be featured in the final season of the series. 

The La Forge family has a history in Starfleet with both of Geordi's parents being revealed as Starfleet Officers in episodes of "The Next Generation."  The addition of Geordi's daughters to "Star Trek: Picard" is a nice touch that adds to the lore of the La Forge family in the "Star Trek" universe, and gives future showrunners the opportunity to include the family without having to have LeVar Burton reprise his role as Geordi La Forge yet again. But we will have to wait and see how much these new characters are utilized in the show.

The final season of "Star Trek: Picard" will debut on Paramount+ on February 16, 2023.

• Search Please fill out this field.
• Newsletters
• Sweepstakes

Picard season 3 trailer reveals villain, La Forge's daughters, and more Next Generation returns

LeVar Burton's own daughter is playing own of his on-screen daughters in the final season.

Star Trek fans got a peek at the villain who's bringing the Next Generation crew back together in Picard season 3.

The Trek panel at New York Comic Con beamed up a full-length trailer for the show's final season, revealing Amanda Plummer ( Ratched , The Hunger Games: Catching Fire ) as a mysterious alien with an axe to grind. The veteran character actress is playing Vadic, captain of the Shrike, a "warship that has set its sights on Jean-Luc Picard and his old crew mates from his days on the Enterprise."

"I'll peck and I'll jab at everything that makes you you," she seethes in the trailer. "We will scorch the earth under which he stands and the night will brighten with the ashes of the Federation. But first, we will have vengeance."

The trailer revealed a few more surprises. Brent Spiner, who has played multiple characters on Picard since season 1, will play Lore. Daniel Davis will also be reprising his role as Professor Moriarty from Star Trek: The Next Generation . Both figures appear near the end of the footage.

On a lighter note, actor Mica Burton ( Critical Role ), the daughter of LeVar Burton , will be playing Ensign Alandra La Forge, the youngest daughter of Geordi La Forge who works alongside her father. Ashlei Sharpe Chestnut ( Cruel Summer ) also joins Picard season 3 as Ensign Sidney La Forge, La Forge's eldest daughter and helmsman of the U.S.S. Titan.

Patrick Stewart joined some of his cast members — including Burton, Spiner, Michael Dorn, Jonathan Frakes, Gates McFadden, and Marina Sirtis — and executive producers Alex Kurztman, Terry Matalas, and Rod Roddenberry at the New York Comic Con panel Saturday. There they confirmed Picard season 3 will premiere on Paramount+ Feb. 16.

The first teaser trailer for Star Trek: Discovery season 5 dropped earlier in the day, confirming some new casting additions to that series.

Actor Callum Keith Rennie, who had the significant role of Lester Pocket in The Umbrella Academy season 3 this year, will debut on Discovery as Starfleet Captain Rayner, described as "gruff" and "smart."

Rayner "holds a clear line between commander and crew — he leads, they follow," reads an official character description. "Rayner's all about the mission, whatever it may be, and he doesn't do niceties along the way; his feeling is, you get the job done and apologize later. He has a storied track record of wartime success, but in times of peace he struggles. Collaboration is not his strong suit. That said, if it serves the greater good he's willing to learn… but it won't be easy."

We also see newcomers Eve Harlow ( Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. ) and Elias Toufexis ( Shadowhunters ) as Moll and L'ak, respectively. They are former couriers turned outlaws. Moll is highly intelligent with an impressive strategic mind. L'ak is tough and impulsive.

Star Trek: Discovery season 5 will find Captain Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) and her crew on the U.S.S. Discovery chasing after an ancient hidden treasure. Martin-Green joined the panel virtually from the show's captain's chair, while cast members Anthony Rapp and Wilson Cruz joined executive producers Michelle Paradise, Kurtzman, and Roddenberry in person.

"The greatest treasure in the known galaxy is out there," says David Cronenberg's Kovich in the new trailer. "What are you waiting for?"

Sign up for Entertainment Weekly 's free daily newsletter to get breaking TV news, exclusive first looks, recaps, reviews, interviews with your favorite stars, and more.

Related content:

• Patrick Stewart felt 'quite emotional' saying farewell to Picard on the last day of filming
• Patrick Stewart on the Picard season 2 finale cameo, the Next Generation reunion, and more
• 'Hello, beautiful!' Picard gets the Next Generation crew back together in season 3 teaser

Related Articles

Star Trek: Picard (2020–2023)

Full cast & crew.

Series Directed by 

Series writing credits  , series cast  , series produced by , series music by , series cinematography by , series editing by , series casting by , series production design by , series art direction by , series set decoration by , series costume design by , series makeup department , series production management , series second unit director or assistant director , series art department , series sound department , series special effects by , series visual effects by , series stunts , series camera and electrical department , series animation department , series casting department , series costume and wardrobe department , series editorial department , series location management , series music department , series script and continuity department , series transportation department , series additional crew , series thanks .

Release Dates | Official Sites | Company Credits | Filming & Production | Technical Specs

Contribute to This Page

• Full Cast and Crew
• Release Dates
• Official Sites
• Company Credits
• Filming & Production
• Technical Specs
• Plot Summary
• Plot Keywords
• Parents Guide

Did You Know?

• Crazy Credits
• Alternate Versions
• Connections
• Soundtracks

Photo & Video

• Photo Gallery
• Trailers and Videos
• User Reviews
• User Ratings
• External Reviews
• Metacritic Reviews
• Episode List

Related Items

• External Sites

Related lists from IMDb users

Recently Viewed

Screen Rant

Star trek: picard season 3 casts levar burton’s daughter as geordi’s child.

Your changes have been saved

Email is sent

Email has already been sent

Please verify your email address.

You’ve reached your account maximum for followed topics.

Star Trek: Picard Season 1 Will Regret This Tragic Character Death If Legacy Ever Happens

Star trek: picard totally forgot about jean-luc's other son, no one noticed star trek: picard season 3 subtly set up uss enterprise-d’s return.

Star Trek actor LeVar Burton reveals that he got to film scenes with his daughter on  Star Trek: Picard   season 3.  Picard is a series that launched on Paramount+ in early 2020, following Patrick Stewart's iconic  Star Trek: The Next Generation character Captain Jean-Luc Picard in his later years. The show has featured quite a few cameos from  TNG , including Whoopi Goldberg as the bartender Guinan and John De Lancie as the interdimensional being Q, but the upcoming third and final season is set to reunite Picard with a huge swath of his former deck crew, including Burton as Geordi LaForge, Marina Sirtis as Commander Deanna Troi, Jonathan Frakes as Commander William T. Riker, Gates McFadden as Dr. Beverly Crusher, and Michael Dorn as Lieutenant Worf .

LaForge is one of the key characters of  The Next Generation , having appeared on all 176 episodes of its 7-season run. The character is congenitally blind and used a silver visor across his eyes to provide him with vision before he received implants in future seasons. After starting as the helmsman of the USS Enterprise under Captain Picard, he was promoted to chief engineer.

Related:  Strange New Worlds Proves Pike Is Better Than Picard In 2 Ways

Burton recently sat down with  Yahoo! Entertainment to discuss his work on  Reading Rainbow and his career as a whole. Inevitably, the topic turned to  Star Trek and he revealed that not only has he finished shooting his part on the upcoming Picard  season 3 , but he was also able to film with his daughter Mica. She plays one of Geordi's two daughters in the series, and the actor described the storyline as being " about the next generation of The Next Generation ." Read his full quote below:

It was a lot of fun on so many levels. I also get to work with my kid: my daughter, Mica, plays one of Geordi's two daughters. So the whole storyline really is about the next generation of The Next Generation in many respects.

Burton's daughter Mica has carved out her own space in the fan community, becoming a well-known cosplayer, host, and actress in her own right. She started off as a host for various gaming divisions at the company Rooster Teeth, including Achievement Hunters and The Know before moving on to work with the Overwatch League and Wizards of the Coast. As an actress, she has appeared in 2015's  Lazer Team  and 2017's  The Eleven Little Roosters as well as guest-starring on the second campaign run by the actual play D&D group  Critical Role .

The role that Mica is playing in  Star Trek: Picard  also reveals a little bit about what LaForge has been up to since he has last been seen onscreen in 2002's  Star Trek: Nemesis . The last time he was seen, he had not had children nor a major romantic partner. Presumably, the series will fill in the gaps and allow viewers a glimpse into LaForge's activities over the past few decades.

Next:  Picard Season 3's TNG Reunion Is Making 1 Big Mistake

Source: Yahoo! Entertainment

• Star Trek: Picard

• More to Explore
• Series & Movies

Published Apr 6, 2023

EXCLUSIVE: The Parents Weigh in on Star Trek: Picard’s ‘LaCrush’ Budding Romance

Does Jack Crusher and Sidney La Forge have the blessing of LeVar Burton and Gates McFadden?

StarTrek.com / Rob DeHart

SPOILER WARNING: Discussion for Star Trek: Picard Season 3, Episode 7 "Dominion" to follow!

On Star Trek: Picard , in between the threats on the lives of those aboard the U.S.S. Titan -A, two legacy kids have found something, or someone, that has caught their eye.

StarTrek.com

Both Jack Crusher , the son of Admiral Jean-Luc Picard and Dr. Beverly Crusher , and Sidney La Forge , the daughter of Commodore Geordi La Forge , have the weight of the galaxy on their shoulders living in the shadow of their legendary parents. Something they’ve both commiserated together in “ The Bounty ,” when the young Crusher clocks the less than “warm and cuddly” interaction between the Titan ’s helmsman with her father upon her family’s arrival.

In addition to navigating their complicated relationships with their fathers, they’re both grappling with outsider tendencies. Perhaps, that’s why they both find it easiest to connect with Commander Seven, as seen in “ Seventeen Seconds ” and “The Bounty.” However, Jack and Sidney appear to be open to allowing another person into their guarded lives as they playfully yet awkwardly flirt following their cloaking device heist, testing the waters to see if they would like to “hang out.”

In “Dominion,” Jack inadvertently reads Sidney’s minds as his hand grazes her, reminiscent of when Jean-Luc and Beverly were privy to each other’s thoughts in “ Attached ” ( Star Trek: The Next Generation ). The unease grows when Vadic and her crew board the Titan and Jack and Sidney find themselves trapped by a Changeling assailant. In providing Sidney aid, Jack’s newfound powers allow them to access each other’s thoughts as well as allow him to guide her movements as she fights the Changeling. Following the rather invasive but necessary act, Sidney is unsure what to make of Jack.

StarTrek.com had the opportunity to speak with Ed Speleers (Jack Crusher), Ashlei Sharpe Chestnut (Sidney La Forge), Gates McFadden (Beverly Crusher), and LeVar Burton (Geordi La Forge) on their thoughts on “ LaCrush .”

On building Jack Crusher’s rapport with Sidney La Forge, Ed Speleers lavishes heaps of praise for Ashlei Sharpe Chestnut, “What a great, great actor, very committed. Makes it so easy as well as frustrating. I feel like I have to do so much work; I’m sure she does as well but she makes it look so easy. It just comes naturally to her. She’s a wonderful talent and great fun to be around on set. There’s a nice little freestyle building between those two characters, which brings me back to my point that we need to see more!”

Unable to tell StarTrek.com too much at the start of the season, Ashlei Sharpe Chestnut offers this nugget of advice on how to navigate a Starfleet romance, “Hypothetically, if there is a romance, you might want to keep it under wraps, especially if your father is on board.

And does the internet-christened “LaCrush” have their parents’ approvals? Gates McFadden, whose Beverly Crusher knows a thing about workplace romances, advises, “You have to go with your instincts, always respect the other person, and always respect your friends. And if you’re having great pheromones, well, you’ve got to do what you got to do.” You know what they say, mothers know best.

How about fathers? When asked how he felt that Sidney La Forge had the eye of one of his friend’s son, LeVar Burton, firmly but jovially, states, “I expressed it as the character I thought pretty clearly, ‘Get the hell away from my daughter!’”

With the ability to hear each other’s thoughts, will Sidney and Jack move closer to a place of understanding and greater intimacy like Jean-Luc and Beverly once did? Will Jack heed the Commodore’s demand? With three more episodes left for the season, tune in and find out!

Christine Dinh (she/her) is the managing editor for StarTrek.com. She’s traded the Multiverse for helming this Federation starship.

In addition to streaming on Paramount+, Star Trek: Picard will also stream on Prime Video outside of the US and Canada, and in Canada can be seen on Bell Media's CTV Sci-Fi Channel and streams on Crave.

Stay tuned to StarTrek.com for more details! And be sure to follow @StarTrek on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram .

Get Updates By Email

Star Trek's Newest Breakout Star Made One On-Screen Change Happen Herself

Ashlei Sharpe Chestnut has thought a lot about Sidney La Forge — and she’s ready for a spinoff.

The helmsman of the USS Titan has a lot to live up to. In Star Trek: Picard Season 3 , the person sending the starship into warp, traversing asteroids, and ducking in and out of nebulae is Sideny La Forge, played by Ashlei Sharpe Chestnut. She’s one of two daughters of Next Generation legend Geordi La Forge (LeVar Burton), along with Alandra La Forge, played by Burton’s actual daughter, Mica Burton. In real life, Chestnut is ready to join the Star Trek family for the long haul. “We're Star Trek's family, but outside of that, like, we're family too,” Chestnut tells Inverse of her new place in the La Forge family, on-screen and off.

As Picard Season 3 heads into its final episodes, Chestnut has thought about legacy, Sidney’s on-screen romance with Jack Crusher, how she made sure no one would ever confuse her with a Changeling, and what she hopes for Sidney La Forge in the future. Spoilers ahead.

As revealed in “The Bounty,” Jack Crusher and Sidney La Forge start to flirt as they team up to steal a cloaking device that saves the day. When Geordi growls at Jack, “stay away from my daughter,” a new fan ship was born: “LaCrush.”

Ashlei Sharpe Chestnut as Sidney La Forge and Ed Speleers as Jack Crusher in “The Bounty.”

“I feel like their relationship is more meta in the sense that we are the kids of these iconic characters,” Chestnut says. “Sidney's trying to come out of her dad's shadow and be her own kind of woman. And Jack is finally figuring out his father. Figuring that out behind the scenes was a journey in and of itself.”

As Picard Season 3 heads into Episode 7, fans can expect a lot more “LaCrush” moments, because this connection between Jack and Sidney isn’t going away. “There’s an arc that Ed [Speleers] and I have on this show, that’s separate from our ‘parents,’ you know? I think fans are going to be surprised!”

Chestnut also reveals that she was encouraged to help define Sidney La Forge. One specific switch, which fans may not have noticed, occurs halfway through the season. Amid all the chaos, Sidney La Forge changes her hairstyle. That’s not a production error, but a character-based change that came from Chestnut herself. In Episode 5, “Imposters,” Sidney sees a dead shapeshifter doppelganger version of herself as Dr. Crusher (Gates McFadden) performs an autopsy.

“Just seeing myself, laying down as a dead body, that was nuts,” Chestnut says. “Sidney sees her dead body. She doesn’t want to see that again. So. I wanted to do a hair change! I talked to Terry [Matalas] and asked him if Sidney could change her hair in response to this, and he was like yes .”

For longtime Trek fans, the attention to detail in Picard Season 3 is part of the appeal. Chestnut proves that the details aren’t just fan service, but story-oriented. And it’s a story Chestnut is hoping continues well beyond this year.

Sidney La Forge’s first hairstyle in Picard Season 3.

Chestnut has several projects lined up, including her role in the final season of NCIS: Los Angeles. But she hopes to return to the Trek universe if and when a spinoff ( Star Trek: Legacy ? Star Trek: Titan? Star Trek: LaCrush? ) happens.

“I kept my comms badge,” Chestnut says. “I tried to keep my uniform, but CBS and Paramount were like, ‘No, please give that back.’ I hope we get our own spinoff! If the fans really love us, maybe it will happen.”

Star Trek: Picard streams on Paramount+ .

• Science Fiction

Meet the Star Trek: Picard season 3 cast — who's who in the final season

The past meets the present in Star Trek: Picard season 3.

As Star Trek: Picard heads into its final season, fans have a chance to reconnect with familiar faces from Picard's past. Not only will members of the Picard series be back in action, but the entire cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation is returning to join Picard for one last adventure together. 

Let's meet the cast of Star Trek: Picard season 3.

Sir Patrick Stewart as Jean-Luc Picard

Admiral Jean-Luc Picard has enjoyed a long career in Starfleet. Even though his days as captain are over, Picard hasn't had much time to enjoy retirement. The first two seasons saw him saving the world, but at the start of season 3 he's happy settling into a quieter life at the family home in Labarre, France, with his girlfriend Laris. But can it last?

Sir Patrick Stewart has been acting longer than Jean-Luc Picard has been in Starfleet (or pretty darn close). From memorable roles like Professor Charles Xavier in the X-Men franchise (as well as the latest Doctor Strange movie) to Ebeneezer Scrooge, and even as the voice of Poop in The Emoji Movie , Stewart has long delighted audiences with his baritone voice and warm smile that light up any room he's in.  

Michelle Hurd as Raffi Musiker

Raffi has been through a lot over the course of her time on Star Trek: Picard . We first meet her when she's disillusioned with Starfleet and living as far away from her old life as possible. She returned to Starfleet with a position aboard the Excelsior after helping Picard fight the Romulans at the end of season 1. 

Michelle Hurd has been in a number of shows over the years, including the Lethal Weapon series, Hawaii Five-0 and the Marvel Wastelanders: Hawkeye podcast. Prior to her role as Raffi in Star Trek: Picard , she was best known for playing Ellen Briggs in Blindspot . 

Jeri Ryan as Seven of Nine

Seven of Nine came back from the Delta Quadrant on Voyager. She tried to enlist in Starfleet, but as a former Borg the Federation wasn't ready to welcome her into their ranks. In the first season of Picard she’s working as a Fenris Ranger, but after reconnecting with Picard she eventually finds herself back at Starfleet, only this time they welcome her thanks to a push from Picard and Admiral Janeway. 

Get the What to Watch Newsletter

The latest updates, reviews and unmissable series to watch and more!

Jeri Ryan had been taking on guest starring roles for years, but her career took off when she was cast as Seven of Nine in Star Trek: Voyager in 1997. After the series wrapped in 2001, she went on to star in Boston Public , The O.C. , Shark and Body of Proof, while continuing to make appearances in a number of other shows.  

Jonathan Frakes as William Riker

William Riker was enjoying life with his wife, Deanna Troi, and their daughter, Kestra, on the planet Nepenthe. They'd settled on Nepenthe in an effort to help their son Thaddeus recover from a virus, but after he died they remained there. Though no longer an active duty member of Starfleet, he was quick to jump back into action to help Picard fight the Romulans in the first season. If there's one thing we know for certain, it's that when Picard needs help, Riker will always answer the call. 

Early in his career, a young Jonathan Frakes starred in The Doctors in the late 1970s. He went on to play a number of guest roles before taking on the role of Commander William Riker in Star Trek: The Next Generation in 1987. The role would change the trajectory of his career; after the series ended he starred in the feature films that followed. He continued making appearances in various guest roles, but his main focus was on directing and lending his voice to animated projects. Notably, he voiced the character of David Xanatos in Gargoyles and he voiced Riker in Star Trek: Lower Decks .  

Marina Sirtis as Deanna Troi

Commander Deanna Troi followed her husband William Riker to the Titan after he was promoted to captain. She retired from Starfleet to focus on raising her family on Nepenthe. The loss of her son, Thaddeus, is something that continues to haunt her, especially because the technology to save him existed but it was outlawed because it was tied to synthetic life forms and all synthetic research was banned. She and her family live a simple life, but a good life on Nepenthe, but like her husband, she's ready to help when Picard needs it. 

After starring in Star Trek: The Next Generation , Marina Sirtis made guest appearances in a number of shows while also voicing a number of animated characters. She also voiced Troi in Star Trek: Lower Decks . 

LeVar Burton as Geordi LaForge

Though we haven't seen Geordi LaForge since Star Trek: Nemesis , when he was still the chief engineer of the U.S.S. Enterprise-E, Picard knows he can still count on Geordi for help when he needs it 

Prior to becoming Geordi La Forge on Star Trek: The Next Generation , LeVar Burton was known to legions of young fans as the host of the educational series Reading Rainbow . His breakout role came from Roots in 1977. After TNG wrapped, he continued to show up in various series while also lending his voice to several animated projects. You might remember the big push for Burton to host Jeopardy! ; he'll be hosting his own trivia show, Trivial Pursuit , in the near future. Burton's return to the Star Trek world is deeply personal as his daughter Mica joins him in the series. 

Michael Dorn as Worf

Worf moved on to a new position on Deep Space 9 after the Enterprise-D was destroyed. He started a new life there, marrying Jadzia Dax. As the lone Klingon in Starfleet, he had experience that no one else had, so it's no surprise he went back to the Klingon homeworld and defeated Chancellor Gowron. Worf wasn't interested in becoming the new chancellor, so he passed the title to Martok and eventually became the official ambassador to the Federation. 

Michael Dorn's Worf has appeared in more episodes than any other character in the franchise, so returning to Star Trek: Picard gives his record another boost. Outside of Star Trek , Dorn has lent his voice to a number of animated projects and video games, and his voice can be heard in the popular Arrow series, where he voiced the character Prometheus. He also had a recurring role in Castle . 

Gates McFadden as Beverly Crusher

Of all his former shipmates, Picard seems to have been in contact with all of them except for Beverly Crusher. Given his long history with her, her late husband Jack (who was Picard's best friend) and her son, Wesley, it's odd they haven’t been in touch at all. The last time we saw Beverly was on the Enterprise-E, but there's been no mention of her since that point. 

Gates McFadden has made a few appearances on various TV shows after Star Trek: The Next Generation , and like many of her costars she has done a lot of voice acting. She played a judge in a recurring role on Franklin & Bash and she voiced Beverly Crusher in an episode of Star Trek: Prodigy .  

Brent Spiner

We don't know how Brent Spiner fits into Star Trek: Picard season 3 given that Data is officially dead. Of course, Data's death doesn't mean there's no place for Brent Spiner because Data's appearance is based on his creator, Dr. Soong. Evidently, the Soong genes are very strong because Spiner has been able to play different members of the Soong family across many generations and series; he played Dr. Arik Soong in Star Trek: Enterprise . We'll update this section once we learn more about Spiner's role in season 3.

Spiner is best known for his role as Data, of course, but he's been very prolific outside of the Star Trek universe. In addition to a great deal of voice work, he's appeared as himself on The Big Bang Theory, as well as recurring roles in Fresh Hell , Ray Donovan and Threshold .  

Todd Stashwick as Liam Shaw

Todd Stashwick joins the cast in Star Trek: Picard season 3 as Captain Liam Shaw, commander of the Titan. We don't know much about Shaw just yet, so we'll provide updates as soon as we learn more about him.

Stashwick is best known for his role as Deacon in the TV series 12 Monkeys and Father Kieran O'Connell in The Originals . He's made dozens of guest appearances over the years, including a guest role on an episode of Star Trek: Enterprise in 2004.  

Ed Speleers as Jack Crusher

We don't know much about Jack Crusher (other than the glaringly obvious connection to Dr. Beverly Crusher), so as soon as we learn more, we'll add it in here. 

Ed Speleers is a UK native who is best known for roles in Downton Abbey , Beowulf: Return to the Shieldlands and Outlander . He can also be seen in a recurring role in the new season of You .  

Star Trek: Picard season 3 is available to watch exclusively on Paramount Plus .

Sarabeth joined the What to Watch team in May 2022. An avid TV and movie fan, her perennial favorites are The Walking Dead, American Horror Story , true crime documentaries on Netflix and anything from Passionflix. You’ve Got Mail , Ocean's Eleven and Signs are movies that she can watch all day long. She's also a huge baseball fan, and hockey is a new favorite.  

When she's not working, Sarabeth hosts the My Nights Are Booked Podcast and a blog dedicated to books and interviews with authors and actors. She also published her first novel, Once Upon an Interview , in 2022. 

With High Potential, Kaitlin Olson reinforces how good she is on TV, but I'm less convinced about the show

All Creatures' Callum Woodhouse teases Tristan/Siegfried clash in new series

The Young and the Restless spoilers: Connor pushes Adam and Chelsea together, but a surprise pregnancy threatens the reunion?

Most Popular

• 2 Apple TV Plus cancels one Friends star's show, while anothers' wins at Emmys
• 3 Ghosts Australia: everything we know
• 4 Nadiya's Cook Once, Eat Twice: release date, recipes, interview with Nadiya and everything we know
• 5 Dress The Nation: release date, hosts, exclusive interview, star guests and everything we know

By providing your information, you agree to our Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy . We use vendors that may also process your information to help provide our services. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Star Trek: Picard : Next Generation ‘s LeVar Burton, Michael Dorn and Gates McFadden Join Final Season

Keisha hatchett, staff editor.

• Share on Facebook
• Show more sharing options
• Share to Flipboard
• Share on LinkedIn
• Submit to Reddit
• Post to Tumblr
• Share on WhatsApp
• Print This Page

Star Trek: Picard is bringing in a barrage of familiar faces for its third and final season. [pmc_inline_gallery]

Paramount+ announced Tuesday that Star Trek: The Next Generation alums LeVar Burton (who played Geordi La Forge), Gates McFadden (Beverly Crusher), and Michael Dorn (Worf) have been added to the Season 3 cast.

Plus, fellow franchise vets Jonathan Frakes, Marina Sirtis and Brent Spiner — who all appeared in Season 1 — are also set to return as Riker, Troi and Data, respectively.

Watch the casting announcement in the above video. 

“I remember watching the premiere of Star Trek: The Next Generation almost 34 years ago with my father like it was yesterday. It was the spark that ignited my love for science fiction,” Terry Matalas, who will serve as the showrunner for Season 3, said in a statement. “So, it’s most fitting that the story of Jean-Luc Picard ends honoring the beginning, with his dearest and most loyal friends from the U.S.S. Enterprise. It would be an understatement to say that giving these characters a proper send-off is an honor. The entire Star Trek: Picard team and I can’t wait for fans to experience this final, high-stakes, starship-bound adventure in season three!”

Related Stories Bridgerton Season 4 Adds Harry Potter’ s Katie Leung,   Promotes 2 Others Bridgerton Casts Halo Star for Benedict’s Love Interest, as Production Officially Begins for Season 4 — Get First Look

Season 2, which is currently streaming, finds the legendary captain and his crew on a journey into the past. Picard must “enlist friends both old and new to confront the perils of 21st century Earth in a desperate race against time to save the galaxy’s future — and face the ultimate trial from one of his greatest foes,” per the official description.

The season saw Whoopi Goldberg return as Picard’s longtime friend and confidant Guinan. In addition, John de Lancie reprised his role as Q, the omnipotent shapeshifter who revels in testing Picard, and Annie Wersching ( Bosch ,  The Vampire Diaries ) recurred as the Borg Queen, the infamous villain first introduced in the 1996 film Star Trek: First Contact (played then by Alice Krige). Jeri Ryan currently stars as Star Trek: Voyager’s Seven.

Are you excited to see the Next Generation gang assemble for Season 3? Let us know your thoughts in the comments. 

Cancel reply

58 comments.

Email * Your email address will not be published. We will notify you when someone replies.

How AWESOME!! Bummer there’s only going to be 3 seasons, but still great news! Now.. bring back Wil Wheaton and all will be right as rain!!

What? No Will Wheaton? 🤣

Will Wheaton is a really terrible actor.

Cooper!!!!!!

You’re crusin’ for a beatin’, Wheaton!

I diasgree. He did really well in the movie “Stand By Me”

How could no not mention Jeri Ryan who is playing a key role this season????

They say in the article that Ryan stars as Seven.

What more do you need?

Sorry my bad…missed the last sentence.

When was it announced that it was ending? Did I miss something?

It was announced in January, by Patrick Stewart.

Yea Stewart announced it a while ago. They did season 2 and 3 back to back. Season 3 is already wrapped so it’ll be out next year. Stewart is in his 80s, he wanted to make sure he was able to close the character for fans and didn’t know how many seasons he could do

Season 3 hasn’t wrapped, there’s still a few months more of filming.

Oops, thinking of a different ST show lol.

Yes, thank you.

So they’re coming together for the end of a robot Picard clone’s journey, but missed the death of their actual friend, who remains unmourned. I wonder if Worf will look like the ridiculous new fishy Klingons? I really want to love Star Trek, but the writing on the recent shows has been horrible. They’ve butchered characters that I’ve loved for decades. It would have been easier to forgive some of this mess if they hadn’t trampled on what came before. TNG didn’t step on TOS, it built onto the lore. DS9 didn’t trample on TNG. Part of what made those shows work was how they respected the past. When DS9 went back in time, they went to TOS, not a reimagined universe, with modernized versions of old characters. When Bones, Scotty and Spock appeared on TNG, they didn’t have entirely new personalities. People will accuse me of hating it because of politics or whatever. Or they’ll tell me to shut up and ignore it if I don’t like it. But Star Trek always had politics and Star Trek fans have always had disagreements. I’ve been a fan for many decades and I have a right to my opinions now. Right now, Star Trek lacks the writing talent to deliver good stories, political or not. It is sad that nobody who controls this classic and beloved franchise actually cares enough to respect what they own.

I think the issue is that they are attempting to write for and target a younger audience and demographic which means changing things up and altering personalities to fit today’s narratives etc. I don’t see it as being political. It’s just that today’s tastes have changed tremendously from what they were. Even with time travel, the old method of trying to keep it all contained within a single timeline…to many people that is boring now, so there is always a need to do something differently in an attempt to keep the storyline “fresh and exciting.” There are so many factors at play for a tv show to even get a greenlight in the first place but looking beyond the network and studio expectations…in the case of Picard I don’t think Patrick Stewart would’ve signed on if the storyline wasn’t something new and “fresh” to him, etc. So while I don’t necessarily like the storyline they have presented, I am grateful for it because I don’t think it would’ve happened if they had attempted this in a different way and how sad that would be if Patrick Stewart didn’t return and play the character a final time. And as for Discovery…I don’t really “get” that show but it does have some aspects that I appreciate just the same. Today’s Trek is definitely not the same as what I grew up with but I do like that new fans are being gained by these efforts and the old shows will live on forever thanks to streaming and syndication reruns. Anyway, I replied to you directly because I wanted to say I understood where you are coming from. Have a nice day!

Thanks for the reply. Honestly, I expect mostly anger and hate from fans of the new Trek, which is sad. Conversation was always a fun part of fandom before. I do agree that they are writing it a bit younger, but as a kid, I never thought of Trek characters as old or boring. They were mature, thoughtful adults, in a professional environment. Role models (Sisko was the one I most related to. A man of faith, family and honor). Today’s Trek characters feel more shallow, and their actions feel immature, and without repercussions. Trek used to make us think (Measure of a Man, I Borg, The Offspring) but it seems like the only way to appreciate new Trek is to watch it while also scrolling social media on your phone and not paying too much attention. They talk about bringing Picard’s journey to an end, but have they even asked the people who wrote Picard’s journey to be a part of this series? New Trek usually feels like fanfic, written by mostly Star Wars fans. I’ve had a really hard time letting go of watching these shows, because they’re damaging what came before. I think the franchise would have been better off if they hadn’t created these shows, because I don’t see a lot of new fans joining the party. Star Trek always had a sort of generational fandom, passed from parents to kids. I don’t think these new shows have that same appeal. I wouldn’t sit down with the kids in my family to watch Icheb get butchered. I do have to let go though. It would just be easier if TNG cast members didn’t add to the mess.

I too fear what Worf may look like. And that people don’t get why that’s an issue concerns me.

If he looks different, he isn’t Worf. If he looks the same, the shows just shot themselves in the foot. Unless Picard and Discovery are different universes. That seems to be the solution for everything these days.

I recall an interview with Kurtzman where he stated that if they brought back Work he would like he normally does.

Put me in the ‘Discovery is an alternate universe’ camp. I can squint and almost see how Picard Season 1 fits in (though, it is a stretch), but I can’t do that with Discovery.

*Worf – stupid auto-correct.

Every single Star Trek show has had Klingons that look different. Discovery isn’t even the most different from Worf – in the original series they were literally just humans with longer eyebrows. I don’t see Discoverys Klingons as a problem – It’s entirely possible there are different races of Klingon, and the only real differences between TNG and Discovery are skin colour and hair – It’s been canon since TNG that every Klingon has unique forehead ridges.

I feel yo Kyle and that’s my opinion of alot of reboots now days. I get the feeling that the writer are always trying to reinvent lore to fit into the now. They are missing the point.

This is why Ghostbusters Afterlife works whereas the 2016 movie didn’t. The wheel doesn’t need to be reinvented. Embrace the past and carry it with you as you move forward. It really isn’t a hard concept. DS9 did this… whole new look, new design for a starfleet ship, new themes, new storytelling style, and while not everyone loved it, it was always true to its roots.

Every time I hear people complain about the “new” Klingon look, I imagine fan letters the studio must have gotten after Star Trek III and the new-look Klingons. Or how the early internet must have been up in arms after they changed Worf’s look mutliple times during the run of TNG.

As for trampling on the previous shows, I don’t see it. Spock was known to go rogue and not share details about his life to his closest friends. Picard I can absolutely picture feeling betrayed by the Federation and being bitter after having devoted his life to it. Seven is pretty much the same person. We never knew Pike well enough to compare him to the new version. Now, the Kelvin-timeline movies, those characters have definitely deviated from the originals, but doesn’t trample on the original, at least in my opinion, because they didn’t erase the original timeline. It’s just something truly new.

They didn’t change the look of Vulcans because they are too iconic. They didn’t change the look of the Borg too much, because they are iconic. Same with the Romulans. Trills, and others. Changing the Klingons (despite literally hundreds of hours of screen time at this point) was just a weird attempt at marking their territory. The look was changed in the earlier movies because they could finally give them a more iconic look. The Discovery redesign is not an improvement or some advanced technique. They threw away decades of world building of one of the most iconic species in all of fiction, and made them ugly, muddy, immobile, unrelatable and just bad. To complain is not a petty nitpick. They look like bloated fish. If you can enjoy the new shows, I have no problem with that. But I would disagree about Seven as well. She doesn’t look or act anything like Seven. Seven was brilliant. A scientist, who was also science itself. She spoke differently (her Borg accent, if you want to look at it that way) and carried herself differently. This new character is just a generic, bland character. Even Jeri Ryan said that she didn’t see Seven in there. Again, I’m glad you can enjoy this stuff. I just can’t.

That’s fine, and don’t get me wrong – I don’t like the new Klingon look. It just doesn’t bother me that much. It just adds to the mythos of their ever evolving look in my mind. Maybe there was just an unforeseen issue with the cure Dr. Phlox developed.

As for Seven’s character, I think it would have been very depressing if her character was the same as in Voyager. Her whole arc on the show was about the journey from Borg drone to human. I would certainly hope that 20 more years living as a human would further bring out her humanity.

and oh remember micheal dorn first played worf in the search for spock, and then when they were about to do a new tv show they brought him back

What do you mean Seach for Spock?

If you mean Undiscovered Country, that Worf was TNG Worf’s grandfather, Mogh’s father.

That’s….the exact opposite of the truth. Michael Dorn played Colonel Worf in Star Trek VI as a reference to Mogh’s father, his grandfather.

Yep during season 3 of tng I believe

You were probably pissed about a female captain when VOY premiered “because of politics or whatever.”

Happy to the return of familiar faces.

Disappointed there wil only be one more season.

Huzzah! Can’t wait.

This is great news but if these STNG characters are returning does that mean that the current cast goes thier separate ways after this season? It seems that by making this known the producers are clearly sticking to thier notion of wrapping up Picard’s story by the end of season 3. I read that STP could continue after season 3 if Sir Patrick Stewart wanted to do so. I would like a longer run to ST Picard. I can understand though a 3 season run if the producers feel that they told a completed story.

If there’s enough there to continue the story without Patrick Stewart they’ll spin the rest of those characters off into their own path of stories like they’re doing with Discovery and Brave New Worlds.

Jerry Ryan tweeted a few weeks ago that shooting on Season Three has been completed.

I really hope Q sends them to the Stranger Things alternate reality in Season 3. The prospect of Jeri Ryan and Millie Bobbie Brown meeting in an old 80’s 7-11 would blow everyone’s mind. Gotta keep it “edgy” or the younger generation won’t wanna watch it, right?

Would Love To See The Original Cast Of Star Trek Next Generation Together Again One Last Time, But Can’t Afford Paremont +, Wish It Was On Regular TV.

Fans of Star Trek: The Next Generation and Picard might want to look into the audiobook Fan Fiction: A Mem-Noir, by Brent Spiner who pays Data and the Soong doctors. It’s a totally fictional memoir surrounding a mystery involving a crazy Star Trek fan back when they were filming the show. I specifically recommend the audiobook because it’s narrated by Spiner himself, and his ST:TNG co-stars all voice their dialogue. And you know Levar Burton must be a really nice guy, good friend and have a healthy sense of humor to sign up to portray himself like that.

Looking forward to the last couple of seasons!!

Wonderful!!!!!

So exciting – the gangs all getting back together!!!

OMGGGGGGGGGG!!!! This is the best sci-fi news ever (well, right up there with a refreshed Babylon 5)!! Awesome! Awesome! Can’t wait! Kudos to everyone with their hands in on this decision (obviously Patrick Stewart had everything to do with this Season 3 decision. Brilliant Sir Patrick, Brilliant!!)

The perfect gift for the TNG fans…….decades later. How wonderful. Thank you so much.

It’s a shame they didn’t get Colm J. Meaney to return as Miles O’Brien. And im still holding out hope for a secret appearance by Kate Mulgrew.

No Wil Wheaton, no party.

I didn’t realize it was ending with S3.

Me neither… it’s a bit disappointing hearing that, though it’s understandable with Patrick Stewart’s age.

I think that’s terrific, and I hope they take over and it becomes like a new season of TNG, but if they can do this, why can’t they bring back William Shatner and do one more story with Captain Kirk, getting a better ending than he got in Generations? It’s Star Trek and sci-fi, so death need not be the end, and with de-aging technology, Shatner’s age need not be an issue. Even if it’s on TV with a limited run, it would be awesome and a nice thing for fans of the original series.

Heck yeah! I’m there for it.

Why does it have to be a final season?????

Most Popular

You may also like.

By providing your information, you agree to our Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy . We use vendors that may also process your information to help provide our services. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

LeVar Burton Makes ‘Star Trek: Picard’ Debut and Clarifies If Geordi Was Already a Father During ‘Nemesis’

Christian blauvelt.

• Share on Facebook
• Share to Flipboard
• Share on LinkedIn
• Show more sharing options
• Submit to Reddit
• Post to Tumblr
• Print This Page
• Share on WhatsApp

LeVar Burton never thought he’d play Geordi La Forge again.

He never even thought there’d be an onscreen “Next Generation” reunion after “Star Trek: Picard” was announced four and a half years ago. On that day, August 4, 2018, when Patrick Stewart took the stage at the Star Trek Las Vegas convention to say that the later life of his beloved captain would be explored in a follow-up series, Burton and Jonathan Frakes were excitingly peering out from backstage to support their friend as he had his moment. But Burton never expected to get in uniform as La Forge once more.

“In fact, quite the opposite,” Burton said in a new interview with IndieWire. “We were quite certain that we would not be a part of ‘Picard.’ This was Patrick’s opportunity to play the character, but to play stories that were in large measure unrelated to that part of his life in terms of how close we were on the Enterprise-D. So this came as a huge surprise, but mostly because we had all believed that that ship had sailed, that the opportunity to close the circle, if you will, had passed a long time ago.”

Related Stories ‘Colin from Accounts’ Season 2 Sets U.S. Premiere Date for Quirky Aussie Comedy on Paramount+ ‘Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ Wants to Bring a ‘Punk Rock’ Aesthetic to the Franchise

It was about 10 years ago that Burton gave up hope of a proper “Next Gen” sendoff. Now, he and his fellow castmates, not seen all together onscreen since the 2002 film “Star Trek: Nemesis,” finally have one on “Picard.” And he’s made his return to Starfleet alongside his actual daughter, Mica Burton, who’s cultivated a following in the geek and gaming world herself as a host and professional cosplayer. Mica Burton plays Geordi’s daughter, Alandra, on the show alongside Ashlei Sharpe Chestnut as his other daughter, Sidney.

“The more I talk about it the more I realize just how much it means to me that my career has come to the point where I felt comfortable sharing space with my dad in a way that I didn’t feel like I would be looked at as the ‘nepo baby,’ when ‘Picard’ Season 3 came around,” Mica Burton said.

“I mean, what are the odds that these stars have aligned that way? Because my whole purpose in my career when I started out in the geek world was to not be LeVar Burton’s daughter. I wanted to be Mica Burton. Mica Burton the gamer, Mica Burton the cosplayer, Mica Burton the host. But now being able to feel comfortable having this acting role with him as I pursue my acting career to its fullest, it’s just so freaking cool. The universe really gave us a present. I’m a happy little nerd.”

The stars aligned also in having Terry Matalas as showrunner for Season 3, since he’s a self-described fan of the “Berman-verse”: the astonishing explosion of “Star Trek” from the late 1980s through 2005 overseen by producer Rick Berman once Gene Roddenberry handed him the keys to “The Next Generation.” Matalas and his writers’ room know their “Trek” lore so well that the very names of La Forge’s daughters, Alandra and Sidney, actually come from the alternate future presented in the “Next Gen” series finale “All Good Things…” in which he mentions being the father of daughters named… Alandra and Sidney.

“I will tell you that Mica gave me for Father’s Day a framed picture,” Burton said. “And there are two images, one of Geordi and one of Alandra, and it’s a beautiful thing.”

“It is my favorite part that we are both in Engineer Gold,” Mica added.

LeVar is quick to settle a question that fans have raised: Given the age of Geordi’s daughters, was the character a father by the time of “Nemesis” 20 years ago? Or even by the time of “First Contact” or “Insurrection”?

“No, I believe that this part of Geordi’s life came after ‘Nemesis’ and ‘Insurrection,'” Burton said. “That it was when Geordi made a decision to get out of the skies and teach that he settled down long enough to establish roots in a family situation, to get married and to have kids.”

Season 3 really has become a “Next Gen” reunion , but more than that: not about reliving the past, but about seeing where beloved characters are in the present after a long absence.

The Burtons make their debut in the sixth episode of the season, “The Bounty,” the title of which has a very unexpected inspiration from another part of “Trek” lore. Geordi is now Commodore La Forge, the officer in charge of the Fleet Museum — the old Spacedock turned “final resting place” for some of Starfleet’s most iconic starships — and he’s a teacher. He’s still an engineer at heart, though, and there’s a funny moment where Todd Stashwick’s Capt. Shaw, a former engineer himself, geeks out over meeting Geordi the way Donald Glover did on “Community” about meeting LeVar .

The reverence fans hold for LeVar is powerful, beyond that of usual celebrity: it’s a testament to the powerful effect of not just “Next Gen” but “Reading Rainbow” and “Roots” on viewers’ lives. That he’s revered as an educator and communicator, someone who people looked up to when they were growing up, as well as an actor. So he knew just how to react to Capt. Shaw’s unglued fanboy moment.

“In the acting profession we call it sense memory. And I was able to draw on my experiences as LeVar Burton while being LeVar Burton playing Geordi La Forge in that moment with Todd.”

Season 3 has been a dream come true for “Next Gen” fans , with many now hoping that their sendoff in “Picard” isn’t that final, final sendoff after all. But if it is, LeVar says it will be satisfying.

“We went into this thinking this is the chance to close the circle that we didn’t get decades ago, right? We didn’t know that our last film was going to be our last film. And so this is an unexpected gift. And yeah, I feel like I can absolutely walk away satisfied, really satisfied. I feel full.

“And the response to this season of ‘Picard’ has been clamorous in its affirmation that this is pretty special TV. They don’t want to let go of this new cast of the next generation of ‘The Next Generation.’ And so, one never knows, do one? I’m absolutely fine with this being the end.

“And if it isn’t, that’d be cool too.”

One can dream.

Most Popular

You may also like.

‘Star Trek: Picard’ Season 3 Cast and Character Guide (Photos)

Jean-Luc Picard and the crew of the Enterprise embark on one final adventure in space

The crew of the “U.S.S. Enterprise” reunites for one final mission in Season 3 of “Star Trek: Picard.”

It marks the first time the entire cast from “Star Trek: The Next Generation” (“TNG”) — Patrick Stewart, Jonathan Frakes, Brent Spiner, Gates McFadden, Marina Sirtis, LeVar Burton and Michael Dorn — have reunited on screen since 2002’s “Star Trek Nemesis.”

See what your favorite “TNG” cast members look like now.

Patrick Stewart as Jean-Luc Picard

Now retired and residing at his family vineyard, the Starfleet admiral is called into action for one final mission after receiving a distress call from Beverly Crusher.

Aside from Picard, Stewart is best known for playing Professor Charles Xavier in the “X-Men” movie franchise. His character recently crossed over to the MCU, appearing as a member of the Illuminati in “Dr. Strange and the Multiverse of Madness.”

Jonathan Frakes as William Riker

Picard calls upon his former first officer for assistance. Riker, no longer in command of the U.S.S. Titan and needing some time away from his family, jumps at the opportunity.

After “TNG,” Frakes appeared in numerous shows and hosted “Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction.” He’s also a prolific director, with episodes of “Roswell,” “The Librarians,” “Star Trek: Discovery” and even “Picard” under his belt.

Marina Sirtis as Deanna Troi

Troi is the former ship’s counselor and is married to Will Riker. They have a daughter, Kestra. As a half-Betazoid, she is able to read the emotions of others.

Sirtis (and Frakes) voiced lead roles in the animated series “Gargoyles.” She’s appeared in numerous shows in the U.S. and U.K. including “NCIS.” She reprised the role of Troi in Season 1 of “Picard.”

Brent Spiner as TBD

Data, the beloved android who served on board the Enterprise and perished in a battle against the Romulan warlord Shinzon. Whether Spiner is playing Data, his evil brother Lore, or some other being is to be determined.

Although his character Data was killed in “Nemesis,” Spiner has played various characters with familial connections to Data in other “Trek” series and films. He’s also known for playing Dr. Okum in the “Independence Day” films.

Michael Dorn as Worf

Worf is the former Enterprise security chief. Despite being raised by humans, his Klingon heritage imparts a strong sense of honor, particularly in battle.

After “TNG,” Dorn joined the cast of “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.” He’s appeared in more “Trek” shows than any other character. He’s also lent his voice talent to numerous shows.

LeVar Burton as Geordi La Forge

La Forge is the former Enterprise chief engineer. He is currently running the Starfleet museum. He also has two daughters in Starfleet.

Prior to “TNG,” Burton was the beloved host of “Reading Rainbow.” There was a campaign to have him replace Alex Trebek as the host of “Jeopardy,” and he even guest-hosted. Like Frakes, Burton has directed numerous episodes of “Trek” series.

Gates McFadden as Beverly Crusher

Crusher is the former Enterprise chief medical officer. She lost contact with her crewmates but reaches out to them in a time of need. She and Picard had a former romantic relationship that became a close friendship.

McFadden starred in “Marker” and “Mad About You” after her stint on “TNG.” She’s also reprised the role of Dr. Crusher on “Star Trek: Prodigy.”

Jeri Ryan as Annika Hansen/Seven of Nine

After being rescued from the Borg, Seven joined the crew of the U.S.S. Voyager. She later joined the Rangers, a space vigilante group, before re-enlisting in Starfleet. She is currently the first officer on the U.S.S. Titan, where she goes by Annika Hansen, her human name before assimilation.

Ryan wasn’t a part of the “TNG” cast. She joined “Star Trek: Voyager” in 1997. Her character was extremely popular, and she reprised her role in Season 1 of “Picard.” After “Voyager” Ryan starred in “Boston Public.”

Michelle Hurd as Raffaela “Raffi” Musiker

Musiker served with Picard late in his Starfleet career but burned out. She eventually helped him root out Romulan spies. She re-enlisted in Starfleet and joined the U.S.S. Excelsior crew, but has since taken on a special mission.

Hurd is best known for playing Monique Jeffries in “Law and Order: SVU” and Ellen Briggs in “Blindspot.”

Amanda Plummer as Vadic

Very little is known about the villainous Vadic. She captains the warship Shrike and has a grudge against Picard and the Enterprise crew.

Plummer, the daughter of legendary thesp Christopher Plummer, had had a long career on stage and screen. But her most memorable role might be playing “Honey Bunny,” one of the restaurant robbers in “Pulp Fiction.”

Ashlei Sharpe Chestnut as Sidney La Forge

La Forge is the eldest daughter of Geordi La Forge and the helmsman on the U.S.S. Titan.

Chestnut has had recurring roles in “Rap Sh!t” and “NCIS: Los Angeles.”

Todd Stashwick as Liam Shaw

Shaw is the no-nonsense captain of the U.S.S. Titan. He took over command from Will Riker. He previously served on the U.S.S. Constance, one of 40 ships destroyed in the Battle of Wolf 359 against the Borg and an assimilated Picard.

Stashwick is no stranger to the “Trek” universe, having appeared in “Star Trek: Enterprise” as Talok. He appeared in the sci-fi show “12 Monkeys” from 2016-18.

Ed Speleers as Jack Crusher

Speleers’ character is the son of Beverly Crusher and Jean-Luc Picard. He never knew his father while growing up.

Speleers played the title role in the fantasy film “Eragon,” and had a memorable stint playing Jimmy the handsome footman on “Downton Abbey.”

Michelle Forbes as Ro Laren

Ro served aboard the Enterprise as an ensign before defecting to the Maquis. She is back with Starfleet working in the Intelligence division. She is sent to interrogate Picard and Riker for treason.

Forbes previously appeared on “Star Trek: The Next Generation” and “Battlestar Galactica.”

Mica Burton as Ensign Alandra La Forge

Alandra is the youngest daughter of Geordi La Forge who works with her father at the fleet museum. She has an interest in engineering.

Burton is the real-life daughter of castmember LeVar Burton.

Daniel Davis as Moriarty

Moriarity was a hologram created to be a foil to Data’s Sherlock Holmes. He gained sentience and outwitted the Enterprise crew. Eventually, he was placed in a memory module to continue running but appears to have escaped his program.

Davis is best known for playing Niles, the sharp-tongued butler on “The Nanny.”

Tim Russ as Tuvok (doppleganger)

Tuvok was the former security officer aboard the U.S.S. Voyager. Seven of Nine turns to her former crewmate for information about the kidnapped Captain Riker.

Elizabeth Dennehy as Elizabeth Shelby

Admiral Shelby is the commander-in-chief of the U.S.S. Enterprise F during the Frontier Day celebration. She previously served aboard the Enterprise D during the Federation’s earlier encounter with The Borg.

• Search Please fill out this field.
• Manage Your Subscription
• Give a Gift Subscription
• Newsletters
• Sweepstakes
• Entertainment
• Scripted TV Shows

'Star Trek: TNG' Cast Says 'Cynical' Gene Roddenberry Would Have Been 'Thrilled' with 'Picard' Series

"We're serving his vision," Star Trek: Picard star Jonathan Frakes exclusively tells PEOPLE of the franchise's late creator

The cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation is reflecting on the franchise's legacy — and what its late creator, Gene Roddenberry, would've thought about Picard — as the Paramount+ series comes to a close.

Speaking to PEOPLE at the Picard finale screening on Thursday — the same day that the series finale dropped on Paramount+ — cast members of TNG say not only did reuniting for the third season of the sequel series deepen their already close bond, the critical acclaim and fan appreciation would've delighted the franchise's creator.

"He'd surely be thrilled, right?" Jonathan Frakes , who plays Will Riker and directs several episodes of the season, says of Roddenberry, who died at age 70 in October 1991 following a series of health complications.

Despite Roddenberry's visionary, optimistic view of the future that informed both the original Star Trek series that launched in 1966 and its TNG follow-up that debuted in 1987, Frakes, 70, says the legendary writer-producer could also see the world — especially that of cutthroat Hollywood — in a harsher light.

"Even as cynical a man as he was, I'm sure he'd be thrilled," the actor notes at the Los Angeles event, where he was joined by his longtime co-stars Patrick Stewart , Brent Spiner , LeVar Burton , Gates McFadden , Michael Dorn and Star Trek: Voyager veteran-turned- Picard regular Jeri Ryan . "And I think we're serving his vision."

"A lot of his principles, of a world where there's no sexism and no racism and no money and people respect each other, I think that's at the core of this whole idea," Frakes adds. "And I think it's part of it's the key to the success of the whole thing."

The bond that the TNG cast shared "was almost immediately deep, and always deep," says Stewart, 82, who plays the spinoff's titular Starfleet admiral Jean-Luc Picard.

"There was a connection that we all made and which was nurtured and encouraged and survived," he explains of the seven seasons of the series and the additional four theatrical films. "I've worked with a lot of companies, groups of actors in plays that ran for a year or in other shows, television shows that have run for more than a year, and nothing has had the impact on my life like this."

Frakes was in agreement. "Unlike some shows, we were a family, we all got this job that sort of changed our lives at the same time," he says. "LeVar was already a big star; Wil Wheaton was a bit of a star; but the rest of us were trying to cobble together our careers and this was this was the career-changing job for all of us. And I think we all appreciate it at the same time. And still do."

Throughout that long, shared history, the central cast — which also includes Marina Sirtis, who plays Deanna Troi, but was unable to attend the screening — has stayed in near-constant contact, through conventions, personal appearances "and just life ," says Burton, 66, who plays Geordi LaForge.

But working again as an ensemble two decades after the final TNG film premiered strengthened their bond even further.

"I think it brings us closer together, without a doubt," says Frakes. "There's something about being 20 years older than the last time we were all together that I don't think it just helped me, I think it helped all of us. The characters are deeper… And it was quite thrilling."

"We all felt, 'Wow – pinch ourselves! Is this really happening?'" recalls McFadden, who plays Dr. Beverly Crusher. "That we not only are in each other's lives, but that we can actually be working together."

The cast's legendarily playful off-screen rapport — singing, dancing and joking between takes — returned "immediately," McFadden, 74, says, "because we're all close friends — and that's really genuine. We all know what's happening in each other's lives, pretty much, and so it was a joy to do it."

Adds Spiner, 74, who plays the android officer Data: "I don't think there was any apprehension whatsoever about whether we were all going to have fun together, because we do see each other all the time."

"If we were any closer, it would be obscene," he notes with a laugh. "We're as close as you can get already, so it just laid it in for a little bit more."

Ryan, who plays Seven of Nine, says it was "phenomenal" to watch the TNG cast at work after a long stint as part of the extended Star Trek family.

"I've been friends with all these guys for twenty-something years since I started on 'Voyager,' so I've known them all socially. I've worked with a couple of them as directors over the years on different projects. But to all be on set together and to be actually working together as actors was such a treat and just such a joy," says the actress, 55. "I mean, they're all goofballs and cutups and it was absolute chaos most of the time, but it was so much fun!"

Even though Dorn expected the established chemistry to easily reemerge, the actor, who plays the Klingon officer Worf, says he was still surprised to discover "halfway through the filming, I was having a blast – like a real blast!"

He even found himself reliving warm memories when he watched the penultimate episode, in which the cast reassembled on a revived version of the Bridge of the starship from TNG , Enterprise-D .

"When I saw the Bridge on the screen, that, to me, was a moment, because it transported me back to the first day that I saw the Bridge," recalls Dorn, 70. "I wasn't in makeup, I was just there visiting, basically after a makeup test, and it was this feeling of comfortableness of familiarity. Like your home – your living room or something. And that's what I felt watching at this time. And seeing all of us there, the same thing. It's a real surreal moment."

Burton's 28-year-old daughter Mica — who joined the cast onscreen for the first time, playing Geordi's daughter Alandra — admitted she wasn't prepared to see her father's heartfelt response to reuniting with his old friends.

"Since I've grown up on sets, I've watched him direct. I've watched him act, and I was surprised that he was so emotional, honestly," she shares. "I was honored to be witness to that… I came in ready to work and I got very overwhelmed seeing him burst into tears on our first day at set. Everybody got really emotional, but when you've known somebody for almost 30 years and then they're on set with you, it's a pretty emotional time. So it was pretty cool to see that other side of him."

"It gave us an opportunity to play together on a level that brought back a lot of our youth and I think that it really reaffirmed for us that we don't suck at this," notes Burton, who like the rest of the cast did not rule out future reunions or appearances as their beloved characters, but was utterly satisfied with their latest experience together.

"If nothing else happens after this, I'm good," he adds. "This was unexpected, and a great gift."

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Star Trek: Picard season 3 is now streaming on Paramount+.

Related Articles