Could Patrick Stewart bring Picard back to Star Trek?

Captain Jean-Luc Picard could soon be exploring the universe once again. 

Plans are afoot for a new Star Trek series starring Sir Patrick Stewart, who played the spaceship captain in four feature films, and on TV in Star Trek: The Next Generation.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, two writer-producers from the recent CBS/Netflix series Star Trek: Discovery are involved with the planned series: Alex Kurtzman, who co-wrote the 2009 Star Trek film and 2013's Star Trek Into Darkness, and Akiva Goldsman, who won an Oscar with his screenplay for 2001's A Beautiful Mind.

Kurtzman has reportedly signed a $25 million five-year deal with CBS which will see him expand the sci-fi franchise with new spin-off shows and miniseries.

The 44-year-old producer is also taking charge of Star Trek: Discovery, after the programme's showrunners Aaron Harberts and Gretchen Berg were fired last week amid issues with the show's budget and reports of complaints from unhappy colleagues.

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Stewart, 77, recently hinted that he might be making a return to the Star Trek universe. When asked earlier this month if he had seen Star Trek: Discovery, he teased: "No, I haven't – but I may have good cause to look at it very soon."

Stewart appeared in 176 episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation, which ran for 1987-1994, becoming one of the most popular drama series on US television. More than 30 million viewers tuned in to watch the show's two-part finale.