William T. Riker in Star Trek Picard

Even More ‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’ Favorites Will Return for ‘Picard’ Season 3

Set your phasers to "cry"

Happy First Contact Day everyone! Trekkies across the internet are celebrating the anniversary of when Vulcans first made contact, but now we have even more exciting news to share! And it involves our favorite vineyard-owning, earl grey-loving captain.

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Currently, we are in the midst of Star Trek: Picard season 2, and our beloved captain and his new team are stuck in 2024 trying to untangle a dangerous mystery that threatens the timeline and surrounds one of Picard’s ancestors. Q is running amok and the Borg queen is causing havoc! 

This of course means that today is the perfect time for Paramount+ to release some exciting news about the third and final season! In a press release sent out today, season three showrunner Terry Matalas said this about the final season:

“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. 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!”

That’s right everyone, set your phasers to cry. I know I did when I heard Levar Burton’s voice coming through my speakers as Geordi LaForge! And not just Burton, but several of The Next Generation’s core cast will be returning as well in an epic final send-off to these beloved characters. Here’s who will be returning.

LeVar Burton as Geordi La Forge

LeVar Burton as Geordi La Forge
Image: CBS/Paramount

Levar Burton will be returning as Geordi La Forge, the helmsman turned Chief Engineer with a heart of gold! What has La Forge been up to in his days post-Enterprise and has he finally found true love not with a Holodeck program? Fingers crossed!

Michael Dorn as Worf

Worf sipping a cup of tea
Image: CBS/Paramount

The hardest working Klingon in the Alpha Quadrant! Michael Dorn will once again be putting on the prosthetics to play our beloved, surly Worf. I can’t wait to see what Worf has been up to after his Deep Space Nine experience!

Gates McFadden as Beverly Crusher

Gates McFadden as Dr Beverly Crusher
Image: CBS/Paramount

The doctor is in! Gates McFadden will be returning as Beverly Crusher! The mother of Wesley, and a one time love of Picard, I can’t wait to see McFadden back in action and well, Crushering it.

Johnathan Frakes as Will Riker

Captain Will Riker
Image: Paramount

Frakes will be returning as Riker, who we got to see as a little treat in the later episodes of Picard season one, and in Star Trek: Lower Decks

Marina Sirtis as Deanna Troi

Marina Sirtis as Deanna Troi
Image: Paramount

And of course, that means that Marina Sirtis will also be returning with her Imzadi as our favorite Human/Betazoid Deanna Troi! We also last saw her at the end of Picard season one, but we know that she is always ready to help out her former captain.

Brent Spiner

Close up of Brent Spiner as Data
Image: CBS/Paramount

Brent Spiner will also be returning though his role is still a mystery. Data’s storyline concluded in season one, and he is currently playing an ancestor of Noonian Soong in Picard season two, so it is unclear who he might be playing in the final Picard season. In my heart of hearts I would love the resurrection of Lore, but that’s just because I love mess.

Who are you excited to see back in action? Any further TNG or Star Trek-at-large cameo requests?

(Image: CBS/Paramount)

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Brittany Knupper
Brittany is a lifelong Californian (it's a big state, she can't find her way out!) who currently resides in sunny Los Angeles with her gigantic, vaguely cat-shaped companion Gus. If you stumble upon her she might begin proselytizing about Survivor, but give her an iced coffee and she will calm down.