Summary
- Wil Wheaton returns as Wesley Crusher in Star Trek: Prodigy season 2.
- Showrunners Kevin and Dan Hageman bring Wheaton back as a mentor with a unique twist.
- Coordination between Prodigy and Picard allowed for Wesley's cameo in Picard season 2 finale.
Wil Wheaton returns as Wesley Crusher in Star Trek: Prodigy season 2, and executive producers Kevin and Dan Hageman explain why and how Wheaton returned as Star Trek: The Next Generation's former boy genius. Wheaton last portrayed Wesley in a brief cameo during Star Trek: Picard season 2's finale. However, Star Trek: Prodigy season 2 makes Wesley, who has cosmic powers as the Traveler, integral to its central crisis involving the possible doom of every Star Trek timeline. Wheaton's comeback as Wesley Crusher is undoubtedly one of the joyous highlights of Star Trek: Prodigy season 2.
In an exclusive interview with Screen Rant about Star Trek: Prodigy season 2, showrunners Kevin and Dan Hageman explained why they brought back Wil Wheaton and their vision for how Wesley Crusher as the Traveler fits into the show. Read their quote below:
Kevin Hageman: He's the original Prodigy! So we're like, it'd be such a perfect fit. And seeing how he just walks off the screen in Next Generation, we're like, 'Why isn't anyone using [Wesley]?' Everyone seemed afraid to touch him, and to bring that character back. I'm like,'Let's do something great with him. Let's make him a wonderful mentor, but a little scatterbrained and a little untrustworthy.
Dan Hageman: A little Doctor Who, a little Willy Wonka...
Kevin and Dan Hageman also revealed that Wil Wheaton's role was already "down the line" in terms of writing Wesley Crusher into Star Trek: Prodigy season 2 when Star Trek: Picard showrunner Terry Matalas contacted them about including Wesley in Patrick Stewart's series. Prodigy and Picard's creative teams coordinated Wesley making a cameo in Star Trek: Picard season 2's finale, but Star Trek: Prodigy season 2 would utilize Wil Wheaton's talents and his Traveler character to their fullest. Read the Hagemans' quote below:
Dan Hageman: We had talked to Terry Matalas about what they were doing with Picard. He had contacted us because he knew we were playing with Wesley, and they were going to have Wesley in Picard. And so, we just kind of lined it up. He's got a brother and that's something that we can put into the show. So it was all Kismet.
Kevin Hageman: I think they were trying to be respectful because they knew that we were already down the line. We had written a whole season with him in it. And so they're like, 'let us have a little bit of him too.'
Wil Wheaton's Wesley Crusher Comeback In Star Trek: Prodigy Was Worth The Wait
Prodigy season 2 even includes the Crusher family reunion that wasn't in Star Trek: Picard
Star Trek: Prodigy season 2 certainly understands that Wesley Crusher is, indeed, the "original Prodigy" and took full advantage of Wesley's abilities as the Traveler. It was Wesley who implemented a far-reaching but dangerous plan to combat the reality-eating menace of the Loom while guiding the heroic young crew of the USS Protostar to reset the paradox timeline they were living in. Wesley unexpectedly turned out to be an ideal mentor throughout Star Trek: Prodigy season 2's "timey-wimey" crisis, and it's clear from Wil Wheaton's exuberant performance that he enjoyed himself playing Wesley Crusher like never before.
Wesley Crusher teased the greater destiny of the crew of the USS Protostar, which can only happen if they stay together.
Star Trek: Picard season 3 lacked Wesley reuniting with his mother, Dr. Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden), and meeting his half-brother, Jack Crusher (Ed Speleers), but Star Trek: Prodigy season 2 revealed the Crusher family reunion actually happened 16 years before Picard season 3. Even in animation, Wheaton's Wesley seeing his "space mom", McFadden's Beverly, again, was as heartwarming as fans hoped. And it doesn't preclude Wesley and Jack meeting as adults in a future Star Trek. Hopefully, the Traveler will be needed again if Star Trek: Prodigy season 3 happens, and Wesley Crusher can help save the multiverse once more.
