“There’s Always Hope”: Brent Spiner Explains The Status Of Jeri Ryan's Star Trek: Picard Legacy Spinoff

Brent Spiner says "there is always hope" that Star Trek: Picard season 3's proposed continuation, Star Trek: Legacy, will happen. Spiner reprised his iconic character, Data, in Star Trek: Picard season 3, where his android hero evolved into a human-like synthetic who can age and comes complete with emotions. After being killed off in Star Trek: Nemesis in 2002, Spiner's full-fledged comeback as Data was one of the highlights of Picard season 3's Star Trek: The Next Generation cast reunion.

Appearing as a guest on The Sackhoff Show, Brent Spiner was asked by host Katee Sackoff about whether there are any plans for him to play Data again. Spiner explained how Star Trek: Picard season 3 showrunner Terry Matalas tried to launch a spinoff centering on Jeri Ryan as Captain Seven of Nine, which was dubbed Star Trek: Legacy. Although Paramount+ didn't greenlight it, Brent thinks "it could still happen" at some point. Read Brent's quote and watch the video below:

[Terry Matalas] was trying to get a show off the ground that didn’t necessarily feature us [the Next Generation cast], but I think they wanted to continue the show with Jeri Ryan and some of the younger actors who were in the third season of Picard, who could carry a show, and it would have been great. And we would drop in from time to time, I think, was the idea.

It would have been interesting, and I think it could still happen. I don’t know for us, but for Jeri. They called it Legacy, and there’s always hope that that would continue. And I think the fans would like to see it. But there’s a lot of other stuff that the people who run Star Trek have planned.

Why Brent Spiner Feels There Is Still Hope For Star Trek: Legacy

Picard's Cast & Creative Team Still Want To Make The Jeri Ryan-Led Spinoff

Brent Spiner has played Data since Star Trek: The Next Generation premiered in 1987, and he has attempted to say farewell to his android alter ego for over 20 years. Yet Star Trek keeps finding a way to bring Data back, and the heroic synthetic is now not only back, but has achieved the humanity he has always craved. Given Brent's experiences as Data, he understands that Star Trek is about possibilities, and if he can come back as Data, then Star Trek: Legacy can also manifest some day.

As Brent Spiner pointed out, Star Trek's executive producers are focusing on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds and Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, which were already greenlit projects. With Paramount+ reducing its Star Trek output, and the uncertainty surrounding Skydance Media purchasing Paramount Global, Star Trek's future is in a period of wait-and-see. Brent is also correct that fans still want Star Trek: Legacy to happen, as do the actors and creative team behind Star Trek: Picard season 3.

Our Take On Whether Star Trek: Legacy Can Happen

Fans Who Want Star Trek: Legacy Should Stay Positive

It's notable that two years after Star Trek: Picard season 3 ended, showrunner Terry Matalas and his writers, Star Trek: Picard's actors, and the fans are still clamoring for Star Trek: Legacy to happen. Brent Spiner saying that the plan for Star Trek: The Next Generation's cast to "drop in from time to time" lines up with what others like Jonathan Frakes have said. Although Star Trek: Legacy would be about Captain Seven of Nine and her USS Enterprise-G crew, there would be occasional appearances from TNG's legends.

Star Trek fans should continue to show their commitment to Star Trek: Legacy happening. While no one can say exactly what will happen to the Star Trek franchise as a result of Paramount Global's sale to Skydance Media, those in charge of Star Trek hear what fans want, and are fans themselves. Star Trek: Legacy picking up where Star Trek: Picard season 3 left off is arguably the most desired Star Trek project, and it's also good to hear Brent Spiner is open to coming back again as Data if Star Trek: Legacy happens.