Star Trek Showrunner Hints At A New Spin-Off For Two Fan-Favorite Characters
Is another spin-off on the way?
Season 2 of Star Trek: Picard concluded earlier this month, but the hype for the third and final season of the series has already begun. Almost the entire lead cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation is returning for season 3. While a number of regular cast members from the first two seasons of Picard are confirmed to be leaving, we’re still in the dark about a couple. Jeri Ryan (Seven of Nine) seems to have indirectly confirmed she’ll be in the third season, though we don’t know to what extent. We also haven’t heard if Michelle Hurd will be returning as Raffi. Regardless, according to some hints from the Picard showrunner, the pair might be getting their own series.
As reported by Trek Movie, the past week has seen some interesting activity on the Twitter account of Star Trek: Picard season 2 and 3 showrunner Terry Matalas (12 Monkeys, MacGyver). Including answering questions about Picard‘s final season, Matalas has been going out of his way to promote the idea of a Seven of Nine/Raffi spin-off series. Below are a number of fan tweets on the subject that the showrunner made sure to retweet, hence giving them a lot more exposure.
Of course, the fact that Terry Matalas is retweeting the wishes of fans is far from a confirmation that a spin-off is on the way. But at the very least it would indicate the showrunner thinks it’s a good guy. Not to mention that Seven of Nine remains one of the most popular heroes in Star Trek, and her character’s introduction is often credited with helping Star Trek: Voyager reach its final season on its own terms.
Seven and Raffi first start cozying up to each other in the season 1 finale of Star Trek: Picard, though things have clearly soured some by the season 2 premiere. At that point Raffi has rejoined Starfleet while Seven has continued her work with the vigilante group the Fenris Rangers, with no one but Cristóbal Rios’ holographic doubles to keep her company aboard La Sirena. The trials and tribulations they endure over the course of season 2 helps to bring them closer together, and they share a passionate kiss in the season finale.
Along with helping to promote the idea of a Seven & Raffi spin-off, Matalas has been sprinkling the inquisitive fanbase with details about the final season of Star Trek: Picard; some more definitive than others. He’s confirmed that the story of season 3 opens “slightly over a year” after those of season 2. He also said that when we see Picard writing a letter to someone in the season 3 teaser, “it’s a note to Geordi La Forge.” You can see that teaser below.
On other questions, Matalas is being more hilariously coy. For example, when asked about whether or not there would be more Star Trek cameos from Voyager and Deep Space Nine alums, Matalas used the perfect Robert Downey Jr. gif in response. You can see that tweet below.
Likewise, while he’s refused to reveal what ship the heroes will be traveling aboard in the final season, he has answered some vague questions about it. For example, he’s said it won’t be the Stargazer, and it has a “cool” name. Our money is on the Enterprise (whichever letter they’re up to in the early 25th century), but we’ll know for sure sometime around the premiere of Star Trek: Picard season 3.
