James McAvoy Pitched ‘Star Trek’ Series About “Young Picard,” Jokes “All I Really Want To Do” Is Play Young Patrick Stewart

James McAvoy says he pitched a standalone Star Trek series about a young Jean-Luc Picard, but logistical issues prevented it from going ahead. The idea matters because it would have explored an earlier chapter in the life of a character closely associated with Patrick Stewart, whom McAvoy has also succeeded as Professor X.

Called Mutiny on the Stargazer, the proposed season would have followed Picard taking command of the ship and revealed a secret he carried throughout his career. McAvoy said Star Trek representatives were interested, and that he still thinks about the story. Stewart played Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Picard; Picard’s first command was also covered in a six-book series published from 2002 to 2004.