James McAvoy has revealed that he once pitched a Star Trek series focusing on a young Jean-Luc Picard, a concept that would have seen him reprise his role as a younger version of Patrick Stewart's iconic character. McAvoy discussed the idea during an appearance on the Happy, Sad, Confused podcast.
McAvoy described his pitch as "Mutiny on the Stargazer," a limited series that would explore an early chapter of Picard's career as captain of the USS Stargazer. He explained that the concept stemmed from his admiration for Stewart and his desire to play younger iterations of characters portrayed by the veteran actor, similar to his role as Professor X in the X-Men film franchise.
"It was like a one-off standalone season when he took over as captain of the Stargazer, and what actually happened and the secret he's been holding his entire career," McAvoy stated. He noted that the Star Trek executives were initially receptive to the idea, but logistical challenges ultimately prevented the project from moving forward. Despite the setback, McAvoy expressed his continued fondness for the story he developed.
While McAvoy's vision for a younger Picard will not be realized, fans have seen the character's life explored in various Star Trek series, most recently in Star Trek: Picard, which concluded in 2023. Patrick Stewart himself has also shared his hopes for a potential follow-up film.