James McAvoy says he pitched a Star Trek series about a young Picard
On Josh Horowitz's Happy Sad Confused podcast, James McAvoy said he pitched a Star Trek show about a young Jean-Luc Picard, the character Patrick Stewart plays. He said it didn't go ahead because of "logistical issues".
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The story, neutrally told
Centre · 2James McAvoy said on Josh Horowitz's Happy Sad Confused podcast that he pitched a Star Trek series in which he would play a younger version of Jean-Luc Picard, the character played by Patrick Stewart. Screen RantN “Appearing on Happy Sad Confused, James McAvoy told host Josh Horowitz that he pitched “a whole story of young Picard that I love”” Read at Screen Rant ↗ Radio TimesN “The Scottish actor appeared on Josh Horowitz’s Happy Sad Confused podcast” Read at Radio Times ↗ Centre · 2McAvoy said the story covers the period when Picard took over as captain of the USS Stargazer, what really happened then, and a secret Picard has held throughout his career. Radio TimesN “followed the captain when he took over as captain of the Stargazer, and what actually happened, and the secret that he’s been holding his entire career.” Read at Radio Times ↗ Screen RantN “when he took over as captain of the Stargazer and what really happened, and the secret that he’s been holding his entire career.” Read at Screen Rant ↗ Centre · 2Radio Times reports that McAvoy called the pitch a stand-alone series titled "Mutiny on the Stargazer" and said he put it to the Star Trek team. Screen Rant describes it as "a one-off season". Radio TimesN “he had even pitched a stand-alone series called "Mutiny on the Stargazer" to the Star Trek team” Read at Radio Times ↗ Screen RantN “James pitched “a one-off season,” but it didn't happen due to “logistical issues.”” Read at Screen Rant ↗
Centre · 1McAvoy said the people he pitched to "were well into it", but "logistical issues" meant it could not be made, and added "We nearly did it". Radio TimesN “"I just pitched it to them, talking to them, and they were well into it, but we had logistical issues that meant we couldn’t do it,"”“"We nearly did it," he said” Read at Radio Times ↗ Centre · 1McAvoy also said: "All I really want to do in my career is play young versions of Patrick." Screen RantN ““All I really want to do in my career is play young versions of Patrick.”” Read at Screen Rant ↗ Centre · 2McAvoy already played the younger Professor Charles Xavier, a role Stewart originated, in the X-Men films, starting with 2011's X-Men: First Class. The two shared the screen in 2014's X-Men: Days of Future Past. Screen RantN “Stewart originated the role of Professor X and appeared in several films before McAvoy was cast as the younger Xavier in 2011's X-Men: First Class.” Read at Screen Rant ↗ Radio TimesN “playing Professor X / Charles Xavier in the X-Men prequel movies” Read at Radio Times ↗
Centre · 1Radio Times notes that in 2020, during Covid lockdown, McAvoy parodied Star Trek in a homemade film, Star Force: Sci-Fisolation, with Caitriona Balfe. He later joked to Jimmy Fallon that if he wasn't hired he would make a young Picard film on his phone. Radio TimesN “during Covid lockdown in 2020, McAvoy parodied Star Trek in a homemade movie titled Star Force: Sci-Fisolation, teaming up with Outlander’s Caitriona Balfe.”“"If they don’t hire me I’m going to make it on my phone!" he joked.” Read at Radio Times ↗ Centre · 1Screen Rant says it is unclear when McAvoy made the pitch, or whether it went to Alex Kurtzman's Secret Hideout or Paramount+. It suggests that if he pitched during the 2018–2023 run of Star Trek: Picard, the rights situation around the character would explain why it went nowhere. It also says Skydance is moving Star Trek in a new direction, so the idea may still not go ahead. Screen RantN “It's unclear when McAvoy pitched his Picard idea, and whether it was to Alex Kurtzman's Secret Hideout or Paramount+.”“Skydance is currently moving Star Trek away from its 60 years of lore towards a new direction, so McAvoy's young Picard idea may still not fly in the current environment” Read at Screen Rant ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre2 outlets
- Framing
- Both outlets present light entertainment news built on McAvoy's podcast remarks. Screen Rant adds Star Trek lore and speculation about the franchise's direction. Radio Times focuses on McAvoy's long-running wish to play Picard.
- Emphasis
- Screen Rant stresses Picard's Stargazer history and the Skydance-era context. Radio Times stresses how close the project came and McAvoy's earlier Fallon and lockdown parody jokes.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Screen Rant doesn't give the "Mutiny on the Stargazer" title or the "we nearly did it" quote. Radio Times doesn't discuss the franchise's current direction or who the pitch went to. Neither includes a response from Paramount or Stewart.
- Charged language
- “intriguing”“iconic”
- For example
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“is an intriguing take” — Screen Rant
“The Scottish actor is on a mission to play one of Star Trek's most iconic characters.” — Radio Times
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- McAvoy made the comments on Josh Horowitz's Happy Sad Confused.
- He pitched a story about a young Picard centred on the USS Stargazer and a career-long secret.
- The project did not go ahead because of "logistical issues".
- McAvoy previously played the younger Professor X, a role originated by Patrick Stewart.
Where accounts differ
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How the pitch is described
- Centre
- Screen Rant calls it a "one-off season" and says it is unclear who received it. Radio Times calls it a stand-alone series titled "Mutiny on the Stargazer" pitched to the Star Trek team and says it "nearly happened".
James McAvoy person
McAvoy says he loves the young-Picard idea, pitched it, and was told the team was keen. He says it fell through on logistics, and that playing younger versions of Stewart is his main career aim.
“But I love that story, that I just go to bed and think about it at night.” — Radio Times
““All I really want to do in my career is play young versions of Patrick.”” — Screen Rant
Patrick Stewart person
Stewart is mentioned only as the actor who plays Picard and originated Professor X. Neither article reports a comment from him on the pitch.
“Stewart originated the role of Professor X” — Screen Rant
North America1 outlet
Screen Rant puts the pitch in the context of Star Trek rights and Skydance's new direction for the franchise.
“Skydance is currently moving Star Trek away from its 60 years of lore towards a new direction” — Screen Rant
Screen Rant
UK and Ireland1 outlet
Radio Times calls McAvoy "the Scottish actor" and stresses his long-stated ambition and earlier jokes about the role.
“James McAvoy has made no secret of his hopes of wanting to one day play Star Trek’s Jean-Luc Picard” — Radio Times
Radio Times
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre2 articles
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James McAvoy Pitched A Star Trek Show To Play Young Patrick Stewart Again
Neutral Reports McAvoy's pitch with Star Trek lore background and speculation about why it stalled and whether it could still happen.
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James McAvoy reveals intriguing details of his pitch for Star Trek series that "nearly happened"
Sympathetic Presents McAvoy as an actor on a mission to play Picard and stresses that the project "nearly happened".
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 16 Oct 00:53 First Screen RantN James McAvoy Pitched A Star Trek Show To Play Young Patrick Stewart Again
- 16 Oct 14:10 +13h 17m Radio TimesN James McAvoy reveals intriguing details of his pitch for Star Trek series that "nearly happened"
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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