In Making It So, Patrick Stewart’s memoir, he shared that he had specific conditions before agreeing to return as Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: Picard. His conditions reflected both his deep respect for the character and his desire to take the story in a new direction. The main conditions were: 1. No return to The Next Generation style: Stewart did not want Star Trek: Picard to be a traditional reunion of the TNG crew or to simply recreate the past. He was adamant that the show must be different in tone, style, and character development. 2. A more grounded, character-driven story: He wanted the series to explore deeper, more personal and philosophical themes—focusing on who Picard is as an older man, rather than continuing the usual spacefaring adventures. 3. No uniform: One of his symbolic conditions was that Picard wouldn’t be shown wearing a Starfleet uniform, at least not at the start. This was to emphasize that the character had changed and was no longer part of Starfleet. 4. Creative involvement: Stewart also wanted to be involved creatively and have input in how Picard would be portrayed and how the story would unfold.

These conditions were made to ensure that Picard would be something new and meaningful, not just a nostalgic cash grab. While many fans appreciated this approach, some—especially those wanting a full TNG reunion or a more classic Star Trek vibe—were disappointed.