In a recent conversation with Screen Rant at the Saturn Awards, Wil Wheaton openly expressed his willingness to return to the ‘Star Trek’ franchise.
Despite taking a step back from on-camera acting, Wheaton signaled he would embrace the opportunity to reprise his role if the call came:
“I’m one of the only people from my generation of Star Trek contributors who gets to touch all the different Star Trek shows and still be active and part of this community. If that’s all I ever get to do, then it’s a gift and a blessing and something I’m endlessly grateful for. And having said all of that, as much as I have decided to just retire from on-camera acting and I feel so good about it and I’m happy about it, Star Trek is something I would absolutely come back for.”
In the interview, Wheaton also reflected on his journey with Star Trek, from being the young face of TNG to interviewing current cast members as a legacy member of the franchise.
Wheaton Has a Long History in the Star Trek Universe
Introduced in the late 1980s, Wheaton became a familiar face to Star Trek fans with his portrayal of Wesley Crusher. Beyond TNG, Wheaton made appearances in ‘Star Trek: Picard’ and lent his voice in ‘Star Trek: Lower Decks.’
Despite the mixed reactions to the character of Wesley Crusher, Wheaton has focused on the positive impact and the fan base that appreciates his contribution to the franchise. His departure from TNG was due to a scheduling conflict, yet he made a return in the 2000s and as recently as 2022 for cameo roles in ‘Star Trek: Nemesis’ and ‘Star Trek: Picard.’
‘Star Trek: The Next Generation,‘ where Wheaton’s journey began, aired from 1987 to 1994. It introduced a new generation to the ideals of the Federation with a fresh crew aboard the USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D). In recognition of its impact, the cast of TNG, including Wheaton, was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Saturn Awards in 2024.
As Wheaton looks forward, his potential involvement in future Star Trek projects, such as the hinted ‘Star Trek Legacy’ series, remains a topic of anticipation for fans. As seen on his IMDb profile, Wheaton is currently involved in the TV series ‘Grubbs.‘
