Speaking on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, McAvoy detailed his ambitious concept for a standalone season exploring the early career of the iconic Starfleet captain. The proposed series, which he had titled Mutiny On the Stargazer, would have delved into Picard's formative years as a commander, specifically focusing on his first command aboard the USS Stargazer. This vessel holds significant lore in the Star Trek universe, being the ship Picard commanded before the Enterprise-D, and the storyline would have aimed to unravel "the secret he’s been holding his entire career."
McAvoy is uniquely positioned to envision a younger version of a Patrick Stewart character, having famously played a youthful Professor Charles Xavier opposite Stewart's iconic portrayal in several X-Men films, including First Class and Days of Future Past. This history clearly influenced his pitch. He playfully acknowledged this recurring theme in his career, quipping, "All I really want to do in my career is play young versions of Patrick [Stewart]," during the interview. He further elaborated on the Mutiny On the Stargazer concept, describing it as a "one-off standalone season" designed to explore a critical, untold chapter in Picard's life.
The actor confirmed that the pitch garnered significant interest from the Star Trek producers, who were reportedly "into it." However, despite the compelling storyline and the creative enthusiasm, the series ultimately couldn't move forward due to unspecified "logistical issues." McAvoy openly expressed his enduring fondness for the concept, stating, "I love that story that I just got to bed and think about it at night,” underscoring the depth of his personal connection to the idea.
Patrick Stewart, of course, cemented Jean-Luc Picard's legacy across seven celebrated seasons of Star Trek: The Next Generation from 1987 to 1994, and later reprised the role for three acclaimed seasons of Star Trek: Picard from 2020 to 2023. While McAvoy's Stargazer pitch would have offered a fresh, live-action perspective on Picard's nascent command, the ship's early history has previously been explored in author Michael Jan Friedman's Star Trek: Stargazer book series, published between 2002 and 2004. McAvoy’s vision, however, would have brought this pivotal period to a new generation of viewers on television, potentially adding another rich layer to the beloved character's extensive backstory.
The idea of exploring a younger Picard remains a fascinating prospect for Star Trek fans, especially given McAvoy's proven track record of successfully embodying the youthful iterations of Stewart's formidable characters. Though Mutiny On the Stargazer may not have materialized, McAvoy's passion for the concept and the detail he invested in the pitch suggest a compelling narrative that could have resonated deeply with the Star Trek faithful, offering a glimpse into the making of one of Starfleet's most revered captains.