Michelle Yeoh’s Section 31 Is A Perfect Way For Star Trek To Introduce Young Picard

Michelle Yeoh's Paramount+ movie, Star Trek: Section 31, would be the perfect way for Star Trek to introduce a younger Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart). In Section 31, Yeoh reprises her role as Star Trek: Discovery's Emperor Philippa Georgiou. After the USS Discovery jumped to the 32nd century, Georgiou needed to return to a time when the Prime Universe and Mirror Universe were closer together. The Guardian of Forever (Paul Guilfoyle) sent Philippa Georgiou back to the early 24th century—also known as Star Trek's "Lost Era", between Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country and Star Trek: The Next Generation.

Few Star Trek projects have been set in the "Lost Era" before Star Trek: Section 31, but Star Trek: The Next Generation has occasionally referenced this elusive part of the Star Trek timeline. Star Trek: The Next Generation season 6, episode 14, "Tapestry", spends a significant amount of time in the "Lost Era", when Q (John de Lancie) takes Picard to his first year out of Starfleet Academy, in 2327. Wesley Crusher (Wil Wheaton) views a posthumous recording of his father, Lt. Commander Jack R. Crusher (Doug Wert), in TNG season 4, episode 2, "Family".

Section 31 Could Introduce Young Picard To Star Trek

Star Trek Would Have To Recast Young Jean-Luc Picard

Star Trek: Section 31 could introduce a younger version of Jean-Luc Picard to Star Trek. Depending on when Star Trek: Section 31 takes place, Picard would be either a Starfleet Academy cadet or in the early days of his Starfleet career. Promotional material doesn't include a younger Picard on Georgiou's Section 31 team, so if Picard is anywhere near Star Trek: Section 31's action, it's most likely going to be just a cameo. An Easter egg might reference Picard as an ensign aboard the USS Reliant, or even the young Captain of the USS Stargazer, if it's after 2333.

While Picard appearing in Star Trek: Section 31 is unlikely, it might not be that far out of bounds for Picard to have a history with Section 31. TNG's "Tapestry" showed that Jean-Luc was far more reckless in his youth than the distinguished USS Enterprise Captain that Picard eventually becomes. Section 31 agents aren't really allowed to retire or even refuse service, so Captain Picard's morals aren't really relevant if Ensign Picard jumped at the chance for espionage. Picard's secret mission in TNG season 6, episodes 10 & 11, "Chain of Command", might have even been a Section 31 operation.

Young Picard Allows Star Trek To Bring In Young Jack & Beverly Crusher

Picard And Jack Crusher Were Best Friends On The USS Stargazer

A young version of Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek would also pave the way for Star Trek to introduce younger versions of Dr. Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden) and Lt. Commander Jack R. Crusher. Star Trek: The Next Generation alluded to the strong friendship between Jean-Luc and Jack, which expanded to include Jack's fiancé, Beverly Howard. The trio of Jean-Luc, Jack, and Beverly would have certainly gotten up to their fair share of adventures before Lt. Commander Crusher's 2353 death. Admiral Picard recounts one such adventure to his son, also named Jack Crusher (Ed Speleers), in Star Trek: Picard season 3.

Younger versions of Picard have appeared in Star Trek before, but wouldn't be eligible to return. Tom Hardy's Shinzon was a clone of Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: Nemesis and David Birkin played a 12-year-old Jean-Luc in Star Trek: The Next Generation season 6, episode 7, "Rascals". Interestingly, both Hardy and Birkin are 47 years old in 2024—the same age that Patrick Stewart was when Stewart began playing Captain Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation. Star Trek: Section 31 would have to recast a much younger actor to play Picard in his 20s, so it's possible.