James McAvoy Pitched 'Star Trek' Prequel Series Centered on Young Picard

James McAvoy attempted to extend his track record of inheriting Patrick Stewart roles into the Star Trek universe, pitching a limited prequel series centered on a younger Jean-Luc Picard.

Speaking in comments reported by Deadline, the actor disclosed that the project carried the title Mutiny on the Stargazer. McAvoy noted that the concept gained traction internally and came close to entering development before ultimately stalling.

The proposed storyline would have explored Picard's early command of the USS Stargazer, a pivotal assignment referenced throughout Star Trek lore prior to his captaincy of the USS Enterprise in Star Trek: The Next Generation.

McAvoy famously took over the role of Professor Charles Xavier from Stewart in 20th Century Fox's X-Men prequel film series, beginning with 2011's X-Men: First Class. Referencing his history with Stewart's iconic filmography, McAvoy joked to Deadline that his underlying ambition in Hollywood seemed to be playing younger versions of the veteran British actor.

For Paramount and franchise steward Alex Kurtzman, prequel storytelling has served as a core engine for the modern Star Trek television slate, driving series such as Strange New Worlds. However, as Hollywood Tomorrow notes, greenlighting high-concept star vehicles tied to legacy characters presents steep creative and budgetary hurdles, particularly while Paramount manages shifting streaming expenditures across its sci-fi portfolio.

While McAvoy's Stargazer pitch remains on the shelf, Stewart recently concluded his own return to the signature role with the third and final season of Paramount+'s Star Trek: Picard.