Star Trek: Picard producer Goldsman: “what’s happening culturally right now is resonant for us”

Star Trek: Picard season one preview art

While fans eagerly await the August 6th premiere of Star Trek: Lower Decks, along with season three premiere of Star Trek: Discovery, the writers at Star Trek: Picard are still fine-tuning the scripts while they gear up for their second season. Executive producer Akiva Goldsman spoke with Backstage.com recently, saying that despite physical production being on hold due to COVID-19, it’s a “blessing” to be able to continue working with the writing staff. Goldsman went to great lengths during the interview to reassure audiences that the writing staff is working hard to create a production that lifelong fans, as well as newcomers to Star Trek, will enjoy. 

The Star Trek franchise has always been known for promoting tolerance and diversity, and even though Star Trek: Picard is a bit darker than its forerunner, The Next Generation, the writers want to keep true to that tradition. “We fabricate the future we aspire to,” Goldsman told Backstage. “It’s multicultural, diverse, empathetic, democratic, and all the things that we who make Star Trek want it to be.” He added, “Certainly, what’s happening culturally right now is resonant for us and we’re trying to be very thoughtful and aware of how that speaks to storytelling.”

Part of what makes that storytelling have an impact on the viewer, according to Goldsman, is creating a sense of empathy. “I think that there’s something very interesting about that ability to generate empathy...Star Trek, in particular, has always been good at that,” Goldsman said, adding, “It’s sad and yet true that somehow, we can do things in fantasy and science fiction that we have more trouble doing in real life.”

You can read the full interview with Goldsman on Backstage.com. And while you’re waiting for season two of Star Trek: Picard to get going, you can brush up on the first season, streaming now on CBS All Access.