Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) saved the galaxy in Star Trek: Picard season 1 - and he's next going to lend his heroics in Star Trek: Discovery season 3. CBS has confirmed that Patrick Stewart will appear as Picard to join Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) and the crew of the U.S.S. Discovery in the 32nd century, thanks to the Starfleet legend becoming an android.

Star Trek: Picard has been a tremendous success for CBS All-Access, which recently dropped its paywall until April 23rd to allow non-subscribers to enjoy the newest Star Trek series for free. The secret is also out that at the conclusion of Star Trek: Picard season 1, Jean-Luc died from a fatal brain abnormality but was resurrected in a synthetic body called the Golem. With a new lease on life, Picard warped into the final frontier with his ragtag crew aboard the starship La Sirena. But before he returns in Star Trek: Picard season 2, which is expected to begin production later in 2020, Stewart will make a guest appearance on Star Trek: Discovery season 3, which is currently in post-production.

On Wednesday, CBS and Secret Hideout, the production company of Star Trek's executive producer Alex Kurtzman, released a press release that Star Trek: Discovery season 3 would see Patrick Stewart return to the role once more:

Star Trek: Picard successfully brought back Sir Patrick Stewart in his iconic role as Jean-Luc Picard and we couldn't be more pleased with how fans all over the world have thrilled to his latest adventure. But Picard's new journeys are just beginning and now, he's making his boldest jump yet: 930 years into the future! The cast and crew of Star Trek: Discovery season 3 couldn't be more excited to work with Sir Patrick, and vice-versa, and we all look forward to making Star Trek history together.

While details about Stewart's guest role in Star Trek: Discovery are scarce, Kurtzman indicated that his appearance would happen later in season 3 but may involve a multi-episode arc. In the third season of the flagship CBS All-Access Star Trek series, Michael Burnham and the Discovery have arrived in the 32nd-century, which is the farthest era the franchise has explored. There, they find that the United Federation of Planets is a shell of the great empire it once was and the time-tossed heroes attempt to re-ignite the flame of Starfleet. It seems this is where Jean-Luc Picard comes in, which would thematically tie into how Stewart's legendary hero helped Starfleet rediscover its missing core values at the end of Star Trek: Picard's first season.

One big question fans are likely to have is how Picard could survive until the 32nd century since his new android body was designed to age normally and not make him immortal. However, this is Star Trek, and there is any number of sci-fi trickery that could be employed to make Picard's guest shot happen.

On his Instagram, where Stewart has been delighting fans by reading a sonnet by William Shakespeare every day to help those in self-quarantine due to the global coronavirus pandemic, he briefly addressed his upcoming appearance on Star Trek: Discovery season 3:

Well, it seems the news is out! All I'll say is I'm delighted to have worked with the cast and crew of the 'Disco', who are all tremendous actors and do credit to the Star Trek family. But I can guarantee you have no idea what's coming so prepare for more surprises ahead!
Jonathan Frakes, who is directing episodes of Star Trek: Discovery, has said that season 3 has a more "optimistic tone", in keeping with the vision of Gene Roddenberry, which makes Picard a perfect fit as the symbol of the classic Star Trek philosophy. However, castmembers Wilson Cruz and Anthony Rapp previously hinted that Star Trek: Discovery season 3 might be delayed because of VFX being completed by the crew working from home, which could explain why CBS hasn't announced a release date for Star Trek: Discovery season 3 yet.