Star Trek: Brent Spiner Won't Play Data Ever Again After Picard
[The following contains spoilers for Star Trek: Picard season 1]
Brent Spiner says he won’t play Data again after the character’s send off on Star Trek: Picard. Despite having already died sacrificing himself for Picard in Star Trek: Nemesis, Lt. Commander Data was actually a surprisingly important presence in season 1 of the new CBS All Access series starring Patrick Stewart as the famed Enterprise captain.
Indeed, the jumping-off point for the series’ plot involved one of the android Data’s offspring, Dahj (Isa Briones), finding her way to a retired Picard’s family vineyard and leading him into a mystery. After Dahj’s surprise death, it was revealed she had a twin sister named Soji who was also created using one of Data’s preserved positronic neurons. Later, Picard and Soji found their way to a world populated by synthetic organisms living with Altan Inigo Soong (Spiner), the son of Data’s creator Noonian Soong. In the Picard season 1 finale, Picard’s life was taken by a brain defect and his consciousness downloaded into a quantum simulation where he was reunited with Data, who asked for Picard to end his virtual life, giving Data a more peaceful second death (before Picard himself was resurrected by having his consciousness placed inside a new synthetic body).
Click the button below to start this article in quick view. Start nowPicard may indeed have been brought back to life in order to continue his adventures in season 2, but Data it seems will not be joining him. Speaking to TV Guide, Spiner said he will not play Data again after his final appearance on the season 1 finale. Spiner said he’s getting too old to play Data convincingly (being an android, Data of course doesn't age) and doesn’t want to stretch credulity by continuing with the character:
Though Spiner says he won’t play Data again, he does say he would be game to return for Picard season 2 as Altan Soong or any other member of the Soong family, even a female one (he cites Alec Guinness’ multi-character performance as every member of a family in the classic film Kind Hearts and Coronets as one of his inspirations). Spiner also says he’s glad Data got a happier ending after being brutally killed off in Nemesis.
Indeed, Data’s second demise was more touching and peaceful than his first, as his consciousness was allowed to experience mortality and finally pass on (after evidently being imprisoned inside a quantum simulation for over a decade). Bringing the character back for season 1 of Picard was arguably a stretch to begin with, but bringing him back for season 2 now would just be ludicrous, a fact Spiner seems very aware of. But, Spiner thankfully has a way to still be part of the action in Star Trek: Picard season 2 thanks to the introduction of Altan Soong. Data receiving a proper send-off and Spiner still having a part to play definitely represents a win-win for the actor and his many fans.
Source: TV Guide
Source: screenrant.com