The third season of Star Trek: Picard was the big winner at the Saturn Awards this year. At the event, TrekMovie had a chance to talk to actors Michelle Hurd (Commander Raffi Musiker) and Todd Stashwick (who was nominated for his role as Captain Liam Shaw) about the series, and their possible futures in the potential Star Trek: Legacy spin-off.
Michelle Hurd talks Seven/Raffi in Legacy and AI characters in Trek
So you were on a different red carpet a couple of weeks ago and you said something to the effect of they’re going to do the Section 31 movie and then the Academy show and then they’re going to do the Legacy show. So, were you saying you know they’re going to Legacy next you are hoping they do Legacy next?
I’m hoping they’re going to do it. I’m trying to manifest it and just put it out there. Because I really feel like it’s something that has to happen. This can’t be the last time Raffi’s voice is spoken. I think everybody wants to see Jack Crusher and Seven of Nine and Raffi navigate the galaxy. I’ve been doing cons lately. I just came from a con and EVERYBODY asked me about Star Trek: Legacy. I just feel like we’re teed up. We’re ready to go, you know? Whenever I talk to Star Trek fans they are like, “When is Star Trek: Legacy happening?” I’m right there with you, manifesting. Write about it. Put it on social media because I would love to be there. There is no reason for us not to do it.
With Captain Seven and Raffi as first officer, will it be awkward? What is their Facebook relationship status at the end of Picard?
As always, it’s complicated. Maybe the two people aren’t on the same page. I’ll tell you this – Raffi loves Seven.
Terry talked about how Legacy would be an opportunity to tell more stories with legacy actors and characters, like maybe with Worf and Alexander, but the show doesnt’ necessarily need to include legacy characters every episode…
What Terry said is a whole other possibility, if we did that. That’s a whole series right there. We can also do that without having every legacy person come in. It’s full and rich, ready to go.
As a SAG-AFTRA negotiating committee member, you just through a big thing with AI for the strike. Recently William Shatner said he was cool with a virtual version of himself in Star Trek, but only after he is gone. There are so many legacy Star Trek actors, what do you think of this idea of Star Trek using AI to bring back all these characters in the future?
What I love is that we now have codified in our contract for AI technology is there is consent, compensation, and pension and health contributions. So if they wanted to bring back people, perhaps people that have passed, they have to talk to the estate and living relatives and get permission and get compensation, so everybody wins, if you think about it. So you can bring those people alive and do all that kind of stuff, but you are doing it in a correct way and everyone is being paid for it. If you think about it, our industry is the only one that has actually put guardrails on AI technology.
Let’s say you got a call and Paramount said they just wanted to do an insert scene with Raffi and instead of flying you up to Toronto they are going to use AI for you and your voice, and of course, they would pay you x amount. Would you do that, are you okay with that personally?
Well, the thing that I love about that possibility is say that I was shooting something in New York or in California, and they go “Oh, we really want to do this AI-generated scene with you, but you don’t have to be here.” I now negotiate how much they have to pay me to do that. And I still get to be in that LA shooting whatever scene I’m doing right there. So ostensibly, I’m doing two jobs at the same time. I think that’s pretty good as long as they paid me what I negotiated and I get the consent of what they’re going to do with the character.
Todd Stashwich on Trek fan love and bringing Shaw back for Legacy
At Trek Talks you joked with Terry about coming back from the dead for Legacy. So, how are they going to bring you back from the dead?
Very carefully and thoughtfully. [laughs] I have no idea. And there is no brought back, yet. If they ever choose to do [Legacy] there will be very skilled writers who know how to do it.
What have you heard about the likelihood of Legacy happening?
It’s all speculation. It’s “Schrödinger’s Legacy,” right? There’s a future where it happens and there’s a future where it doesn’t happen. I swear I have been told nothing. I can only be hopeful because I would love to keep telling stories.
So, Terry has told you if it does happen, you are coming back in some fashion?
Oh yeah. Like I said, I’m “Spock dead.”
Patrick Stewart as Picard, Jeri Ryan as Seven of Nine and Todd Stashwick as Captain Liam Shaw in “The Bounty” (Paramount+)
So you are nominated tonight for Picard which I believe is your first Saturn Awards nomination. How has being in Star Trek changed your life?
Well, it’s a 50-plus-year-old franchise and it is going and going and going. To join that family with that fan family is a tidal wave of love. It’s unbelievable.
What’s next for you?
I am currently co-writing on a Skydance New Media Captain America/Black Panther game. And I’m a big D&D guy so I have a big Kickstarter coming up for a Dungeons and Dragons-inspired thing. So keep your eyes peeled, nerds.
More from Todd and Michelle (and Terry Matalas) from post-show press room
Any favorite memes? Picard generated a few, certainly for Todd, …
Terry Matalas: He’s got his own memes.
Todd Stashwick: I have started a corporation, a meme corporation.
Michelle Hurd: I actually have a few, like from the first season with the bottle, but there’s a few.
Todd Stashwick: What’s ironic for me is I’m known for two memes from two different shows: Supernatural and Picard. And I’m saying “No” in both. From a “Yes, and…” guy from Chicago, it’s humbling.
Michelle Hurd: I will say while we were shooting, all of us in the cast we knew that when you guys saw this man that he was going to explode. Todd did such an amazing job as Shaw and I just have to give you that because that was something as a cast, we were all like, “You are killing it.”
Todd Stashwick: I was given a lot of room and amazing words. So that’s the recipe for success. It takes a team to build a character.
Sorry you lost out to Frakes, Todd. [For Best Supporting Actor Saturn Award]
Terry Matalas: The ongoing Frakes/Stashwich beef…
Todd Stashwick: It’s vicious. It’s gotten worse. It’s going to be the next Feud on FX.
He didn’t even show up to rub it in your face…
Todd Stashwick: Oh he will. I’ll get my own meme sent back to me.
More red carpet interviews from the Saturn Awards
TrekMovie spoke to more Star Trek presenters, nominees, and winners at the Saturn Awards, so come back for more interviews and updates.
Check out our earlier Saturn Awards interviews:
You can hear audio from these interviews and more in the latest All Access Star Trek podcast.
Keep up with news for the Star Trek Universe at TrekMovie.com.
