When Patrick Stewart was first offered the role of Capt. Jean-Luc Picard in a “Star Trek” adventure, he had no clue what that was. He had to ask his children.

Stewart got a call from his agent, “who said, ‘I’ve got two questions for you, Patrick. What were you doing at UCLA last night? And why should Gene Roddenberry (“Star Trek’s” creator) want to see you this morning?’ That was the beginning of it,” he recalls. “And then I had to turn to my kids ... and say, ‘Kids, kids. I think you watch “Star Trek.” Tell me about it. What was it? Did you like it? Was it any good at all?’ And, of course, they raved about it. … So I had a lot to catch up on. But as time went by, I began to see that ‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’ cast, crew, producers, writers, directors, were creating an expansion of Gene’s world.”

It was 1987 when Stewart first seized command of the USS Enterprise. And now, he is back at it on Paramount+.

“Star Trek: Picard” recently returned for its third and final season complete with the crew from “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” including LeVar Burton as Geordi La Forge, Gates McFadden as Dr. Beverly Crusher, Jonathan Frakes as William Riker, Brent Spiner as Data, Marina Sirtis as Deanna Troi and Michael Dorn as Worf. Returning from previous “Picard” seasons are Jeri Ryan as Seven of Nine and Michelle Hurd as Raffi Musiker.

Stewart, 82, wasn’t sure that he wanted to return to the character for this final season. “The most important thing for me was that it should not just simply look like a three-series reunion, because that would just simply be stepping back,” he says.

“And what excited me about starting work on ‘Picard’ was that ... I had lived nearly 35 years since I first put on the captain’s uniform. And there is no doubt that in that time, the world has changed. But I have changed too. I’m not the same person that I was then. If I were, they would never have cast me.

“And I wanted the series to show the impact of those years that had passed and how much one might change — and whether fears become greater or less. Right now, about the condition of the world, my fears are high and full of anxiety. So I wanted that to be incorporated.”

Stewart credits the positive values of “Star Trek” for its success. “I changed my views about how we should continue ‘Picard’ into season two and three because I saw how effective season one was. And that it was largely effective, I felt, because of its examination of the nature of change, of growth.

“And growth — whether it’s up or down — that is the world that we live in. And may he rest in peace, that is, ever since Gene first created the essential elements of what ‘Star Trek’ is, because (those values) remain. We respect them. We hold on to them and continue to pursue them because I believe, and I think I’m surrounded by people who believe the same thing, our world needs them.”

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