I’m Sad That Patrick Stewart Never Got His Perfect Star Trek Reunion On HBO’s The Gilded Age

Published Nov 4, 2026, 1:30 PM EST John Orquiola is a TV Editor, Senior Writer, and Interviewer with a special focus on Star Trek. John has over 5,000 published articles at SR, and he has interviewed the biggest names in Star Trek on the red carpet and VIP events, among other beloved shows, movies, and franchises. I'm so sad that Patrick Stewart never got to have a perfect Star Trek reunion in HBO's The Gilded Age. Stewart passed away at 86 on October 28, 2026, a few days before The Gilded Age returned for season 4 on November 1st, instantly becoming the number one most-watched TV series in the United States and the world, per FlixPatrol. Sir Patrick Stewart brought his Royal Shakespeare Company pedigree to Star Trek: The Next Generation when he was cast as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in 1987. With his booming baritone and gravitas conveying wisdom, intellect, compassion, and stalwart leadership, Stewart redefined the model of a Star Trek captain on TV and in feature films. Stewart brought the same qualities to his other signature role, Professor Charles Xavier in the X-Men movies. Stewart was a remarkably versatile performer who was tremendously adept at comedy, but he is best known for playing worldly and refined gentlemen who inspire with their trustworthy leadership. Sir Patrick is at home in historical and period narratives as he is commanding a starship. Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes' The Gilded Age seemed an ideal fit for Stewart to have guest starred in, especially since he has a Star Trek movie connection. Patrick Stewart Never Got To Reunite With Donna Murphy In The Gilded Age Image via HBO Had The Gilded Age invited Patrick Stewart to guest star, he could have shared the screen once more with Donna Murphy, his co-star from 1998's Star Trek: Insurrection. Murphy plays Caroline Schermerhorn Astor, known simply as Mrs. Astor, in The Gilded Age. In Star Trek: Insurrection, Murphy was Anij, an immortal Ba'ku who was Captain Picard's only love interest in a Star Trek movie. Sir Patrick likely would have been cast as an original character if he'd appeared in The Gilded Age, rather than one of the real-life late 19th century figures who have appeared in the series. The Gilded Age has a British component as well thanks to Gladys Russell (Taissa Farminga) becoming Duchess of Buckingham, but Stewart acting opposite Murphy's Mrs. Astor would have been a Star Trek fan's dream re-pairing. Why didn't Patrick Stewart appear in The Gilded Age? There is no indication he was ever considered by creator Julian Fellowes, who may not even be aware of Stewart's Star Trek link to Donna Murphy. Meanwhile, the first two seasons of The Gilded Age conflicted with the production of Star Trek: Picard, which Stewart headlined. Patrick also preferred to film close to his Los Angeles home, while The Gilded Age lenses in New York. Still, if ever there was an actor ideally suited to be in The Gilded Age, it was Patrick Stewart. After Star Trek: Picard ended in 2023, perhaps Sir Patrick's failing health would have become an issue had Fellowes ever considered bringing Stewart into The Gilded Age in seasons 3 or 4. Stewart will play Professor X one final time in Avengers: Doomsday, but he otherwise did not take other acting roles in the three years before his death, although Patrick never considered himself 'retired' from performing. Star Trek: The Next Generation Visited The Gilded Age 34 Years Ago Star Trek: The Next Generation was set in the 24th century, but Captain Picard and the crew of the USS Enterprise-D did visit the gilded age, albeit on the other side of the United States. The 1992 two-parter "Time's Arrow" allowed the outer space heroes to time travel to 1893 San Francisco to search of shapeshifting aliens. 1893 is just a few years after The Gilded Age's timeframe, which began in 1883 and is now in 1886 in season 4. In "Time's Arrow," the android Lieutenant Commander Data (Brent Spiner) was able to infiltrate San Francisco by posing as a French inventor. Data, Picard, and the USS Enterprise-D's crew encountered famed writers Mark Twain (Jerry Hardin), Jack London (Michael Aron), and even their friend, Guinan (Whoopi Goldberg). There was also a delightful running joke of mispronouncing Jean-Luc's surname as "Mr. Pickerd." The Gilded Age is primarily set in New York and the East Coast, but season 3 went westward. George Russell (Morgan Spector) and his son Larry (Harry Richardson) traveled to Morenci, Arizona, where their purchase of land containing copper mines created a financial windfall. Nearly another thousand miles northwest would have brought the Russells to San Francisco, though the Starfleet Officers don't arrive in their reality until 1893. Even before Sir Patrick Stewart's death, his guest starring in The Gilded Age was, at best, wishful thinking for Star Trek fans who knew Donna Murphy played Anij. Captain Picard and Anij were only ever on-screen together in Star Trek: Insurrection, though Star Trek: Picard hinted that Jean-Luc returned to Ba'ku to see his immortal girlfriend again. Patrick Stewart and Donna Murphy reunited in The Gilded Age will always be a missed opportunity. New episodes of The Gilded Age season 4 premiere Sundays @ 9pm ET on HBO and HBO Max. Release Date January 24, 2022 Network HBO Max Showrunner Julian Fellowes Cast Morgan Spector George Russell Directors Deborah Kampmeier, Salli Richardson-Whitfield Writers Julian Fellowes