After 20 years, Patrick Stewart is back as Jean Luc Picard, the beloved character from Star Trek: The Next Generation in the new CBS: All Access series Star Trek: Picard. With the show about to drop on Jan. 23, the stars celebrated on Wednesday in London's Leicester Square. And Stewart's long-time friend and colleague Ian McKellen joined Picard's star on the red carpet for a series of increasingly adorable photos including one a few with the Lord of the Rings star on bended knee as if either bowing to his friend or proposing. Another includes the men going in for a kiss.
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Picard picks up 20 years after the Next Generation left off and finds Picard living on his family's vineyard. However, Picard, a role Stewart played from 1987 to 2002, soon returns to Starfleet under his current ranking as admiral after meeting a young woman he fears is in trouble. Other Star Trek characters stepping back into their roles include Jonathan Frakes as Commander Ryker and Marina Sirtis as Deanna Troi. The android Data will also be back, although Data died at the end Star Trek: Nemesis. Actors just joining the universe are Allison Pill and Santiago Cabrera.
On hand for the premiere, for which London's famed Piccadilly Circus Station was renamed "Picardilly Circus," were cast members Michelle Hurd and Isa Briones and former members of the Star Trek universe Jeri Ryan and Jason Isaacs, according to Evening Standard.
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Stewart and McKellen have starred in the X-Men movies together as well as a 2013 production of Waiting for Godot, but they are perhaps best known for their enduring friendship. McKellen officiated Stewart's wedding to Sunny Ozell in 2013.
