As the Pulitzer-prize winning scribe behind The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay and The Mysteries of Pittsburgh, not to mention an episode of CBS’ Short Treks (read: “Calypso”), you’d think Michael Chabon would be pretty well adjusted to meeting the industry’s biggest names.
But it turns out Captain Jean-Luc Picard himself, Patrick Stewart, turned him into a giddy fanboy. Chabon is currently in charge of writing Stewart’s return to the Star Trek saga, and spoke to IndieWire (h/t ComicBook.com) about what it’s like to work in close collaboration with a living legend.
To be sitting in the room with Patrick Stewart, just sitting there next to me — I tried to be cool about it. I think we all tried to be cool about it. He’s a lovely man. He’s really smart, intuitive, friendly, and warm, and generous, and everything… Then, all of a sudden, it’s like deep inside me this fanboy voice would be like, ‘Oh my god. You’re sitting next to Jean-Luc Picard and Professor X at the same time.’ I just tried to keep that really to myself and be like, ‘Haha, that’s so funny, Patrick.’ On the inside, I was screaming.
Development on the Patrick Stewart-led Star Trek series is going well, according to Chabo, who went on to discuss Stewart’s involvement in the actual story and why it’s so crucial to have him on board.
One of the reasons it’s going to be as good as it is going to be… He’s been involved pretty much from the beginning. His voice has been a very, very important and useful voice. He’s been a great resource for us. We’re so lucky to have him and that he wanted to participate to the extent that he has.
Exciting though that may be, CBS has been playing this one pretty close to the vest – no title, no release window… nada – and is therefore unlikely to reveal any firm details about Patrick Stewart’s Star Trek return until the new year. As always, though, stay tuned for more.
