Actor Sir Patrick Stewart is boldly going where he’s been before – Star Trek.

CBS All Access said on Saturday local time that Stewart has been tapped to headline a new Star Trek series, reprising his Star Trek: The Next Generation character, Captain Jean-Luc Picard.

The new series is not a Next Generation reboot but will tell the story of the next chapter of Picard’s life.

No title or air date was revealed.

Sir Patrick Stewart tells fans at the Star Trek Convention Las Vegas the news. Photo: Getty

Stewart headlined his Star Trek series for seven seasons and portrayed Picard in the movies Star Trek Generations (1994), Star Trek: First Contact (1996), Star Trek: Insurrection (1998) and Star Trek: Nemesis (2002).

Stewart says he thought his Star Trek days “had run its natural course” so he considers it a delightful surprise to be playing Picard again.

Executive Producer Alex Kurtzman and @SirPatStew surprised fans today at #STLV with news that he will be returning to the iconic role of Jean-Luc Picard for a new Star Trek series coming to @cbsallaccess. pic.twitter.com/8F0EPnQMXn

— Star Trek on Paramount+ (@StarTrekOnPPlus) August 4, 2018

It’s an understatement to say the news was well received by Trekkies.

2018 before the Patrick Stewart announcement and 2018 after. pic.twitter.com/aRwRcnG66u

— C. Robert Cargill (@Massawyrm) August 5, 2018

HUGE thank you to @CBSTVStudios @StarTrek @startrekcbs for revealing the news about @SirPatStew’s return to the franchise at #STLV – packed with fans – and not at a splashier media event. #StarTrek #STLV

— Alex Perry (@alexandertperry) August 4, 2018

https://twitter.com/SpacedockHQ/status/1025877778439327745

-AAP