With leading roles for two sci-fi franchises, Patrick Stewart (Jean-Luc Picard) is in for a busy year.

According to a new Associated Press article, the TNG star expects to start working on the tenth Star Trek film this Fall. It would indeed be impossible to start shooting the film any later than that, as Stewart is already booked up for early next year, when he will be reprising his role as Professor Xavier in the 'X-Men' sequel.

In a recent interview, Star Trek Executive Producer Rick Berman also already stated production on Star Trek X would start several months after the writers' and actors' strikes, which are expected to start in ealry July. Screenwriter John Logan recently submitted a second draft of the film's screenplay for approval, and pre-production has already started.

In another recent interview, fellow TNG star Marina Sirtis (Deanna Troi) said she expected Trek X would be the last Star Trek film for Stewart. However, this does not appear to be because of a dislike for the role, as Stewart told AP he is quite comfortable with being so closely identified with Picard and his catch-phrase 'Make It So'. "It's charming. I'm happy and altogether pleased about that," he said.

For the original interview, please follow this link.

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