Unlock the Untold Power Moves Behind ‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’—19 Rare Photos That Will Blow Your Mind and Change How You See the Legendary Series Forever!

When Star Trek: The Next Generation blasted onto our TV screens in 1987, it was like strapping in for a wild ride through the cosmos – but with a hefty dose of nerves mixed in. Can a new crew on a new Enterprise really live up to the legend crafted by the likes of William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, and DeForest Kelley? Turns out, they didn’t just live up to it—they redefined it. Over seven seasons, four movies, and even into today’s streaming era with Star Trek: Picard, Patrick Stewart and his team didn’t just continue the mission; they expanded the universe itself. Ever wonder what it took behind the scenes to capture that cosmic lightning twice? Well, buckle up. We’re diving into exclusive snapshots of the magic, hustle, and heart that fueled this interstellar legacy. So grab your communicator and engage! LEARN MORE

The arrival of the syndicated television series Star Trek: The Next Generation in 1987 was met with two equally fervent responses: excitement that we were getting a new weekly version of Star Trek and trepidation that it could never live up to the legend of what had been. The question was whether or not a new crew aboard a different starship Enterprise could capture what William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley and the rest of The Original Series cast had. Ultimately, TNG proved itself more than capable of capturing lightning in a bottle a second time. Through seven seasons, four feature films and the more recent streaming series Star Trek: Picard, Patrick Stewart, Brent Spiner, Jonathan Frakes and their co-stars proved themselves more than able to not only continue the voyages, but expand them to a variety of other series.

In the photos that follow, we’re taking a behind-the-scenes glimpse at the magic at work, the teamwork necessary to build a universe and continue a legacy. So settle in and engage!

1. The Great Bird of the Galaxy and his First Lady

Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry shares a quiet moment on the set of The Next Generation with his wife, actress Majel Barrett. Barrett was a franchise mainstay from the original series forward, returning here as the flamboyant Lwaxana Troi.

2. A meeting of the minds across time and space

In the unforgettable opening of “Descent” (Season 6, Episode 26), Data joins Albert Einstein (Jim Norton), Sir Isaac Newton (John Neville) and none other than theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking—playing himself—for a poker game on the holodeck. Hawking’s cameo marked the first time a real-life scientist appeared as themselves in Star Trek, a moment that delighted fans and cast alike.

3. Robin Hood and his merry Starfleet crew

For the fan-favorite Season 4 episode “Qpid” (aired April 20, 1991), Q transports the Enterprise officers into a Robin Hood fantasy, complete with tights, lutes and longbows. Patrick Stewart (Robin Hood), Brent Spiner (Friar Tuck), Jonathan Frakes (Little John), Marina Sirtis (Maid Marian) and LeVar Burton (the minstrel) embraced the playful costuming for one of The Next Generation’s most whimsical holodeck adventures.

4. From the Academy to Ten Forward

Wil Wheaton (as Wesley Crusher) shares a moment on set with Whoopi Goldberg (as Guinan), the enigmatic bartender of Ten Forward. Goldberg, a longtime Star Trek fan, personally asked Gene Roddenberry for a role on The Next Generation, resulting in the creation of Guinan—one of the show’s most mysterious and influential recurring characters.

5. A legend returns to the bridge

James Doohan reprised his iconic role as Montgomery “Scotty” Scott in “Relics” (Season 6, Episode 4, aired October 10, 1992). Here he’s pictured with writer Ronald D. Moore, who penned the episode as a heartfelt tribute to the original Star Trek. The story brought Scotty aboard the Enterprise-D, bridging generations and reminding viewers of the franchise’s enduring legacy.

6. Closing the book on ‘The Next Generation’

Executive producer Rick Berman shares a conversation with John de Lancie (Q) at the Star Trek: The Next Generation wrap party in spring 1994. After seven seasons, the cast and crew gathered to celebrate the end of a groundbreaking era in science fiction television, although the Enterprise-D would soon launch onto the big screen in that year’s Star Trek: Generations.

7. A hundred voyages of the ‘Enterprise-D’

The cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation gathers on the bridge with creator Gene Roddenberry and executive producers Rick Berman and Michael Piller to celebrate the show’s 100th episode, “Redemption, Part I” (aired June 17, 1991). Marking this milestone was a testament to the series’ remarkable success, proving that the Enterprise-D had fully carved out its own legacy within the Star Trek universe.

8. Behind the curtain of ‘TNG’

Brent Spiner (Data) pauses on the bridge set as cameras and crew prepare for a take. The blue screen in the background reveals the technical side of Star Trek: The Next Generation, where practical sets, visual effects and skilled craftspeople combined to create the seamless illusion of life aboard the Enterprise.

9. ‘The Next Generation’ takes its first steps

The inaugural cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation poses in 1987 alongside creators and producers Rick Berman, Gene Roddenberry and Bob Justman. This behind-the-scenes moment captures the franchise at a turning point, passing the torch from The Original Series to a new crew destined to boldly go for seven seasons and beyond.

10. The captain and Number One

Patrick Stewart (Captain Jean-Luc Picard) and Jonathan Frakes (Commander William Riker) pose on the Paramount lot during the first season of Star Trek: The Next Generation in 1987.

11. Creating the Selay on the Paramount backlot

Makeup artist Werner Keppler poses with the reptilian Selay creatures on the Paramount Studios backlot in 1987. Introduced in “Lonely Among Us” during the first season of Star Trek: The Next Generation, the Selay were an early showcase of the series’ ambitious alien designs, bringing a more elaborate level of prosthetics and costuming than television audiences were used to at the time.

12. Two captains prepare to ride

William Shatner and Patrick Stewart share the screen as Captain James T. Kirk and Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: Generations (1994). Filmed on horseback, the scene symbolized the passing of the torch from one era of Star Trek to the next, uniting two of the franchise’s most iconic leaders in a historic meeting fans had long dreamed of.

13. Directing the first big-screen version of ‘The Next Generation’

Director David Carson confers with Patrick Stewart on the bridge set during the making of Star Trek: Generations (1994). Carson, who had previously helmed the acclaimed TNG episode “Yesterday’s Enterprise,” guided the film that transitioned the crew of the Enterprise-D from television success to their cinematic debut.

14. The captains meet their creator

William Shatner, Gene Roddenberry and Patrick Stewart appear together at a press event in the late 1980s, symbolically linking Star Trek’s past, present and future. Shatner carried the legacy of Captain Kirk, Stewart was establishing Captain Picard as a new icon and Roddenberry’s vision remained the common thread uniting them all.

15. Riker in the director’s chair

Jonathan Frakes directs Michael Dorn (Worf) in a battle-scarred set during the filming of Star Trek: First Contact (1996). Making his feature-film directorial debut, Frakes brought an actor’s eye to the project, earning praise for balancing spectacle with character-driven storytelling and helping the Next Generation crew find their cinematic stride.

16. Captain Picard in white

Director Jonathan Frakes discusses a scene with Patrick Stewart during the filming of Star Trek: Insurrection (1998). The film’s ceremonial white uniform gave Captain Picard a striking new look, while Frakes—returning to the director’s chair after First Contact—guided the production with the ease of someone equally at home in front of and behind the camera.

17. Charting the final mission of the ‘Enterprise-E’

Brent Spiner, screenwriter John Logan and Patrick Stewart share a conversation on location during the making of Star Trek: Nemesis (2002). Logan, a lifelong Star Trek fan, crafted the screenplay for what would become the final cinematic adventure of The Next Generation crew, bringing both spectacle and emotional farewells to the Enterprise-E.

18. Shaping the Reman threat

Screenwriter John Logan poses with Ron Perlman in full Reman Viceroy makeup during the production of Star Trek: Nemesis (2002). The Remans, introduced as a new adversary species, were brought to life through elaborate prosthetics and Perlman’s imposing performance, which added a darker, more gothic edge to the Next Generation crew’s final film.

19. On location with the ‘Enterprise’ crew

Michael Dorn, Brent Spiner and Patrick Stewart confer with executive producer Rick Berman during the desert location shoot for Star Trek: Nemesis (2002). The film took the Enterprise-E crew beyond their usual soundstages, with rugged landscapes serving as the backdrop for the Next Generation’s last cinematic journey.