Gates McFadden Learned "So Much" About 60 Years Of Star Trek Hosting The Center Seat II (Exclusive)

Published Sep 8, 2026, 10:00 AM EDT

John Orquiola is a New & Classic TV Editor, Senior Writer, and Interviewer with a special focus on Star Trek. John has over 5,000 published articles at SR, and he has interviewed the biggest names in Star Trek on the red carpet and VIP events, among other beloved shows, movies, and franchises.

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Gates McFadden returns as the narrator of The Center Seat II: 60 Years of Star Trek. Directed by Brian Volk-Weiss and produced by The Nacelle Company, The Center Seat II focuses on Star Trek: The Next Generation and J.J. Abrams' Star Trek movies. All 5 episodes premiere on Star Trek Day, September 8, on Amazon Prime Video, Tubi, Apple TV, and Nacelle’s YouTube page.

2026 is the 60th anniversary of Star Trek, but 2027 is the 40th anniversary of Star Trek: The Next Generation. "What a gift in my life, right? Who knew?" McFadden tells ScreenRant's John Orquiola of her Star Trek journey. "I certainly had no clue when I signed on. So it's amazing how important it has been in my life. I realize that all the time. I'm very aware of it. I'm lucky that I was allowed the opportunity to comprehend it [through The Center Seat], just by thinking about how important it's been because it's a positive thing in our world compared to so many other things.”

McFadden thanks Star Trek's fans for the franchise's longevity. "We really have the greatest fans," Gates says of the loyal legion of Trekkers, many of whom she has personally met at Star Trek conventions. "They, by far, the majority of people, are people who really believe that if we could only work together, we could find the solutions together, and it would be hopeful and it would be positive. I feel that the younger generations, who keep discovering it, that's what brings it to them... Star Trek really epitomizes curiosity, being present, and science, and humanity. I mean, it's just an incredible series.”

What Gates McFadden Learned About Star Trek Movies As Narrator Of The Center Seat II

Gates McFadden narrated all 11 episodes of The Center Seat season 1 in 2021 before returning for The Center Seat II. In addition, Gates hosted the InvestiGates podcast, also produced by The Nacelle Company, where she spoke in-depth with her fellow Star Trek actors. McFadden says hosting The Center Seat affected her perception and understanding of Star Trek "enormously."

"When you're an actor, you're doing the actor's part. I wasn't privy, especially in those early years," Gates explains. "I couldn't hang out so easily with the producers, and it was much more male compared to now. I have learned so much by finding out, ‘Oh, that was a financial issue. That's what was happening then. The studio was saying this, and oh, I didn't know that that writer and this producer didn't get along,’ and all kinds of things."

[The Center Seat has] been so informative and funny. I love the sense of humor in it. It kind of reminds me of why I like John Oliver. Using humor and breaking things up in a way so that you can grasp it. But you actually do go deeper than you think. I love that.

I was barely in The Next Generation films, so, for me, it was completely fabulous to learn about all the other stuff that was going on, and to hear about what J. J. Abrams' point of view was, and the studios and all of that. I was curious about it all. So, it was a pleasure to work on the scripts, and they were always open if there was something [where] I think there's a better way to try to say this, and occasionally that would happen. They were so receptive. We'd work together on making it the best it could be, which is terrific.

Gates McFadden Looks Back At Star Trek: The Next Generation's Movies

The Center Seat II is filled with countless BTS tidbits about Star Trek: The Next Generation and J.J. Abrams' Star Trek movies. One thing that stood out was that Gates McFadden didn't know Star Trek Generations had a link to one of her non-Star Trek movie roles, when McFadden played Cathy Ryan in The Hunt for Red October.

ScreenRant: I didn't know that Star Trek Generations used the gimbals from The Hunt for Red October to make the Enterprise shake

I know! That's great. That's a good one. That's amazing, right? Well, of course, I had hoped to do the second movie, but Alec Baldwin kind of killed that during his negotiations, so they recast both of us, but yes, it was a really good movie. It really was. Sam Neill [who passed away in July], what an actor! I mean, I just loved him and everything. I just loved him. Everything he did. God, there are so many wonderful actors [in Red October].

Gates McFadden Liked TNG's First Two Movies More Than Its Second Two

Gates McFadden was also interviewed for The Center Seat II, where she admitted that she enjoyed the first two TNG movies, Star Trek Generations and Star Trek: First Contact, more than the others, Star Trek: Insurrection and Star Trek: Nemesis. McFadden says her opinion of the TNG movies wasn't necessarily tied to the limited role Dr. Beverly Crusher had in the films.

I love it when people say, "Well, I love that movie.’

“Well, I mean, my part in Generations was small, but we got to go on the boat, and I got to wear that uniform, even though I was the only one who got violently seasick. But then, I got over it, and I didn't want to leave the boat," McFadden explains. "I think it just didn't hit me; the themes [of Insurrection and Nemesis]. The themes didn't hit me as well. That's all. I mean, it wasn't as powerful to me. They're good movies. I love it when people say, "Well, I love that movie.’ Had I maybe been involved more, I might have a different perspective."

Gates praises the big moments for fans in Star Trek: The Next Generation's movies: "It was very, very important for the fans to see both Kirk and Picard together. I thought that was a big deal for fans. Data's death was a beautiful thing in Nemesis."

However, McFadden also calls out Captain Picard's (Patrick Stewart) romance with Anij (Donna Murphy) in Star Trek: Insurrection.

It was just strange to me that Dr. Crusher was standing there while [Picard is] kissing Donna Murphy. It was just strange, you know? I felt Crusher [would be like], ‘Who is this person?’ I didn't know who she was. It was just different without explanation. I think the script just didn't hit me as strongly, which is just my opinion. For other people, it could have hit them in a very powerful way.

Why Patrick Stewart Changed Captain Picard In Star Trek: The Next Generation's Movies

A notable aspect that fans have debated for 30 years is how different Captain Picard is in Star Trek: The Next Generation's movies. The Center Seat II delves into how Patrick Stewart used his pull as a leading man to change the philosophical, diplomatic Picard into an action hero in the films. “Well, you know, look, that's what Patrick wanted, and so that's what was happening," McFadden opines.

What I personally loved about [Star Trek: The Next Generation] when I was involved in it in the earlier years was that it was very collaborative. I felt that it was a show where everyone brought a very significant thing to the group, that we were kind of a company, like a theater company.

In fact, Patrick directed some of us, and we did a play that we toured in several cities. That got lost when one person is now for their career. I understand the logic of it. You want to be an action figure and have lots of babes, and you know, it's a different thing. You're pulling away from a group thing. But if I could say again, we Next Generation people loved our show, and loved our characters. And yes, Picard's our leader, and we love Picard.

Gates says the way showrunner Terry Matalas produced Star Trek: Picard season 3 by focusing on TNG's ensemble, and soliciting the actors' input for their characters, was night and day from the movies.

"It was quite amazing what Terry Matalas did, because it showed the ensemble," McFadden says. "I think Patrick had wanted to stay away from the ensemble when he started Picard, but in fact, it was really beautiful, and he embraced it in the end. And I think you don't see that in many shows, where we're allowed to age, and we've all done. The characters have done different things, and they come back, and it's not just smooth as silk, but they figure out a way, and they collaborate, and they find a solution, which is very Star Trek.”

I feel Terry really deserves the kudos, and it was just a totally different thing for me as a female working with him, as opposed to the producers, when I [first] came in. They were the older producers, and it was harder for a woman. It was just more difficult. Maybe it was just me. Whatever, I had a harder time.

Gates McFadden Loves J.J. Abrams' Star Trek 2009 Reboot

The Center Seat II episodes 4 and 5 are all about J.J. Abrams' controversial, influential, and highly successful Star Trek movie reboot trilogy from 2009 to 2016. Gates McFadden admits she hasn't seen Star Trek Into Darkness and Star Trek Beyond, but "I liked the first one very much."

I thought [J.J. Abrams] brilliantly cast it. I was really impressed with that movie and the cast. Then it went more and more in the direction of action, adventure, and less of the philosophical for me. But I love the first movie, and I love the actors who were in it. Karl Urban. Everybody was so brilliantly cast. I mean, they really were. It worked, right?

McFadden can't say enough good things about the 2009 Star Trek cast led by Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto, who succeeded in what seemed like the impossible task of replacing the original Star Trek actors led by William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy: "That's what made it so extraordinary because the actors were so good. They took it on, and they did it like 200%. And the humor was great. It was great.”

Does Gates McFadden Think Star Trek: The Next Generation Will Be Rebooted?

Star Trek: The Original Series has now been recast twice: by J.J. Abrams in his reboot movies, and in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, with Paul Wesley as the young James T. Kirk and Ethan Peck as Spock. Does Gates McFadden think that Star Trek: The Next Generation will eventually be rebooted and recast?

I think that whoever is working on the project will figure it out. I mean, there are so many people [who could play Dr. Beverly Crusher.] Any number of people could do it, and probably there will be a recast. Who knows?

"But on the other hand, they might come up with something completely new, which is, I believe, what they’re trying to do," Gates adds, referring to Paramount Skydance's reported plans to produce a new Star Trek movie that has no ties to the previous films and TV series.

TNG's Actors Still Want Star Trek: Legacy

Star Trek: Picard season 3 ended with a clear and dynamic setup for a continuation spinoff that Terry Matalas dubbed Star Trek: Legacy. Yet, Paramount+ never moved forward with Legacy, nor are there signs they will over 3 years later.

Gates McFadden confirms, "We wanted it. All of us wanted it to continue. I think it had to do with studios and things above my pay grade. And that's what's sad because the fans loved it, and our numbers were fantastic. So it wasn't that. "

McFadden explains her point of view about what's happening at Paramount Skydance when it comes to Star Trek's future:

I think it's about who owns the franchise, and that's the thing when you have something that's a really big franchise. People want to do their take on the franchise, which is great. People want to do their take on Frankenstein or on Hamlet or whatever. So that's bound to happen.

"It's amazing that there have been so many fantastic new iterations of Star Trek," Gates says. "I mean, each new show has brought something unique and interesting to it. I'd never seen some of the other shows, and they were good, and the casts were good, and they each had their own kind of flavor, and science was always present. So I say kudos. It's pretty amazing that all these people pulled it off. Some are better than others, probably, but you know, again, it becomes a matter of taste.”

After 60 years of Star Trek, and more to come, McFadden feels "that's what is so extraordinary about the way Gene Roddenberry took his vision of a dramatic show, something that was going to entertain, and he added science and the future and hope. And I would say it's clearly why it's working."

The Center Seat II: 60 Years of Star Trek premieres September 8 on Amazon Prime Video, Tubi, Apple TV, and Nacelle’s YouTube page