“I'm always up for doing more”: Brent Spiner on coming back to Star Trek as Data

With his eagerness to learn the human ways, Lieutenant Commander Data, portrayed by Brent Spiner, became one of the more beloved characters in the Star Trek universe. His loyalty to his crew takes center stage when he sacrifices his life to save Captain Jean-Luc Picard (played by Patrick Stewart) in Star Trek: Nemesis. But that is not the end of Data, he miraculously makes a comeback in Star Trek: Picard, which opens up the possibility for Spiner to reprise the role in future Star Trek ventures.

While speaking to ScreenRant about coming back as Data in Star Trek, Spiner shared,

“I'm always available if the writing is good and the ideas are good. I mean, I have this one idea. I don't know if it's any good or not, but it's just a title, and the title is Star Trek: Data. I don't know. How does that sound to you? (Laughs) Yeah, I'm always up for doing more.”

Gene Roddenberry, the creator of Star Trek, was instrumental in envisioning the idea of Data. The android officer aboard the USS Enterprise-D was meant to fascinate the audience and showcase a future where artificial and organic life forms could co-exist.

While speaking to TrekMovie.com, Spiner said,

“I think he (Gene Roddenberry) would think it all went according to plan. Because one thing he said to me from the very beginning when I first met him, he said, 'What I want is for Data is for him to get more and more and more and more human as time goes on, and by the end be almost human, but still not.' And that’s kind of where we are, I think.”

Data’s resurrection in Star Trek

The audience first meets Data in The Next Generation. The android is the first of its kind to enter Starfleet. He is a synthetic life form created by Dr. Noonien Soong, who based him on his likeness. After Data’s tragic death in Nemesis, he makes a surprising comeback in Star Trek: Picard.

In Star Trek: Picard Season 1, we learn that Data is still alive in a conscious state in a computer. Picard meets him in the simulation, and the two share a heart-warming moment. And now, when an older Data tells him that he wants to die, it is also part of the human experience. Picard agrees to his request, and they disconnect the machine, giving him the perfect farewell.

While speaking to TV Guide, Spiner shared about Data’s final moments in Picard Season 1,

“I think there's something really profound about what Michael (Chabon) wrote for Data to say about those things that are fleeting, that mortality is what makes us human, and those things that mean the most to us never last forever.”

In Picard Season 3, Data is resurrected at the Daystrom Station. However, the android had Data, Lore, Lal, and B-4 stored inside. In episode 8 titled ‘Surrender’, Data struggles to fight off his evil brother Lore, who wants to take over the body. Data surrenders to Lore, letting him access his memories from his days on the Enterprise. But unknown to Lore, Data ends up overwriting Lore and ultimately takes control of the body as Lore passes on.

Data later meets the other crew members, making way for the perfect nostalgic The Next Generation reunion. They embark on one last adventure on the celebrated USS Enterprise-D.

Star Trek: Picard also introduced the fans to Data’s daughters, Dahj and Soji Asha (played by Isa Briones), who were created by Dr. Bruce Maddox (played by John Ales) using one of Data’s positronic neurons. Previously, in The Next Generation Season 3 episode titled ‘The Offspring’, Data had created his child called Lal (played by Hallie Todd) using his own structural design.

With Spiner showing interest in reprising the role in the future and the synthetic ban lifted by Starfleet, a show based on Data and Maddox’s creations would make an interesting watch.

Gene Roddenberry created Star Trek: The Original Series in 1966. The series was cancelled in 1969 due to low ratings, but later gathered a cult following. Subsequently, the Star Trek universe diversified with comics, animated series, films, and spin-off television shows, including The Next Generation and Picard.

ALSO READ: The Kobayashi Maru scenario remains the most notorious simulation for Starfleet cadets in Star Trek and here’s why

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