Warning: This Article Contains SPOILERS For Star Trek: Prodigy Season 2
Summary
Wil Wheaton returns as Wesley Crusher inStar Trek: Prodigyseason 2, and executive producers Kevin and Dan Hageman explain why and how Wheaton returned asStar Trek: The Next Generation’s former boy genius. Wheaton last portrayed Wesley in a brief cameo duringStar Trek: Picardseason 2’s finale. However,Star Trek: Prodigyseason 2 makes Wesley, who has cosmic powers as the Traveler, integral to its central crisis involving the possible doom of everyStar Trektimeline.Wheaton’s comeback as Wesley Crusher is undoubtedly one of the joyous highlights ofStar Trek: Prodigyseason 2.
In an exclusive interview withScreen RantaboutStar Trek: Prodigyseason 2, showrunnersKevin and Dan Hagemanexplainedwhy they brought back Wil Wheaton and their vision for how Wesley Crusher as the Traveler fits into the show. Read their quote below:
Kevin Hageman: He’s the original Prodigy! So we’re like, it’d be such a perfect fit. And seeing how he just walks off the screen in Next Generation, we’re like, ‘Why isn’t anyone using [Wesley]?’ Everyone seemed afraid to touch him, and to bring that character back. I’m like,‘Let’s do something great with him. Let’s make him a wonderful mentor, but a little scatterbrained and a little untrustworthy.
Dan Hageman: A little Doctor Who, a little Willy Wonka…
Kevin and Dan Hageman also revealed that Wil Wheaton’s role was already"down the line"in terms of writing Wesley Crusher intoStar Trek: Prodigyseason 2 whenStar Trek: Picardshowrunner Terry Matalas contacted them about including Wesley in Patrick Stewart’s series.ProdigyandPicard’s creative teams coordinated Wesley making a cameo inStar Trek: Picard season 2’s finale, butStar Trek: Prodigyseason 2 would utilize Wil Wheaton’s talents and his Traveler character to their fullest. Read the Hagemans’ quote below:
Dan Hageman: We had talked to Terry Matalas about what they were doing with Picard. He had contacted us because he knew we were playing with Wesley, and they were going to have Wesley in Picard. And so, we just kind of lined it up. He’s got a brother and that’s something that we can put into the show. So it was all Kismet.
Kevin Hageman: I think they were trying to be respectful because they knew that we were already down the line. We had written a whole season with him in it. And so they’re like, ‘let us have a little bit of him too.’
Now I’m Very Glad Wesley Crusher Wasn’t In Star Trek: Picard Season 3
Star Trek: Picard season 3 lacked a Wesley Crusher cameo, but Star Trek: Prodigy had something much better in the works for the Traveler.
Wil Wheaton’s Wesley Crusher Comeback In Star Trek: Prodigy Was Worth The Wait
Prodigy season 2 even includes the Crusher family reunion that wasn’t in Star Trek: Picard
Star Trek: Prodigyseason 2 certainly understands that Wesley Crusher is, indeed, the"original Prodigy"and took full advantage of Wesley’s abilities as the Traveler. It was Wesley who implemented a far-reaching but dangerous plan to combat the reality-eating menace of the Loom while guiding the heroic young crew of the USS Protostar to reset the paradox timeline they were living in. Wesley unexpectedly turned out to be an ideal mentor throughoutStar Trek: Prodigyseason 2’s"timey-wimey"crisis, andit’s clear from Wil Wheaton’s exuberant performance that he enjoyed himself playing Wesley Crusher like never before.
Wesley Crusher teased the greater destiny of the crew of the USS Protostar, which can only happen if they stay together.
Star Trek: Picardseason 3 lacked Wesley reuniting with his mother, Dr. Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden), and meeting his half-brother, Jack Crusher (Ed Speleers), butStar Trek: Prodigy season 2 revealed the Crusher family reunion actually happened 16 years beforePicardseason 3. Even in animation, Wheaton’s Wesley seeing his"space mom", McFadden’s Beverly, again, was as heartwarming as fans hoped. And it doesn’t preclude Wesley and Jack meeting as adults in a futureStar Trek.Hopefully, the Traveler will be needed again ifStar Trek: Prodigyseason 3 happens, and Wesley Crusher can help save the multiverse once more.
