And then when I asked advice from people in Hollywood—I knew a handful of people, not many in those days—and I said to them, “Look, I’ve been offered this, what should I do? I’ve got plays lined up in London, I’m finally beginning to get a reputation in the West End playing leading roles.” And they told me now, this is a six-year contract, don’t worry about it. You cannot revive an iconic show like Star Trek, it cannot happen, you will be lucky to make it halfway through the season before it’s canceled.
– Sir Patrick Stewart, on his decision to accept the role of Captain Picard