Patrick Stewart and Producer Alex Kurtzman confirmed at the Star Trek Las Vegas Convention on Saturday that Stewart will return to the Star Trek franchise as his Next Generation character Jean-Luc Picard.  Stewart himself told the fans, "Jean-Luc Picard Is Back."

The new series is part of a recent five-year deal between Kurtzman and CBS TV Studios (see "More 'Star Trek'").  Like Star Trek: Discovery, the new series will air on the new CBS All Access streaming service.

CBS has also announced Star Trek: Short Treks, four 10 to 15-minute episodes airing this fall to keep interest high until the second season of Star Trek: Discovery begins in January, according to The Hollywood Reporter.  The episodes will include stories featuring Rainn Wilson directing, and starring as Harry Mudd; Aldis Hodge as Craft, the only human on a deserted ship; Doug Jones as Saru in the backstory as the first Kelpien to join Starfleet; and Mary Wiseman as Tilly on the Discovery with an unlikely partner.