Sir Patrick Stewart made a surprise appearance on stage at Star Trek Las Vegas to announce a new series, featuring his iconic character Jean-Luc Picard.

While details are still developing, Stewart announced that his character, the former captain of the USS Enterprise-D, would be returning in a series documenting the next stage of Picard’s life.

“He may not be a captain any more… [Picard] may not be the same as you remember…. 20 years has passed, which is nearly the length of time between Nemesis and today,” Stewart said, via TrekCore.com.

Per Deadline, the new series, a continuation from and not a reboot of Next Generation, will be headed up by Star Trek: Discovery co-creator/executive producer Alex Kurtzman. Kurtzman also oversees all Star Trek series development for CBS TV Studios.

“With overwhelming joy, it’s a privilege to welcome Sir Patrick Stewart back to the Star Trek fold,” Kurtzman said. “For over 20 years, fans have hoped for the return of Captain Jean-Luc Picard and that day is finally here. We can’t wait to forge new ground, surprise people, and honor generations both new and old.”

Also slated to work on the Picard series are James Duff, who recently joined Star Trek: Discovery as executive producer, as well as Akiva Goldsman, Michael Chabon, and Discovery writer Kirsten Beyer.

“I will always be very proud to have been a part of Star Trek: The Next Generation, but when we wrapped that final movie in the spring of 2002, I truly felt my time with Star Trek had run its natural course,” Stewart said in a statement posted to his Twitter account, following the announcement. “It is, therefore, an unexpected but delightful surprise to find myself excited and invigorated to be returning to Jean-Luc Picard and to explore new dimensions within him. Seeking out new life for him, when I thought that life was over.”

Steward added, “During these past years, it has been humbling to hear many stories about how The Next Generation brought people comfort, saw them through difficult periods in their lives or how the example of Jean-Luc inspired so many to follow in his footsteps, pursuing science, exploration and leadership. I feel I’m ready to return to him for the same reason – to research and experience what comforting and reforming light he might shine on these often very dark times. I look forward to working with our brilliant creative team as we endeavor to bring a fresh, unexpected, and pertinent story to life once more.”

While there are no scripts currently, according to comments made by Stewart on stage, he said that with the passion of the fans and writers, “[it will be] exactly as we had before.”