No one has appeared in more Star Trek than Michael Dorn, who played Worf in seven seasons of The Next Generation, four seasons of Deep Space Nine, four feature films, and most recently in the third and final season of Picard. The brand new (and penultimate) issue of Star Trek Explorer magazine features Dorn on the cover; inside, the actor talks about the possibility of playing Worf again, but he also revealed he is looking to retire from acting.
More Worf for Dorn?
One of the exclusive interviews in Star Trek Explorer #13 is with Michael Dorn. The discussion included a question on if the poker scene at the end of the season (and series) finale of Picard felt final. Dorn replied:
“When we did the first one on The Next Generation, that card game, you knew that we were saying goodbye to these guys in this genre. We went straight from shooting The Next Generation finale to shooting the first movie. We got that. I never thought that this was going to be a goodbye. I didn’t think so, but the thing was, they just let the camera roll. We were out of character a lot and being ourselves. The one thing I tell everybody is that you never say never in Star Trek. You just never say never. It’s one of those things where it’s going to be around at some point.”
Marina Sirtis as Deanna Troi, Jonathan Frakes as Will Riker, Patrick Stewart as Picard, Gates McFadden as Dr. Beverly Crusher and Michael Dorn as Worf in “The Last Generation”(Paramount+)
When specifically asked if he is willing to return to the character of Worf again, Dorn said:
“Again, I would never say never, I would never say, ‘Oh, this is it’ at all. But, many things have to happen for Worf to come back. It takes twenty things falling into place, and ,in this business, you just don’t have that sort of a system anymore, where there’s that one creative guy who goes, ‘You know what? We need this. Make it happen,’ or ‘Oh, that’s not a bad idea. Let me hear it.’ It’s a different world, and I don’t know what it means anymore. And I actually am slowly but surely retiring.”
The actor clarified that he is still open to offers, but with changes in the industry, including remote auditioning, it’s “not worth the pain and anguish” for him anymore, adding “I’m not on the treadmill anymore.” Dorn also noted he is also still interested in developing projects as a writer.
Gates McFadden as Dr. Beverly Crusher and Michael Dorn as Worf in “Vox”(Paramount+)
Star Trek Explorer #13 out today
Star Trek Explorer #13 arrived today, November 26, in the USA and Canada. In addition to Dorn, the new issue also has an exclusive interviews with Star Trek’s Walter Koenig, Strange New Worlds star Ethan Peck, TNG vet and Trek director Jonathan Frakes, and Voyager’s Tim Russ. There is also a brand-new exclusive short story from Una McCormack.
Here are the newsstand and exclusive covers…
You can find the issue on newsstands and comic book stores. You can also subscribe and buy issues directly from Titan.
The final issue of Star Trek Explorer arrives in December, ending 30 years for the official Star Trek magazine.
Keep up with news for the Star Trek Universe at TrekMovie.com.
Loved his portrayal of Worf in PIC S3. His balance of humor, gravitas and physicality was masterful, and to me, brought the character full-circle. Well done, Mr. Dorn.
And he brought out the best in Michelle Hurd as well, imo. Those two played off each other very well. Cheers.
He and Riker were the best part of the season, by a country mile. Everything else was “meh” at best, with the only real value coming via nostalgia.
Yep! Worf’s entrance in Picard is one of the best entrances in Star Trek history lol. I absolutely loved Worf in every scene he was in. And he and Raffi were a lot of fun together. That season was just so awesome.
You said it my friend. Dorn was simply terrific. Every scene he was in he was amazing in. I thought Worf would be this old bitter warrior but instead he was pretty jubilant for Worf lol.
I was actually convinced we would never see the TNG cast again, but was so happy that turned out wrong. Picard season 3 is still easily my favorite season of Star Trek since DS9. I really missed these characters.
Agreed! What an absolutely fantastic send off for such iconic characters. So richly deserved and an excellent season all round. The TOS movie was most welcome with me as I love those 80s movie above all other Trek!
Absolutely agree. Worf was far from my favorite character on TNG – perhaps my least fav, but the character really grew in DS9 and that continued in Picard. I am sure as an actor, Dorn really appreciated his role as post-TNG Worf, especially after playing pretty much a one-dimensional character onboard the Enterprise.
As for Season 3 Picard, yup from the storyline to the return of the TNG crew to hearing the ending musical score each week – this was easily the most enjoyable incarnation of Star Trek in the Nu Trek era, although I must admit SNW and Prodigy are pretty darn good.
Greta article! I know I’ll probably get teased for being a nitpicky Trek fan (it’s ok, I just turned 50 and I’ve gotten that all my life!) … but I would humbly suggest that you might want to add to the intro of this article, where it lists all the Star Trek that Dorn has been in, that he technically played “Worf” in FIVE films, not four. In Star Trek VI, the character was “Colonel Worf,” of course.
Not to split hairs, but that was a relative of Worf in Trek VI. Worf’s grandfather, as I recall…..
He played Worf in four films and Worf’s ancestor, the colonel, in one. So the article is correct.
Didn’t mean to suggest that the article wasn’t “correct,” just that it might be cool to add the info about “Star Trek VI,” since it’s further evidence of Michael Dorn’s prolific presence in Star Trek. Live Long and Prosper, all!
It would be Glorious!!!
It had been literally 20 years since we last saw Worf and the wait was completely worth it! Dorn brought his A game to this season and he made the character shine. He didn’t miss a single beat and reminded me why TNG and DS9 are still my two favorite shows all these decades later.
And while I like SNW, I was actually thinking the other day that show could use a Worf type character. Someone completely badass and not afraid to chop off someone’s head or pierce a dagger through the heart when the time really calls for it. A character with a little more edge I guess.
Anyway, I would love to see Worf do what he does best which is curb stomping fools who gets in his way one last time!
They could have Michael Dorn do it as a guest spot, playing a Worf ancestor like he did in The Undiscovered Country.
Agree with everyone, Dorn was amazing in Picard. You have to certainly thank Terry Matalas for giving Worf such a fun role with some killer dialogue (“Swords are fun”) but Dorn brought back our prune juice loving Klingon like he never stopped playing the character.
It was a big reminder why people still loves the TNG cast. Both the characters and the camaraderie they still share over 30 years later is a big reason why season 3 is hailed as strongly as it is even if you don’t completely love the season itself.
And I think we will see Worf again. There will be a 25th century show of some kind. If the Legacy show really never happens, they clearly are looking into other ideas. It would be crazy if Worf didn’t pop up here and there whatever it is.
“Beheadings are on Wednesdays!”
A Feature Movie about Captain Worf and the last mission of the Enterprise-E is something i like to see.
Make it so! 👍
Actually, he appeared in 5 motion pictures 😉
Seeing Worf in Picard season made me realize that they need to take out his Klingon show pitch and turn it into a TV show. He proved that he still had it and he could take the reins in a Klingon based show. I mean it doesn’t need to be a long show, 3-4 seasons would be enough for Dorn to say everything that needs to be said about Worf and the klingons and retire after that.
What happened to the E Worf?
All due respect to Michael Dorn, and I mean that, why would Koenig be relegated to the corner?
Big anniversary: The Cage began filming sixty years ago today.
Dorn has been great in all his appearances on Trek. I mean, DS9 massively improved when he was involved and he was one of the best actors in PIC season 3.
“Today is a good day for more Worf!” — old Klingon proverb
YEAH, come back with the TNG crew and the Enterprise D for a final big film
The TNG crew have had enough goodbyes, IMHO. It’s time DS9 got some love – and Worf was a massive part of that show too.
Well the anniversary is coming up.
Wow, I though Star Trek Explorer had ended already. Good to see there’s still a few left.