The Borg return in 'Star Trek: Picard'! Jeri Ryan and Jonathan Del Arco talk 'Seven of Nine' and 'Hugh'

The Borg are back.

The infamous "Star Trek" alien species, which assimilates all beings it comes across into its collective consciousness, will return in the new series "Star Trek: Picard" with two of its most famous members: Seven of Nine and Hugh (aka Third of Five).

Fans of the "Star Trek" universe will remember Hugh (played by Jonathan Del Arco) as the Borg rescued by Capt. Jean-Luc Picard and his crew in Season 5 of "Star Trek: The Next Generation" (1987-1994) and Seven of Nine (played by Jeri Ryan), who shined in a starring role during "Star Trek: Voyager" (1995 to 2001).

The plot of the new series starring Sir Patrick Stewart as Picard is a closely guarded secret, but it sounds like they will be exploring a difficult relationship with Starfleet, which is kind of like the Space Force of "Star Trek" that's maintained by an intergalactic alliance known as the United Federation of Planets.

Video: Patrick Stewart and Isa Briones Talk Trek with Space.com!
Related:
What 'Star Trek' to watch before 'Star Trek: Picard'

Jeri Ryan as Seven of Nine of the CBS All Access series 'Star Trek: Picard.' Seven of Nine, along with Hugh, will return to represent the Borg in the new Trek series. (Image credit: James Dimmock/CBS)

The actors who played these beloved members of the Borg reflected on what it feels like to step back into their roles two decades later at the "Picard" world premiere in Hollywood, California last Wednesday (Jan. 15).

"They're very different," Ryan said of Seven and Hugh. "It's been 20 years. They are 20 years more mature, with 20 years' more life experience. For Seven, she had [only] four years outside of the collective the last time we saw her, and all of it was on [starship] Voyager, basically."

Related: Picard's 15 most memorable 'Star Trek: TNG' outfits

Both of the former Borg "have been through a lot of bad stuff," Ryan added. "They've seen darkness, which has affected them. Seven holds Starfleet and the Federation, at least in part, responsible for the mess the galaxy is in right now — and sees Picard as partly representative of those institutions, at first."

In the new series, Hugh and Seven embark on very different paths as they grapple with their feelings about the galactic chaos, Del Arco pointed out. While Seven is working with an independent peacemaking organization, Hugh is looking more toward "peaceful leadership," he said at the premiere. 

"Seven's reaction to the world we're in is not the same as Hugh's; they're both contributing to change or support the world in a really different way," he added. "They're both on very different journeys, but with the same intentions.""Star Trek: Picard" premieres on CBS All Access this Thursday (Jan. 23). 

Follow Elizabeth Howell on Twitter @howellspace. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook

All About Space Holiday 2019

Need more space? Subscribe to our sister title "All About Space" Magazine for the latest amazing news from the final frontier! (Image credit: All About Space)

Join our Space Forums to keep talking space on the latest missions, night sky and more! And if you have a news tip, correction or comment, let us know at: community@space.com.

Elizabeth Howell
Staff Writer, Spaceflight

Elizabeth Howell (she/her), Ph.D., is a staff writer in the spaceflight channel since 2022 covering diversity, education and gaming as well. She was contributing writer for Space.com for 10 years before joining full-time. Elizabeth's reporting includes multiple exclusives with the White House and Office of the Vice-President of the United States, an exclusive conversation with aspiring space tourist (and NSYNC bassist) Lance Bass, speaking several times with the International Space Station, witnessing five human spaceflight launches on two continents, flying parabolic, working inside a spacesuit, and participating in a simulated Mars mission. Her latest book, "Why Am I Taller?", is co-written with astronaut Dave Williams. Elizabeth holds a Ph.D. and M.Sc. in Space Studies from the University of North Dakota, a Bachelor of Journalism from Canada's Carleton University and a Bachelor of History from Canada's Athabasca University. Elizabeth is also a post-secondary instructor in communications and science at several institutions since 2015; her experience includes developing and teaching an astronomy course at Canada's Algonquin College (with Indigenous content as well) to more than 1,000 students since 2020. Elizabeth first got interested in space after watching the movie Apollo 13 in 1996, and still wants to be an astronaut someday. Mastodon: https://qoto.org/@howellspace