It's hard to imagine where both Sir Patrick Stewart and pop culture's second most iconic science-fiction franchise would be were it not for Star Trek: The Next Generation.

The show turned Stewart from a theatre actor into a worldwide household name, and gave the series a springboard to launch more shows and films, and both are still very popular today.

Related: Star Trek: The Next Generation is 30 – where are they all now?

But at the time, Stewart thought the series would only last for one run. Oh, how wrong he was...

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Speaking to AV Club, the legendary actor said "My agent in Hollywood... he assured me, 'Don't worry, this thing isn't going to work. You'll be lucky to make it through the first season.'

"'You cannot revive an iconic series like Star Trek, so you know, come over and make a bit of money for the first time in your life, get a sun tan then go home.'"

The Next Generation ran for seven seasons and 178 episodes, plus a handful of movies.

CBS

Fans credit the third season with turning TNG into a success, with lots of behind-the-scenes staff changes and a new direction for the stories.

Of course, there are those who credit the third season's turning things around all on one thing: Commander Riker growing a beard.

After a few years off the small screen, Star Trek is having a renaissance with the well-received Netflix/CBS All Access series Star Trek: Discovery, which is definitely coming back for season two.

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