Having a chance to see Patrick Stewart in person was definitely a different experience. His trademark bald head was there, so were his distinctive facial features and voice. The hair that he had was not cropped like many fans remember of his work as Capt. Jean-Luc Picard in "Star Trek: The Next Generation" and four feature films, but grown out.

But Stewart looked as vibrant as ever at the sold-out theater at the Hollywood 20 Theater in Sarasota, Fla., as he prepared to introduce his latest movie, a made-for-cable remake of the film "A Lion In Winter," which will air later this winter on the Showtime network.

While many of the fans at the theater waiting for a chance to talk to him were more interested in what brought him into classical acting, it didn't stop a few fans from talking about the 63-year-old's former days as a spacefaring starship captain.

"I have no interest in science-fiction whatsoever ... I even struggle to read about the Mars rover," said Stewart, who also appeared in genre productions like "The X-Men," "Lifeforce" and of course, "Dune."

"My feeling about space is, let's just get things right here."

The 150-minute film, which remakes the classic Peter O'Toole and Katherine Hepburn 1968 film, will be shown in two parts. It was developed by Stewart, and his wife from the TNG set, Wendy Neuss.

It also stars Glenn Close as Eleanor of Aquitaine, John Light, Rafe Spall and Jonathan Rhys-Meyers.

With members of the press snapping pictures during the 45-minute question-and-answer period before the showing, Stewart said that while science-fiction isn't his thing, playing Jean-Luc Picard for 15 years was something he didn't regret at all.

"I wouldn't know a warp core breach from a space-time continuum if they got into bed with me," Stewart said. He said playing a starship captain doesn't mean he has to know anything about it, comparing it to playing a popular Shakespearean character. "I played Othello, but I've never smothered a woman in my life."

Stewart said that Star Trek "is over" for him, especially after the failure of 2002's "Star Trek: Nemesis."

"The last one didn't do too well," Stewart said of the film. "That was one of the best two movies we made, and it didn't do well. When we finished filming that movie, I realized that up until then, I've done 15 years of Jean-Luc Picard. And I'm very proud of 'The Next Generation.' But now that is past, and it is an excellent time to hang up my space suit."

While Stewart doesn't frequent Star Trek conventions, it's not because he is trying to distance himself from the fans. However, he did say that he has a hard time trying to talk shop with fans wanting to know specific details about episodes.

"I hate being asked anything technical about Star Trek," he said. "People ask me, 'What is Warp 9?' That's how fast you go, and you can't do it on the freeway."

Stewart soon will be doing several productions, including voice work for "Racing Stripes," "The Water Warriors" and the upcoming Disney movie, "Bambi II." However, he did encourage fans to look forward to him on the big screen again ...

"There will be an 'X-Men 3,'" Stewart said. "And an X-Men 4, 5, 6, 7, ..."

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