This Star Trek actor's involvement in two upcoming franchise shows looks quite promising 

Star Trek is one of the most recognizable science fiction franchises ever created. It began as a television series in the 1960s and evolved into a huge universe spanning several series, films, novels, and even video games.

The characters venture into space, where all of humanity has come together and become members of an interstellar government called the United Federation of Planets. Each incarnation of Star Trek generally involves the crew of a starship most commonly called the USS Enterprise.

Being a huge franchise, it also has a lot of characters, and here we are discussing actor Jonathan Frakes, who engaged fans with his portrayal of Commander William T. Riker, the central character of Star Trek: The Next Generation (commonly referred to as TNG).

Frakes' role in this universe goes beyond acting, as he also served as a director of some episodes of TNG and other shows and films. Interestingly, Frakes is all set to play a major behind-the-scenes role in the franchise's future, specifically in two of its most anticipated series, Strange New Worlds Season 3 and the upcoming Star Trek: Starfleet Academy.

Both shows are part of Paramount+’s current Star Trek lineup, and Frakes will serve as a director on both — something longtime fans can get excited about.

Keep reading for more details about Frakes' involvement!

Jonathan Frakes is shaping the future of Star Trek – And that’s a great thing

As previously mentioned, Jonathan Frakes is gearing up for two major projects in the Star Trek universe, and considering his work on TNG as an actor and director, his involvement is a good sign.

He has become one of the most trusted and respected directors across the sci-fi universe, especially when it comes to the newer live-action series on Paramount+. Fans and viewers loved the Lower Decks crossover in Strange New Worlds Season 2, which was again directed by Frakes.

Strange New Worlds Season 3 is expected to premiere in the summer of 2025, and it’s already generating buzz. The first look at the season will debut at the Tribeca Film Festival on June 14. Meanwhile, Starfleet Academy Season 1 is aiming for a release next year as the production team wrapped up filming in February.

In an interview with Variety, Jonathan Frakes revealed that a 'Hollywood-style murder mystery episode' is "the best episode of television" he has ever done. The creators of the upcoming chapter 3 believe it can explore any genre, even something crazy like a Muppets-style or black-and-white silent comedy, as long as the storytelling is clear and confident.

As for the murder mystery episode, Anson Mount teased that it will take place in a virtual reality space, "Sometimes we call it the holodeck," where the crew can run simulations. This kind of storytelling twist fits well with the show's bold approach.

Also Read: Which Star Trek: The Next Generation episodes got banned and why? Reason explored

Jonathan Frakes adds star power to Starfleet Academy Season 1 finale

Jonathan Frakes is also making a major contribution to the Starfleet Academy, as he directed the first half of the finale for Season 1. He confirmed this during a fan convention and mentioned the episode is in its final editing stages and will soon be reviewed by producers.

So fans can expect another dramatic and emotional ending coming straight from the acclaimed director and actor. Additionally, the show has been greenlit for a second chapter with Holly Hunter (Succession) and Paul Giamatti (Downton Abbey 3) playing key characters.

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Also Read: What happened to Jean-Luc Picard on Star Trek? Character's fate, revisited

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