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Jonathan Frakes

Actor and director Jonathan Scott Frakes ( born 19 August 1952 ; age 71) portrayed Commander William T. Riker on Star Trek: The Next Generation , and in four Star Trek films . He also appeared as Riker in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (as an okudagram only), Star Trek: Voyager , Star Trek: Enterprise , Star Trek: Picard , and Star Trek: Lower Decks , and portrayed Thomas Riker in an episode of The Next Generation , and an episode of Deep Space Nine .

He also directed a number of The Next Generation , Deep Space Nine , Voyager , Star Trek: Discovery , and Picard episodes, along with two Star Trek films, Star Trek: First Contact and Star Trek: Insurrection . He and David Carson are the only people to have directed Star Trek television and film productions.

Along with Marina Sirtis and John de Lancie , he is one of only three actors to play the same character in four different live action Star Trek series as of 2023 .

He and Tim Russ are the only actors to appear on screen with four Star Trek captains. (Frakes also appeared with William Shatner in Star Trek Generations , but did not share any scenes with him).

• 2 Television career
• 3.1 The Riker Maneuver
• 4 Further work
• 5.1 Appearances as William T. Riker
• 5.2 Additional roles
• 5.3 Aftershow appearances
• 6 Star Trek directorial credits
• 7 Other Trek connections
• 8 Star Trek interviews
• 9 External links

Personal [ ]

Frakes, whose father was a college professor who taught English and literature, was born in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania , and raised in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania . He began acting at a young age in junior high and high school plays.

Following high school, Frakes enrolled at Pennsylvania State University as a psychology major, and during his time at Penn State became involved with an off-campus professional theater group; this experience eventually led to Frakes changing his major to theater arts. Upon completion of his studies, a Bachelor of Fine Arts and Theater Arts, Frakes spent two summers studying drama at Harvard University, where he performed at the Loeb Drama Center.

On 28 May 1988, he married the actress Genie Francis (Laura Spencer on General Hospital , on which a pre- Spock Leonard Nimoy starred in 1963 and on which Corbin Bernsen starred long after playing Q2 ) after working together in the television mini-series North and South. Francis is the daughter of the late character actor Ivor Francis, and the colony mentioned in Star Trek: First Contact , Ivor Prime , may have been named after Frakes's father-in-law. Frakes portrayed the brother of fellow Star Trek actors Kirstie Alley and James Read in North and South and North and South: Book II . The sequel also starred DS9 guest star Jim Metzler . Frakes previously met Francis filming the drama series Bare Essence in 1983.

Television career [ ]

Prior to Star Trek: The Next Generation , Frakes appeared in numerous TV roles. In 1977, he co-starred on the medical soap opera The Doctors and between 1978 and 1985 held numerous guest roles on various shows such as Fantasy Island , The Dukes of Hazzard , Quincy, M.E. , Highway to Heaven , The Waltons , and The Fall Guy.

Frakes also held a guest role in a 1982 episode of Hill Street Blues . The series featured many Star Trek personalities including James B. Sikking in the recurring role of Lieutenant Howard Hunter and Barbara Bosson as Fay Furillo. The series also featured guest roles by Jonathan Banks , Merritt Butrick , Miguel Ferrer , Larry A. Hankin , Tim Culbertson , and Chris Doyle . Brent Spiner also appeared in the 1985 episode "The Life and Time of Dominic Florio Jr".

Frakes in Cybill

In 1985, Frakes was cast as Damon Ross on the prime-time soap opera Falcon Crest , a role for which he became very well known. Later that year he starred as a villainous steel industrialist in the 1985 mini-series North and South . The series co-starred Kirstie Alley as well as a cameo role by the famous country music singer Johnny Cash . In 1994, while working on Star Trek , Frakes returned to his previous role in North and South: Book II . From 1998 to 2002, he was the host of Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction .

In 1994, Frakes portrayed himself in the Cybill episode "Starting on the Wrong Foot", giving a parody on Star Trek . The episode also features Stephen Root .

Star Trek [ ]

Frakes auditioned seven times over six weeks for the part of Riker. ( TNG Season 1 DVD special feature "Selected Crew Analysis – Casting") He was cast in the role, first appearing in the pilot episode in 1987. Frakes portrayed the role of Riker for the next seventeen years in various Star Trek series and films, before returning to the franchise again in 2020 portraying Captain William Riker in the series Star Trek: Picard and Star Trek: Lower Decks .

For the Deep Space Nine episode " Defiant ", Frakes filmed his scenes between Wednesday 5 October 1994 and Tuesday 11 October 1994 on Paramount Stage 4 , 17 , and 18 . According to the call sheet, he received a hair and beard cut prior to filming on 5 October 1994. The call sheets also distinguish the parts of "Will Riker" and "Tom Riker" in the cast section by using the numbers 9A and 9B.

He recorded an audio commentary for the Star Trek: First Contact DVD , a film in which he both starred and directed. His efficient filming style on the set earned him the nickname of "Two-Takes Frakes".

Several of his costumes from his appearances in Star Trek were sold off on the It's A Wrap! sale and auction on eBay, including the episodes " Yesterday's Enterprise ", " The Host ", " Violations ", and " True Q ". [1]

He personally feels that the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode " Code of Honor " is the worst segment of Star Trek that he worked on, [2] while " The Offspring " is his favorite Next Generation episode that he directed. [3]

Frakes pitched his own spin-off Star Trek show, but CBS rejected it due to the perceived over saturation of the franchise. [4]

Frakes returned to direct episodes of Star Trek: Discovery and Star Trek: Picard . For the former series, he directed the first season episode " Despite Yourself ", and the second season episodes " New Eden " and " Project Daedalus ". For the latter, he helmed " Absolute Candor " and " Stardust City Rag ". He also directed two episodes of the third season of Discovery , and will return to direct episodes of the second season of Picard . [5]

Frakes appeared in a promo for the DS9 documentary What We Left Behind . [6]

The Riker Maneuver [ ]

Riker sitting down, by swinging his leg over the chair top

During his role as William T. Riker on Star Trek: The Next Generation , Jonathan Frakes developed an unusual habit of sitting in chairs by swinging his leg over the chair top, essentially "mounting" the chair in order to sit down. [7]

Riker's unique way of standing, often called the "Riker lean"

According to Jonathan Frakes, the manner in which he sat in chairs began in the second season of Star Trek: The Next Generation , specifically due to the chairs in Ten Forward being very low and difficult to sit in, due to Frakes' large stature of being over six feet tall. Eventually, this method of sitting simply became habit and stuck with him for the remainder of the series. [8]

Related to his manner of sitting, fans also noticed the frequency of Riker placing his leg up on consoles, often when standing to overlook a crewman, most often Data when sitting at the operations station . This way of standing, often referred to comically as the "cock-a-leg" or "Riker lean" was attributed for many years to Frakes having a back injury, supposedly due to working as a furniture mover in his early life and severely straining his back muscles. This story went unconfirmed for many years, until Wil Wheaton confirmed Frakes had admitted the same to him during their time together on the series. [9]

The Riker Maneuver actually later became an established Star Trek reference when it was mentioned in Star Trek: Insurrection .

Further work [ ]

His non- Star Trek feature-film directing credits include Clockstoppers , Thunderbirds , and all three of The Librarian movies. He directed the Star Trek spoof Star Patrol! in 1999 which was planned as a potential pilot for a series but not picked up by 20th Century Fox.

He has also directed various television episodes, including shows such as Roswell , Dollhouse , Castle (including an episode, "The Final Frontier", that featured a large number of Trek references), The Good Guys , and NCIS: Los Angeles . He has also directed several episodes of The Librarians , a spinoff of the film series, which films in the Portland, Oregon area. [10] In these works, he frequently makes cameo appearances. He has also directed episodes of The Orville , a science fiction series which is largely inspired by The Next Generation .

He has also co-written a book, The Abductors: Conspiracy .

Frakes was later a member of The Sunspots, along with Patrick Stewart , Michael Dorn , and LeVar Burton . They appeared as the background vocals for "It's a Sin to Tell a Lie" on Brent Spiner 's 1991 album Ol' Yellow Eyes is Back .

Frakes is also credited with playing trombone for "Riker's Mailbox" on the 1994 Phish album, Hoist .

Star Trek appearances [ ]

Appearances as william t. riker [ ].

Jonathan Frakes is the only Star Trek regular cast member to appear in six Star Trek television series.

• TNG : Every episode
• " Defiant " ( okudagram )
• " Death Wish "
• Star Trek Generations
• Star Trek: First Contact
• Star Trek: Insurrection
• Star Trek Nemesis
• " These Are the Voyages... "
• " Nepenthe "
• " Et in Arcadia Ego, Part 2 "
• " The Next Generation "
• " Disengage "
• " Seventeen Seconds "
• " No Win Scenario "
• " Imposters "
• " The Bounty "
• " Surrender "
• " The Last Generation "
• " No Small Parts "
• " Strange Energies "
• " Kayshon, His Eyes Open "
• " Worst Contact "

Additional roles [ ]

Aftershow appearances [ ]

Appearances on AT : and TRR :

• " Vaulting Ambition "
• " LD Season 1 Finale Special "
• " People of Earth "
• " There Is A Tide... "
• " Stormy Weather "
• " Two of One "
• " Those Old Scientists "
• " Lagrange Point "

Star Trek directorial credits [ ]

Jonathan Frakes has directed many Star Trek episodes, and two movies . As of 2024, he has directed the most episodes of any Star Trek actor.

• " The Offspring "
• " Reunion "
• " The Drumhead "
• " Cause And Effect "
• " The Quality of Life "
• " The Chase "
• " Attached "
• " Sub Rosa "
• " The Search, Part II "
• " Meridian "
• " Past Tense, Part II "
• " Projections "
• " Parturition "
• " Prototype "
• " Despite Yourself "
• " New Eden "
• " Project Daedalus "
• " The Sanctuary "
• " Absolute Candor "
• " Stardust City Rag "
• " Fly Me to the Moon "

Other Trek connections [ ]

• Alfre Woodard , who starred in First Contact , is his self-proclaimed godmother (despite being three months younger).
• He shares his birthday with Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry and TNG co-star Diana Muldaur .
• Aside from Voyager and Nemesis , Frakes has worked with Kate Mulgrew on two other projects: Gargoyles (which also featured the voice of numerous actors from Star Trek , including Avery Brooks , Nichelle Nichols , Marina Sirtis , Brent Spiner , LeVar Burton , Michael Dorn , and Colm Meaney ) and Camp Nowhere (which also starred Christopher Lloyd and Thomas F. Wilson ).
• He directed Brent Spiner and Armin Shimerman in the episode "The Juror #6 Job" and also Spencer Garrett in the episode "The Morning After Job", of the series Leverage .
• In 2002, Frakes directed the movie Clockstoppers , where he included line "Make it so, Number One", an in-joke in reference to his Star Trek days.
• In 2012, Frakes directed Armin Shimerman in the Castle episode "The Final Frontier", and had a small cameo as an autograph-seeking fan.
• In 2013 Frakes voiced an adult version of Finn the Human in an episode of Adventure Time with a plot very similar to that of " The Inner Light ". The same episode also included a cameo by Wallace Shawn .

Star Trek interviews [ ]

• TNG Season 1 DVD special feature "The Beginning"
• TNG Season 1 DVD special feature "Selected Crew Analysis" ("Casting", "Character Notes", "Camaraderie")
• TNG Season 1 DVD special feature "The Making of a Legend" ("Artistic Design")
• TNG Season 1 DVD special feature "Memorable Missions"
• TNG Season 2 DVD special feature "Mission Overview: Year Two" (" Ten Forward "), interviewed on 20 September 1988
• TNG Season 2 DVD special feature "Selected Crew Analysis Year Two", interviewed on 23 March 1994
• TNG Season 3 DVD special feature "Mission Overview Year Three" (" The Offspring ", " Guinan Returns", "Special Guests on the Bridge"), interviewed on 2 November 2001
• TNG Season 3 DVD special feature "Selected Crew Analysis Year Three" ("Crew Profile: Riker and Troi "), interviewed on 2 November 2001
• TNG Season 4 DVD special feature "Mission Overview Year Four", interviewed on 2 November 2001
• TNG Season 4 DVD special feature "Mission Overview Year Four" ("Celebrating 100 Episodes"), interviewed by Entertainment Tonight in 1991
• TNG Season 4 DVD special feature "Selected Crew Analysis" ("Profile: Vash "), interviewed on 2 November 2001
• TNG Season 4 DVD special feature "Departmental Briefing Year Four" ("Production"), interviewed on 2 November 2001
• TNG Season 4 DVD special feature "Inside the Star Trek Archives" (" First Contact "), interviewed on 2 November 2001
• TNG Season 5 DVD special feature "Mission Overview Year Five" ("A Visit from Spock "), interviewed on 2 November 2001
• TNG Season 5 DVD special feature "Departmental Briefing Year Five" (" Cause And Effect "), interviewed on 2 November 2001
• TNG Season 5 DVD special feature "Intergalactic Guest Stars" (Main segment, "Profile: Captain Morgan Bateson "), interviewed on 2 November 2001
• TNG Season 5 DVD special feature "A Tribute to Gene Roddenberry " ("Gene Roddenberry Building Dedicated to Star Trek's Creator", "Gene's Final Voyage"), interviewed on 6 June 1991 , 31 March 1994 , and an unknown date
• TNG Season 6 DVD special feature "Bold New Directions Year Six" ("A First Chance at " Second Chances ""), interviewed on 2 November 2001
• TNG Season 6 DVD special feature "Departmental Briefing Year Six" ("Writing", "Acting with Spiner "), interviewed on 2 November 2001
• TNG Season 7 DVD special feature "Mission Overview Year Seven" ("An Ending And A Beginning"), interviewed on 2 November 2001
• TNG Season 7 DVD special feature "Departmental Briefing Year Seven: Production" ("New Director, New Challenges"), interviewed on 2 November 2001
• TNG Season 7 DVD special feature "Starfleet Moments & Memories Year Seven" ("A Unique Legacy"), interviewed on 2 November 2001
• "Jonathan Frakes – Commander William Riker", The Official Star Trek: The Next Generation Magazine  issue 1 , p. 14, interviewed by Marc Shapiro
• "Jonathan Frakes – Commander William Riker", The Official Star Trek: The Next Generation Magazine  issue 3 , pp. 4-9, interviewed by Edward Gross
• "Riker's Role", The Official Star Trek: The Next Generation Magazine  issue 4 , p. 26, interviewed by Dennis Fischer
• "Jonathan Frakes – Commander William Riker", The Official Star Trek: The Next Generation Magazine  issue 5 , pp. 6-11
• "A Career as a Captain", The Official Star Trek: The Next Generation Magazine  issue 7 , p. 6, interviewed by David McDonnell
• "Jonathan Frakes – Commander William Riker", The Official Star Trek: The Next Generation Magazine  issue 11 , pp. 55-57, interviewed by Christina Mavroudis & Michael McAvennie
• All Good Things Blu-ray special feature The Unknown Possibilities of Existence: Making "All Good Things" ( 2014 )

External links [ ]

• Jonathan Frakes at Wikipedia
• Jonathan Frakes at the Internet Movie Database
• Jonathan Frakes at X (formerly Twitter)
• Jonathan Frakes  at Instagram
• Jonathan Frakes at TriviaTribute.com – pictures, sound clips and trivia
• 1 Daniels (Crewman)

• Jonathan Frakes

IMDbPro Starmeter Top 5,000 570

• Contact info
• 3 wins & 6 nominations

• William Riker
• Jack Conrad
• In Production

• Commander William T. Riker (voice)

• William Thomas Riker (voice)

• 12 episodes

• King Faraday
• Boss Moxie (voice)

• Capt. William T. Riker (voice)

• J. Jonah J'Son
• Narrator (voice)
• 14 episodes

• Father (voice)

• Steak Starbolt (voice)

• Volk (voice)

• Sheriff Gruenwell

• Pre-production

• 10 episodes

• co-executive producer
• supervising producer
• 11 episodes

• executive producer
• 61 episodes

Personal details

• 6′ 2½″ (1.89 m)
• August 19 , 1952
• Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, USA
• Genie Francis May 28, 1988 - present (2 children)
• Children Jameson Ivor Frakes
• Parents James R. Frakes
• Other works "The Common Glory" play
• 14 Interviews
• 9 Magazine Cover Photos

Did you know

• Trivia Frakes is also a talented Jazz trombonist, a skill he used multiple times through his time on Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987) .
• Quotes My favorite actor of all time is Genie Francis .
• Trademarks Deep resonant authoritative voice
• Two-Takes Frakes
• Salaries Star Trek: First Contact ( 1996 ) $5,000,000

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'Star Trek': Jonathan Frakes reflects on one of his biggest 'Next Generation' era regrets

At least one  TNG episode, though, was “a missed opportunity.”

Credit: CBS

Though his regular TV tour aboard the Enterprise came to an end in 1994, Jonathan Frakes has never strayed too far from the final frontier since first building Cpt. William T. Riker into an iconic series mainstay on Star Trek: The Next Generation . In recent years, Frakes has reteamed with TNG ’s Sir Patrick Stewart on Star Trek: Picard at Paramount+, while also voicing his fan-favorite character, in animated form, on Star Trek: Lower Decks .

In a recent discussion of how Star Trek continues to ride science fiction’s progressive edge when it comes to exploring social themes, Frakes told entertainment outlet  The Companion  (check out the full, extended interview there) that times have definitely changed in the decades since he first boarded the TNG cast for a “life changing” turn in his own TV career. But, he added, the series has always made an effort to hew to Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry’s vision of inclusiveness — even when the times haven’t been quite ready for it.

Confessing that today’s Star Trek handles social themes more gracefully than The Next Generation could sometimes manage, Frakes cited the 1992 TNG episode “The Outcast” as a case where gender-agnostic treatments caused far more studio fret back in the day than they do on current series like Star Trek: Discovery . Declining to cast a man to play the role of Soren, the gender-indefinite alien whom Riker falls in love with, he said, has “always seemed like a missed opportunity.”

Check out the interview at The Companion as part of their "To Boldly Ask" podcast series .

‘Riker was sent to a planet of androgynous beings — and clearly the story was meant to be that Riker and this androgynous character had chemistry,” he said. “…And the character should have been cast as a man, I think… The network, or someone, didn’t have the guts to do that, so they cast an androgynous looking woman so Riker would not be perceived as gay, perhaps? I’m not quite sure what the thinking was. But it’s always seemed like a missed opportunity.”

If that sounds critical, Frakes definitely delivers his doses of Star Trek self-reflection with tons of love. Being cast alongside Stewart in The Next Generation , he said, “completely changed my life; my career; the focus of my career — and all for the better. Thirty-five years ago, I was that guy who had just strung together a couple of guest spots…[but] in 1987, the pilot I was able to get happened to be Star Trek: The Next Generation . So I didn’t know enough about Star Trek to know that that was life changing. But looking back 35 years, it was hugely significant.”

Even with its casting choices, “The Outcast” may have pushed social boundaries when it first aired in the early 1990s, just as current Star Trek series do in newer ways today. Pleasing die-hard fans while preserving the mainstream appeal of Star Trek , said Frakes, has always been a delicate balancing act — as the early reception for The Next Generation demonstrated at the time.

“People react to Star Trek , get so deep into the weeds and so specific about things and so precious about it,” he said. “I mean, when our show came on the air, nobody wanted to see ‘old English captain with a French name.’ They wanted Kirk...They also had no interest in Data; they wanted Spock. They wanted Bones.”

Frakes likely isn’t letting those kinds of expectations hold him back from his latest Star Trek task: directing a crossover episode of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds that mixes in animated segments with the characters of Lower Decks . Watch for that episode to arrive sometime in the not-too-distant future, as we await word for Strange New Worlds ’ Season 2 premiere date from Paramount+ .

Looking for more sci-fi adventure in the meantime? Check out Battlestar Galactica streaming now on Peacock.

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• Star Trek: Strange New Worlds
• Star Trek: The Next Generation

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Jonathan Frakes Reveals A Classic Marvel Trick On Discovery 's Penultimate Episode

The Star Trek veteran talks about his journey from The Next Generation to Discovery , plus, what's next for him in the Final Frontier, and beyond.

Number One is back for one last spin on Star Trek: Discovery . Since 2018, Jonathan Frakes — best known as the actor who played Riker on Star Trek: The Next Generation — has been behind the camera, directing episodes of Discovery . Longtime Trek fans will know this is nothing particularly new; Frakes crossed over from actor to director during the run of The Next Generation , and famously directed First Contact , the 1996 smash-hit feature film. And now, he’s helmed “Lagrange Point,” the penultimate episode of Discovery’s final season , having been one of the first Star Trek veterans there when the show first launched, seven years ago.

“When I first went over there, it reminded me so much of us on Next Gen in our first season, where we were so nervous because the audience was skeptical,” Frakes says of his Discovery journey. “I would tell the cast what Deforest Kelly [Bones in The Original Series ] told me: ‘This is going to change your life and it’s going to be for the best.’”

But, just like The Next Generation , all good things must come to an end. Just before Discovery airs its final two episodes, Inverse caught up with Frakes to look back at the journey of this crew, his ever-growing Star Trek resume, and what he thinks is next for the franchise. Mild spoilers ahead for Discovery’s “ Lagrange Point.”

Breen soldiers in Star Trek: Discovery . Or are these undercover Starfleet crew?

Other than The Original Series and Enterprise , Frakes has directed episodes from every single live-action Star Trek series, including two episodes from 2023’s critically acclaimed final season of Picard , as well as the Strange New Worlds/Lower Decks crossover episode, “Those Old Scientists.” But with so much Trek directorial experience under his Starfleet belt, Frakes is never phoning it in. With Discovery’s next-to-last episode, Frakes is bringing in a Marvel technique, to give this Star Trek episode some much-needed intimacy.

“The close-ups were essential,” Frakes explains. “I had a wonderful new cinematographer Maya Bankovic and she and I had not worked together before. It was clear when we read the script that there was no way we can tell the story without some close-ups.” What Frakes means is that, in the episode, Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green), Book (David Ajala), Adira (Blu del Barrio), and Rhys (Patrick Kwok-Choon) have to infiltrate a Breen warship, fully disguised as Breen soldiers, complete with helmets that will remind anyone of Princess Leia’s disguise in Return of the Jedi . But all the characters — specifically Book and Burnham — have very heavy dialogue in the episode, which varies from both plot-defining, to emotionally poignant.

“How could we do that? We don't know who the hell is who,” Frakes explains. This problem led to a unique solution, courtesy of a Marvel influence; shoot close-ups that simulated what it would feel like inside each of the enclosed helmets. “We needed to find a way to get that Iron Man shot without the Iron Man money,” Frakes says with a laugh.

And once you see the episode, it will make perfect sense what Frakes means. The inside of Book and Burnham’s helmets, as they speak to each other, is the Star Trek take on the interior of Tony Stark’s helmet, pioneered in the first Iron Man film in 2008.

The “Iron Man” shot. A technique Jonathan Frakes borrowed for Star Trek: Discovery .

“We found that look for those closeups so we could cut inside the helmet and could tell the story, which was specifically important for the new information that Burnham had not had any time to share with Book.”

The emotional journey that Frakes captures between Book and Burnham in this episode parallels his emotional journey with working on Discovery , which was, essentially, Jonathan Frakes’ first return to the Trek franchise since having briefly appeared in the finale of Enterprise in 2005. And now, thanks to Discovery , Frakes is more involved with Star Trek than ever before. “For Strange New Worlds Season 3, I just finished [directing] an episode, which is fabulous by the way. I was asked to come and [direct] on Starfleet Academy , but the block they offered me is exactly when my son is getting married. I think I’ll definitely be coming back for Season 2.”

As Discovery and Lower Decks both end this year, it’s strange to hear Jonathan Frakes talking about the second season of a new Star Trek series that hasn’t even aired. But, because he’s been around this space franchise since 1987, Frakes knows you always have to keep your eye on the future.

Seven years ago, the idea of various new Star Trek shows wasn’t even a possibility, and even three years ago, Strange New Worlds hadn’t debuted, and Starfleet Academy was a rumor. For Frakes, coming back to play in each iteration is a part of his life he’ll never get tired of.

“I mean, now we've got the cast of Strange New Worlds, and we've got the cast of Lower Decks, and we're about to get the cast of Starfleet Academy, and we've got the new people who are on Section 31 . It’s all very exciting,” Frakes enthuses. “This new next-generation Star Trek that Alex Kurtzman has created is so rich. It’s a privilege to be part of it. Star Trek is the gift that keeps giving.”

Star Trek: Discovery streams on Paramount+.

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Jonathan Frakes Is a ‘Star Trek’ Legend and the Franchise’s Secret Weapon Behind the Camera

Christian blauvelt.

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“The line must be drawn he-uh!”

Twenty-five years after Patrick Stewart’s Jean-Luc Picard most emphatically said those words, that moment from the film “ Star Trek : First Contact” has become a full-on meme. Multiple clips of it on YouTube have hundreds of thousands of views each. It’s become one of the defining moments for the character. It also means a lot to its director.

“That still holds up as one of my favorite things I’ve ever, ever been involved in as a director,” Jonathan Frakes said.

Frakes, known to fans as Picard’s “Number One,” Commander Riker, has had a very successful career as an actor — and undoubtedly that’s what keeps the fans coming to meet him at “Star Trek” conventions. But he’s had as prolific a career behind the camera, as director of “First Contact” and the follow-up film “Star Trek: Insurrection,” and all over the place as a TV director, from “Leverage” and “NCIS: Los Angeles” to “Falling Skies” and “The Orville.”

Most uniquely, he’s now been involved in directing TV episodes of “Star Trek” across nearly 30 years. With the explosion of Paramount+ “Trek” series masterminded by Alex Kurtzman, all with different creative teams than were steering the “Trek” shows Frakes appeared on, such as “The Next Generation,” he’s one bit of connective tissue that ties these disparate eras together. He’s directed the latest episode of “Star Trek: Discovery,” titled “Stormy Weather,” and his character- and actor-centric approach for this installment is immediately apparent.

The ship’s computer, Zora, has recently become sentient, a disembodied AI much like in Spike Jonze’s film “Her.” British actress Annabelle Wallis voices Zora, but she records her lines after the on-set production in Toronto occurs. So Frakes had to get creative and instruct the young actor Ian Alexander, who plays the character Gray, to interact with something that wasn’t there — perform a monologue as if it was a dialogue. Alexander’s resulting performance is really expressive, a triumph of imagination that feels worthy of Jonze’s film.

Frakes is 69 and has been involved with “Star Trek” since “The Next Generation” debuted in 1987, and Alexander is 20 years old and a pathbreaker for representation on the franchise as its first transgender actor . That such a striking scene resulted from this collaboration is what can happen when a veteran with decades of institutional knowledge helps, er, the next generation be best positioned for success.

“Ian really gets it, in terms of his onset demeanor and the additional responsibility that both he and Blu [del Barrio] have taken on to represent the community in a way,” Frakes said. They’re paired, if you will, with a couple of incredible gay icons in Anthony [Rapp] and Wilson [Cruz]. And they’ve embraced their position in the community in such a profound way. And Blu and Ian have been essentially thrust into it, and I think have handled themselves with real profound grace.”

Alexander is the future of “Trek,” but the actors Frakes has directed on various episodes have connections going all the way back to 1940s classics. On “The Next Generation” he helmed installments featuring the actors Norman Lloyd and Jean Simmons (who lobbied to be on the show, because she was such a fan and watched each new episode with a circle of her friends). And a reverence for the groundbreaking artistry of the past informs Frakes’ work.

At the end of the “Stormy Weather” episode, the AI Zora (voiced on set by a Canadian stand-in in this scene and some others, before being replaced by Wallis) comforts Capt. Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) as she risks her life to fly the Discovery solo through a spatial anomaly. In the final version of the episode, Wallis sings “Stormy Weather,” and does a very good job of it. But the initial plan was to have the actual recording made famous by Lena Horne from the 1940s play in that moment. Kurtzman’s close creative partner Jenny Lumet, an executive producer on “Discovery” and writer of “Rachel Getting Married,” is the granddaughter of Horne.

“It was the perfect song choice,” Frakes said. “For the metaphors that run deep, the relationship between Burnham and Book (David Ajala), the trouble that the ship is in, this state of the Federation.” That’s typical of his ability to see connections across eras that might not be readily apparent — fans may remember the twirl across the 1940s ballroom in “First Contact” or the unexpected Gilbert and Sullivan duet in “Insurrection.” He loves Wallis’ version, though. “I think it may be better that it doesn’t take you out of it by having Horne singing it.”

Frakes, who’s already completed directing two episodes of the upcoming second season of “Star Trek: Picard” and is signed for two more for the third season after that, sure has a lot more tools at his disposal now than he did when directing “Trek” back in the ‘90s.

“We had all the toys!” Frakes said of that final “Stormy Weather” scene of Burnham steering the ship. “We had diopters, and a lipstick cam, and cranes, and practical fire, and VFX fire.” Thirty-five years after he first set foot on the bridge of the Enterprise-D, Frakes’ enthusiasm for “Star Trek” burns as bright as ever.

The “Stormy Weather” episode of “Star Trek: Discovery” is currently available on Paramount+. The show will stream its mid-season finale on December 30, before returning with new episodes February 10.

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“Everything’s okay. People respect you”: Jonathan Frakes, Brent Spiner Had to Personally Intervene after Patrick Stewart’s Wild Hissy Fit on Star Trek Set

P atrick Stewart, Jonathan Frakes, and, Brent Spiner worked alongside in the iconic 1987 series  Star Trek: The Next Generation. With Stewart reprising his role of Jean-Luc Picard, and Spiner and Frakes portraying William T. Raker and Data/Lore respectively, the trio had their fair share of good time on the sets.

However, it wasn’t always a good time for the cast. While shooting the first season of the 1987 show, Sir Patrick Stewart apparently walked off the set because he was laughed at! Sharing the story in his memoir, Stewart revealed that all was in good nature and that he too had a lesson to learn from it.

When Sir Patrick Stewart Became Furious

Back in 1987, the  X-Men  actor had made himself famous by portraying the role of Captain Picard in the  Star Trek  franchise. With the inception of  The Next Generation,  the actor got into his serious role and wanted to give the series his utmost dedication.

Things took a turn for the worse, however, when Patrick Stewart’s co-stars started goofing around on the sets of the series. From multiple retakes to ad-libbing the script to make it more funny, Stewart did not like the unseriousness of the people at all.

After Leonard Nimoy, Patrick Stewart Nearly Had a Star-crossed Star Trek Reunion With William Shatner in The Next Generation

Since the actor was a part of the Royal Shakespearean Company, he hadn’t seen this much goofing around on set. While writing in his memoir titled Making It So: A Memoir (via The Hollywood Reporter ), the actor talked about how he got a little angry at his castmates.

My castmates doubled over in laughter when they flubbed multiple takes and, in rehearsals, they sometimes ad-libbed things that weren’t in the script to make their lines funnier

He further continued,

That’s when I called that meeting in which I lectured the cast for goofing off and responded to Denise Crosby’s, ‘We’ve got to have some fun sometimes, Patrick,’ comment by saying, ‘We are not here, Denise, to have fun.’

Expecting that the people would understand the intensity of the situation, Sir Patrick Stewart was both surprised and humiliated when the cast started laughing! Not taking his words seriously, Stewart himself writes that he didn’t handle the embarrassment well.

“This was not at all a mark of disrespect”: Patrick Stewart Had 3 Specific Conditions That Essentially Doomed Star Trek: Picard Season 4

As the excerpt continued, the Macbeth  actor further wrote about how he felt that he had lost the respect of his cast mates. With no one taking him seriously, Sir Patrick Stewart had no choice but to storm off from the meeting and slam his trailer door.

Sir Patrick Stewart Stormed Off And Slammed His Trailer Door

Although the humiliating feeling of getting laughed at was too overbearing for the actor at that moment, Patrick Stewart is chill with it now. In his memoir, the actor mentioned that even though it was not a good day for him, he and the rest of the cast still laugh about it to this day.

Facing some disrespect from his castmates, the Logan  actor left the conference room in a sulking mood, went to his trailer, and slammed the door in anger.

In retrospect, everyone, me included, finds this story hilarious. But, in the moment, when the cast erupted in hysterics at my pompous declaration, I didn’t handle it well. I didn’t enjoy being laughed at. I stormed off the set and into my trailer, slamming the door.

The actor further wrote that it was at this moment when Jonathan Frakes and Brent Spiner knocked on his door to talk to him.

[Brent Spiner said to me] Everything’s okay. People respect you, but I think you misjudged the situation here. I had failed to read the room, imposing RSC behavior on people accustomed to the ways of episodic television — which was, after all, what we were shooting.

After a while, Patrick Stewart got a hang of things about how different people act alongside their iconic skills. Over the course of the series, the actor acknowledged that the cast should be allowed to goof around and he even joined in the fun later on!

“We’re not stuck in a formula for entertainment”: Years Before Infinity War, Patrick Stewart Revealed the 1 Rule for Marvel to Beat Superhero Fatigue

Star Trek: The Next Generation  ran for 7 seasons with the finale released in 1994. The iconic television series received a rating of 8.7/10 on IMDB and a whopping 92% on Rotten Tomatoes.  The series is available to stream on Paramount+ in the U.S.

“I’ve never heard that rumor”: Jonathan Frakes Broke Millions of Star Trek Fans’ Hearts With The Next Generation Movie Update

Star Trek 4 is nowhere to be seen, and neither is the cast of The Next Generation.

• Star Trek universe's adventures seem to have come to a standstill with Paramount studio's lack of enthusiasm regarding the fourth movie.
• Star Trek veteran asks the studio to offer the fourth film to Quentin Tarantino to revive the franchise for the newer audience.
• Star Trek: The Next Generation actor Jonathan Frakes delivers a disappointing update regarding the franchise.

The interstellar universe of  Star Trek has been a narrative of explorers and adventurers traveling the vast expanse of galactic space in search of new worlds, new species, new cultures, and identities. With a whole array of movies and series serving as a blueprint for the sci-fi universe, the otherwise empty expanse never feels so empty anymore even with the constant threats of having to encounter unknown alien entities.

But after half a century, it finally seems like the world has arrived at an impasse regarding what next to do with the  Star Trek  universe and its future at Paramount.

The Star Trek Franchise Arrives At an Impasse at Paramount

Whether Paramount is willing or not, the future of the Star Trek franchise seems to be at stake. After the formidable J.J. Abrams reboot featuring Chris Pine , Zachary Quinto, Karl Urban , and Zoë Saldaña, the trilogy effectively revived and resurged the mass interest in the IP against its  Star Wars competitors. But, the plans to move forward with a Chris Hemsworth prequel stalled after the studio arrived at an impasse regarding the future of the franchise.

I say greenlight the [Quentin] Tarantino and Noah Hawley, if you are lucky enough to get either of them. And if they are too busy to direct, I’ll be available.

“Give Star Trek 4 to Quentin Tarantino ASAP”: Star Trek Fans Outraged as Movie Loses 4th Director in a Span of Months After Matt Shakman Jumps Ship to MCU’s Fantastic Four

Although Tarantino expressed interest in directing an independent  Star Trek  film before, his stance on the subject might be very different now given his retirement plans after finishing The Movie Critic. Similarly,  Fargo  creator Noah Hawley has remained mostly silent on the subject due to Paramount’s unwillingness to move forward with the Chris Hemsworth prequel.

Star Trek  Veteran Has a Theory About the Franchise’s Future

In the numerous years spent serving the sci-fi universe, Jonathan Frakes has accumulated enough know-how about the workings of the franchise to deliver a verdict on its future direction. According to Frakes, the best decision in terms of reviving the IP would be to pick up the story from where it last ended, with  Star Trek Beyond  serving as a doorstop.

An expansion of that storyline, whether in the prequel or sequel form would be the most profitable, considering the A-list status of Chris Pine and Chris Hemsworth even more so now than when they first appeared in the 2009 reboot.

After Leonard Nimoy, Patrick Stewart Nearly Had a Star-crossed Star Trek Reunion With William Shatner in The Next Generation

However, with a more flexible budget after the success of the new smaller series , Star Trek: Discovery ,  Picard , and  Strange New Worlds , the franchise could headline a prestige movie with some of its older cast members to reignite fan nostalgia. According to Frakes, that supposed movie was supposed to arrive in the form of a  Next Gen  venture with his former castmates.

Nonetheless, that plan fell through, and when asked by TrekMovie whether there were any rumors about a possible reunion for Star Trek: The Next Generation cast in the future, the actor-director replied,  “I’ve never heard that rumor. No.”  At least it’s safe to say that the fandom will remain adrift among the stars for longer than expected.

Star Trek: The Next Generation  is available for streaming on Paramount+

jonathan frakes Star Trek Star Trek: The Next Generation

Written by Diya Majumdar

With a degree in Literature from Miranda House, Diya Majumdar now has over 1600 published articles on FandomWire. Her passion and profession both include dissecting the world of cinema while being a liberally opinionated person with an overbearing love for music, Monet, and Van Gogh.

Copyright © 2024 FandomWire, LLC. All rights reserved.

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“is this a joke” how a classic ‘star trek’ episode broke the rules of the franchise.

Actor-director Jonathan Frakes and writer Brannon Braga look back at the time-loop episode "Cause and Effect," which debuted 30 years ago this week: "There’s got to be a mistake here. The acts just keep repeating."

By Phil Pirrello

Phil Pirrello

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“I thought Brannon was fucking with me.”

It’s easy to see why Star Trek : The Next Generation actor Jonathan Frakes had that reaction when he first read writer Brannon Braga’s script for “Cause and Effect” 30 years ago. Neither the series nor television in general had ever attempted something like it before.

Frakes had the challenging task of both acting in and directing the deceptively simple season five episode, which finds Captain Picard (Patrick Stewart) and the crew of the Enterprise-D stuck in a time loop. The loop results in the crew dying over and over again as their ship explodes upon contact with another starship, the very old U.S.S. Bozeman. With each time loop, Dr. Crusher (Gates McFadden) gets to play detective as she leads the crew’s efforts to escape the loop.

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The result is a riveting, tension-filled hour of Star Trek unlike any before or, really, since. “Cause and Effect” not only made TV history when it aired on March 23, 1992, it also quickly found its way near the top of many fans’ lists of favorite Star Trek episodes.

According to Frakes and Braga, that was not something the production anticipated. Braga’s script was seen as a gamble, as it challenged the tried-and-true episodic formula that has fueled the franchise since the 1960s original series.

In honor of “Cause and Effect” celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, The Hollywood Reporter revisited the episode with Braga and Frakes for a deep dive into the making of a sci-fi classic.

“Originally, I was staff writer at the time, and I was pitching to [the late TNG showrunner and executive producer] Michael Piller a Rashomon -style idea I wanted to do,” Braga tells THR about how he came upon what would become “Cause and Effect.”

Braga had always wanted to tell the same story from several points of view, one that would unfold several times. But he couldn’t quite figure out how to expand that kernel into a full hour of TV, until it dawned on him: “Why not just tell the same story over and over? That seemed like something I haven’t seen before.”

Initially, there was some doubt that anyone would ever see it.

“We weren’t really committed to doing time travel at the time,” Braga recalls. “[ Trek creator] Gene Roddenberry, who was still alive, wasn’t a big fan of time travel, because I think he felt it was a bit of a science fiction cliché. And he’d done it with [the classic Original Series episode] ‘City on the Edge of Forever.'”

Braga got around that strict mandate by arguing that time travel doesn’t have to be just traveling back in time to the past. One could be forced to repeat it, by getting caught up in a time loop. That realization got the episode closer to a green light. And it didn’t hurt that Braga and Ron Moore, the pair that later would co-write the TNG series finale, “All Good Things …”, had somewhat favorable status on staff that allowed for the outside-the-box idea to squeeze past the very specific parameters that Piller and executive producer Rick Berman had about what could pass for a Next Gen episode.

Despite Braga’s cachet as one of the show’s strongest writers, the initial script for “Cause and Effect” was met with some trepidation.

“The early reactions to the script were similar to the reactions that the audience had when watching the episode, which was confusion,” Braga remembers. “Because you’re reading that script and you’re like, ‘Wait a second. There’s got to be a mistake here. The acts just keep repeating. Is this a joke?’”

In fact, following the explosive teaser that sees the Enterprise blow up, Braga opens each subsequent act of the script by repeating the exact same (or similar) dialogue from other acts. (Contrary to popular belief, the episode wasn’t just an easy, “cut and paste” affair for the writer, which is quickly evident if you read his script.)

The time loop format confused audiences to the point where, infamously, viewers called in complaints to their local affiliates that ran the syndicated episode, thinking the repeating acts were a glitch.

How that design would unfold visually fell to Frakes, who lucked out with this episode following three previous directorial efforts on TNG , which include such memorable hours as “The Offspring,” “Reunion” and “The Drumhead.”

“At first, I didn’t really get that what Brannon was trying to do was a different kind of Rashomon story,” Frakes says. “It was an evolution almost of the way [the characters] understand what was going on.” From there, Frakes said it was like an “advanced director’s test” on how to shoot the same scenes in different enough ways that the audience didn’t lose out on the new information that every loop provides.

“There are only so many shots you can do,” Frakes explains. “So, stylistically, we tried different things for different scenes — and J.P. Farrell, who cut the episode, deserves a lot of the credit for making those sequences work. We had a plan that we needed to shoot each scene more than one way … we would shoot the master from either side of the room. But I really enjoyed the challenge. Once I realized that [Brannon] wasn’t fucking with me, it was fun.”

Frakes even discovered a shot that TNG had never done before.

“I think during prep, I was with Doug Dean, he was my first [A.D.], and we’re shooting one of the many scenes in the conference room, the observation lounge set,” recalls Frakes. “And we got an overhead shot of the conference room that we hadn’t used before. I said: ‘What if we go all the way up there?’ And [Doug] said: ‘Well, nobody’s gone there.’ To which I was like: ‘Oh, all the better!’”

Frakes and his crew also found ways to shoot the familiar set from new positions, such as filming a master from Riker’s side of the bridge, or starting from the station manned by Ensign Ro (Michelle Forbes). In one important loop, Frakes even borrowed from the most famous movie director ever.

“We did a lot of those Spielberg-style push-ins and close-ups. We started with Crusher figuring it out first, then [Michael] Dorn (Worf) as he figures it out during a poker game. And then Picard, later in a scene, we push in on him reading a book as he realizes he’s read that section before,” says Frakes. “So there were enough kind of signature, visual metaphors for [the characters] figuring it out and agreeing on what was going on.”

One of the hardest things for Braga was cracking just how the characters figured out their exit strategy from the loop.

“The two most challenging things about the script,” Braga recalls, “was how to get them physically out of the time loop. That was the main hurdle. And the second thing was the crew explaining to themselves, and therefore the audience, just what the hell is going on here.”

For the former, Braga turned to his best resource: His fellow writers in the room.

“It was Michael Piller, Ron Moore, Joe Menoski and Jeri Taylor. I remember being in the room, and I needed help. ‘How the hell does this resolve itself?’” Braga can’t recall if it was him or one of his colleagues that came up with Data (Brent Spiner) seeing the three rank pips on Riker’s collar and using that to send a message to a future loop. But he does remember that “we had an amazing staff of writers, and we helped each other.”

Unfortunately, Braga was largely on his own when it came to the second most difficult thing about writing the episode: The briefing room scene. Here, Geordi (LeVar Burton) explains to his shipmates that they are caught in a very Trek -ian “temporal causality loop.” Ironically, Braga found himself in a time loop of his own, rewriting the scene over and over again.

“It was my first big ‘technobabble’ scene, so it couldn’t just sound cool. It had to sound plausible. It had to resolve all the clues that had been accumulating,” says Braga. “In addition to all the explaining, you have to bring your own voice to it, too. You try to pepper in some cool or shocking moments, like when Picard asks how long we have been in the loop and Geordi responds with something like, ‘It could be years.’ But Piller had me rewrite that scene so many times. I remember over Christmas break of that year, I was working on that scene.”

The episode culminates with Picard faced with the same two choices to get out of this mess that got him into it: In order to avoid collision with the starship Bozeman, he can follow Data’s suggestion of using a tractor beam to push the Enterprise out of the way, or go with Riker’s advice and decompress the main shuttle bay, allowing the explosive reaction to kick them out of the way. Thanks to Data’s message of “three” throughout the ship, the android knows it is his option that dooms the ship, so he goes with Riker’s shuttle bay plan and saves the crew. Originally, this climactic sequence concluded with a visual gag: Glimpses, like after-images, of all the previous times the Enterprise and the Bozeman crashed.

“That was cut for budget,” Braga says. As was the initial concept for the Bozeman to be depicted as a ship from Kirk’s era of The Original Series , with her crew wearing classic series uniforms. Instead, the production “ kit-bashed ” the Reliant starship model from Wrath of Khan to create the Bozeman. They also redressed the Enterprise-D’s battle bridge set to resemble something closer to the Khan era of the 1980s, and put the crewmembers of the Bozeman in Wrath of Khan- style uniforms.

The episode’s final scene hinges on a surprise cameo from a future TV sitcom legend: Cheers ’ Kelsey Grammer as the Bozeman’s captain, Bateson. Grammer’s casting as a captain who has seemingly been stuck in this loop for at least 90 years is one of Frakes’ favorite stories from the production.

“This was pre- Frasier ,” Frakes says. “Before he had his spinoff, he was just a member of the [ Cheers ] ensemble. And they shot that show right around the corner from us, because we were on the same lot. And Kelsey, he was a Trekker. A huge Star Trek fan. And he asked to be on the show, like a number of actors that were fans, like Whoopi Goldberg, did. That’s how I understood it. It was just one day of shooting and I had no idea. But it was fun to shoot.”

“Fun” is a word both fans of “Cause and Effect” and its creators throw around often when discussing this landmark episode of the series, which, after three decades, still remains an outstanding and popular installment of the franchise, which currently clocks in at over 800 episodes.

“When you’re writing it, you have no idea it’s going to turn out to be what it is today,” Braga explains. “I mean, Frakes did a great, great job directing it, but I could never have predicted that we’d be talking about this 30 years later. You just don’t know. You’re not sure if it’s working, which is maybe a good sign when you’re doing something new. But it was unclear to anybody whether or not the audience was going to accept it.”

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Jonathan Frakes on Directing ‘Star Trek: Discovery,’ ‘Picard,’ and What It Was Like Seeing ‘Galaxy Quest’ For the First Time

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While everyone knows Jonathan Frakes for his work as William T. Riker on Star Trek: The Next Generation , what you might not realize is TNG opened the door to his true love: directing. After paying his dues behind-the-scenes by studying how TNG was made, Frakes assumed a new role in the director's chair for Season 3's "The Offspring." With the success of that episode, Frakes was allowed to direct more episodes of TNG , followed by episodes of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Star Trek: Voyager . After helming over a dozen episodes between the three series, Frakes landed his first movie: Star Trek: First Contact . From there he directed more movies (including Star Trek: Insurrection ) and has spent the last decade and a half helming a number of TV shows including Star Trek: Discovery , Star Trek: Picard , Castle , Falling Skies , and many others.

With his recent episode of Star Trek: Discovery now streaming on Paramount+, I recently got to speak with Frakes. During the wide-ranging interview, he spoke about how he dressed as Captain America in the ‘70s at conventions and store openings, his early days in Hollywood trying to get jobs, how he got into directing and was able to helm First Contact , if he’s heard anything about 4K releases of his Star Trek films, what would surprise people to learn about the making of Discovery , Picard Season 2, and more. In addition, as a huge fan of Galaxy Quest , I asked Frakes what it was like to see the movie for the first time, and what it’s like to be part of a show that people still want to talk about decades after it went off the air.

Check out what he had to say below.

COLLIDER: If someone has actually never seen anything that you've done as an actor, or as a director, what is the first thing you want them watching and why?

JONATHAN FRAKES: I think First Contact would be a great introduction to both, because it was a bullet proof script from Brannon Braga and Ron Moore. And it was my first movie, and most successful movie, and it was filled with wonderful guest stars, and it was a great experience on both sides of the camera for me.

I'm going to actually do some follow ups on that later, but I want to switch to something else which is, I don't know if this is true, but I read in the '70s that you worked for Marvel Comics appearing at conventions dressed as Captain America. Is that true?

FRAKES: All true. Absolutely true. With great pride.

As you know, because you've gone to conventions for decades now, what was it like in the '70s at a convention like that, because obviously back then it was not what it is now?

FRAKES: It was nuts. A buddy of mine named Charlie Davis was doing Spider-Man, and he had a connection with somebody at Marvel, and they said, "Oh, now we want to send somebody out as Captain America." So I went up and I met Stan Lee briefly, but I met a woman whose name now goes out of my head. We were both given this gig and were rarely at conventions. We used to open up comic bookstores and 7-Eleven's. We had to go to Marvel and pick up the suits and sign them out. Then we'd go to Chicago, or Omaha, or somewhere and do these appearances, one at 11:00, one at 11:30, one at noon for $50 bucks a day.

And one time we were asked to do, I guess it was a comic book convention in New York. So we're in a Marvel booth posing with these silly outfits on, and the manager of Blood, Sweat & Tears came up to us and said, "Listen, Blood, Sweat & Tears is playing at Lincoln Center tonight. Any way you guys could come and surprise, because Bobby Colomby, who was the drummer, is an enormous Marvel fan?" We said, "Sure." So we went from this seedy comic book convention to Lincoln Center as Spider-Man and Captain America, in the back of a cab with this guy. They were performing, oddly enough, at the Met. So we ran down the aisle at the Metropolitan Opera, and up on stage to surprise the drummer from Blood, Sweat, & Tears. There's a little known factoid about my Marvel experience.

Please tell me there are photos that exist of you in costume.

FRAKES: Absolutely. Our most famous appearance was at the White House, which I'm sure you can track down, at Rosalyn and Amy Carter's lawn party, which was to commemorate and to save, this is early Save the Planet stuff. And Stan Lee was there, and the Hulk was there, and Spider-Man was there. And I was there as Captain America, having gone through this incredibly rigorous security situation to make sure that I wasn't a…I'm not quite sure what they wanted me not to be, but it was a big deal to work at the White House briefly, even on the lawn. So those pictures exist and I'm sure you can track them down and see the young, skinny version of me.

I didn't know parts of this story. And they're amazing. You did guest spots early in your career on Voyagers! , Highway to Heaven , Fantasy Island . The list goes on and on and on. How was Hollywood back then as compared to the way it is now? Is it similar in some regard, or was it radically different back then in terms of how it all went down?

FRAKES: That's a great question. It's different now only because of the pandemic, but I got there in '79, I think Voyagers! was actually with the late Jon-Eric Hexton, who was just in the news after all the tragedy on the Rust set. I was working on Paper Dolls , and I had done Voyagers! with him. I had actually played Charles Lindberg in an episode, and he was now on another show, and I was doing Paper Dolls , and he was in the next stage and the word spread that he had been messing around with his prop gun, pretending to shoot himself in the head, and he had died. I'll never, ever forget how it rippled through the city.

On a lighter note, it used to be when you went to an audition, you sat in the hallway with a bunch of guys who you've seen before. You got to know each other because you were all always up for the same parts. Hopefully one of you would get the part. Hopefully it'd be a good enough part that you made your rent for the month. And then you go on to the next. That was the way it was for many, many years. And then you hope you get a pilot season, hope you get a pilot. Sometimes I did. Sometimes I didn't. Then I got Star Trek . Fast forward to the last couple of years, there is no more sitting in the hallways. There is no more going to a casting office, or meeting a director, or meeting a producer. Everything is done on tape.

So all the casting I've done for the last two years on all the shows I've directed has all been off tape. I kind of miss the experience of meeting the actors in person, and be able to look them in the eye, and get a sense of who they are, and have a little schmooze with them. But that's the biggest difference. That's been caused primarily by the pandemic. Sometimes the location situation has changed it. I mean, there's a lot of shooting in Vancouver, Atlanta, Toronto, and New Orleans so that the guest stars who generally come from New York or LA are not going to come down there to audition. You will look at them on tape.

But even there you would go hire all your local actors in person. So that's what, off the top of my head, is the biggest difference. The rest of it is you try to get a job, you go and shoot your job. You have your, whatever it is, seven days to shoot an episode. Here's the amount of time you have, here's amount of money you have. Do the best job you can and hopefully turn it in on time, and somebody likes it, and you get hired back.

What is it actually like being part of something that people still want to talk about decades after it went off the air?

FRAKES: That is mind blowing to me. When I'm directing on Picard , for instance, I had an episode with John de Lancie, who played Q on our show, and Brent Spiner now plays another character on Picard , and Patrick and I. The four of us are sitting there and it was like a weekend had passed, but it had been 35 years, or something like that, since we had started this show together. And conventions still keep it alive. It's on somewhere every night on some obscure channel all over the world. This new ration of shows, Discovery , and Picard , and Strange New Worl ds are there obviously because there's a Star Trek audience, and Lower Decks , and Prodigy . So it's obviously a blessing, and something I'm eternally grateful for, but it blows my mind. The loyalty is like the Bond franchise, or the Star Wars franchise. I'm very lucky, and grateful.

When did you actually know that you wanted to direct?

FRAKES: It was early on. I had directed a little bit of some scene stuff and taken a directing course in college and all that stuff, but early on, on Star Trek , I realized from being a series regular for the first time, it was a lot of waiting around, there's a lot of sitting around, and you can only take so many naps. So I spent a lot of time on the set when I wasn't needed. It was clear that the job that appealed to me on that set, besides playing Riker, was kind of the guy at the center of it, or the woman at the center of it. So I asked Rick Berman, who was the keeper of all things Star Trek , at that point, and he said, well, you can start shadowing some of the directors. So it was early in the first season. Then I persevered to the point of, I'm sure, being annoying.

Then I was able to spend time with the editors. And then eventually I was able to be involved in the pre-production meetings, and some of the special effects and visual effects meetings, and then the scoring sessions. So I stayed with it long enough, and Rick acquiesced, and I was blessed with... I mean, we used to do 26 episodes a year, which is unheard of now. So you knew they weren't all going to be home runs. But the one that I got to direct first was an episode called The Offspring, which was a Data episode, which generally meant it was going to be great, because Brent is a genius. It was written by Rene Echevarria, who went on to produce Castle , and all these other shows. It was his spec script. It was a script that he had submitted as a newbie writer. And it was great.

So I was two for two in terms of that. And I had the support, somewhat funny support, because they would take the piss out of me all day long. I had the support of the cast, and the crew I knew. So it was a perfect storm for me in terms of having an opportunity to direct my first thing with a good script, with a good lead, with a good story, and with the people who I, by this, in the third season, people that I knew quite intimately, because you spend 70, 80 hours a week with them.

I know the episode you're talking about, and it is a really good script. They blessed you with something good.

FRAKES: I know. Well that was the luck of the draw. That's what I'm saying, because it's pretty clear they're not all home runs. In those first couple seasons, there were a lot of real stinkers. So I was very, very fortunate, because if it had not been good and had not gone well, I think there wouldn't have been another one. They would've said, "Well, that didn't work out. I don't think we're going to let these actors direct."

So how did it actually come that you landed Star Trek: First Contact ? I believe that's the first one.

FRAKES: Yeah.

So I'm curious, because that's obviously the first movie with The Next Generation cast, and did you fight for it or did they sort of offer it to you?

FRAKES: No. I fought for it, because it was Star Trek 8 it was pretty clear that it wasn't going to be Spielberg, or Ridley Scott, or Zemeckis, or some A-list action director. So whoever was interested, I threw my hat in the ring because I had had some success with some of the episodes, and I had a really good relationship with Rick, and with Ron and Brannon who wrote it. I think what happened, I'm told what happened is that Sherry Lansing, who was the president of Paramount at the time, said, "I love the Star Trek franchise, but I don't really understand it. So Rick, you can make the decision on the director." Obviously with Patrick's approval. Patrick, I believe, had director approval. I'm sure they went out to a number of more experienced and established filmmakers who either were not interested in doing Star Trek 8 , or had scheduling conflicts, or creative difference. I don't know anything, any of the facts, but I know that it was after pitching myself and having my hat in the ring it worked out. And it changed everything for me.

Have you actually had any discussions with Paramount about doing a 4K release of First Contact and Insurrection ?

FRAKES: We had a screening of First Contact about a month ago with a print that Todd Masters had finagled out of Paramount somehow, from the Visual Effects Society. And it was so much fun to watch it on the big screen again. I have not heard anything about that, but I think it's a fabulous idea.

I actually think that all of the films should be remastered in 4K, but of course, that's just me.

FRAKES: Yeah. You're not alone.

So jumping into those two films with First Contact and Insurrection , did you end up having much longer cuts and a lot of deleted scenes that have still not been seen, or is pretty much that stuff out there now?

FRAKES: Insurrection was cut down considerably from the director's cut to what was released. Whereas First Contact , after the director's cut, we were given, or actually maybe after the first screening, Paramount decided they needed more of the ship being Borgified, if you will. So we went back and did a couple of additional, maybe a week of additional shooting. So stuff was added to First Contact , and taken out of Insurrection .

Are the scenes from Insurrection that have been taken out, are all of them available on the Blu-ray, or are there still a lot of things that are on the cutting room floor?

FRAKES: That I do not know. That's a really good question. I have no idea.

I'm only asking because if they were eventually going to do a 4K release, it'd be great for them to include the stuff that never made it into the film. That's a reason for fans to buy it.

FRAKES: Yeah. I suspect that, I'm thinking specifically of some of the traipsing through the woods, and the Ba'ku, and stuff from Insurrection , that John wisely removed. You get too close to your own footage and you fall in love with it. Then somebody with a fresh eye said, "Man, that is just too long, and too boring, that shot." So you say, "Oh really?" "Yeah, I'm bored and it's got to go, or that's got to get cut back." Wiser heads prevail.

While running Collider, I've interviewed a lot of first time directors and they all talk about every shot is perfect. And it's very difficult to cut.

FRAKES: It's true. And the sooner you learn that the better off you are.

But at the same time, I think that fans, some directors, obviously, don't like to share their deleted scenes, they don't want people to see what's not in the finished cut. But others are like, "Yeah, let's just put on the deleted scenes and let people see why it didn't work."

FRAKES: Yeah. I think that's a great idea, especially for fans of the film, or of the genre. It's a great idea. It's like the DVD commentaries. People aren't watching the film for the first time if they're listening to Marina and me talk through the film for two hours. You know what I mean?

Absolutely. And also getting back to the passionate fans, I'm a passionate fan of Star Trek , and Star Wars , and sci-fi, and I like seeing stuff like that, but I also understand why some directors don't want it being shown.

FRAKES: Yeah. I'm not that precious.

You've directed, as far as I know, seven episodes of Discovery . Obviously, I don't know if you've directed anything past episode six. What do you think might surprise fans to learn about the making of the series?

FRAKES: Discovery , from its inception, was, we were told to shoot to thrill essentially. That they were not afraid to go cinematic. They wanted to stay in that sort of J.J. world, which Alex Kurtzman had been part of with the lens flares, and a lot of crane shots, and not necessarily traditional coverage. That was so freeing, and so exciting on a television show, especially coming from some of the cable shows that I've worked on where it's really about your budget. I remember doing a network show called, remember the show Castle ?

Absolutely.

FRAKES: I went in there, Rob Bowman, who used to direct on our show, was the producing director. He said, "Frakes, don't waste our time with any multi-stop dolly moves, some elegant stuff where you come out of the elevator and take them down the hall and it turns into... We're not going to use any of that shit. Don't shoot it. Don't waste our time. And then when the two leads talk, make sure you give me three sizes on both of them." It was very cut and dry, very specific, and very usable advice because you don't want to waste your time. And you do a show like Falling Skies , which you may or may not remember, which is my dear friend Noah Wyle is kind of a post apocalyptic-

I actually saw it.

FRAKES: There, Greg Beeman, who was the producer director said, "We need you to shoot this documentary war footage style so that not every line has to be caught on camera, stay in the shots as long as you can, hand held camera, follow the characters around, go see what they're seeing, come back to them, see who they're talking to, come back to them. So it couldn't be more different, which is one of the great treats about being an episodic director. That you're responsible for making a show that people recognize when they're bonking through the dial, oh, that looks like Discovery , or that looks like Castle , or that looks like Falling Skies .

And Discovery , led by Olatunde, who's a producing director on that show, has a fabulous cinematic style. And the bridge, in particular, is so shootable, and so I look forward to it. In Stormy Weather, we utilize all the toys. You're given a proper amount of money, the proper amount of time and all the toys to make as big a show as you can. That's what I think has been part of the success of Discovery . That, and obviously the magical lead, Sonequa Martin-Green, and this cast that has developed around her. I mean, it reminds me so much of Next Gen . The cast of Discovery has the same vibe, and sort of fellowship, and brotherhood, and loyalty to each other that we had on our show.

What were your thoughts when you heard that the show was being propelled so many years into the future?

FRAKES: I was very curious how that was going to express, how that would affect design. I think it's incredibly ambitious, but what I like particularly, what result I like particularly is that Michael Burnham, whose character was so troubled, and damaged, and had self-doubt, and fear, and guilt and all those elements that made her character so fascinating in the first couple seasons, when she was thrust into the future and is now the captain of the ship, there's a little more joy in her world, not only because of the relationship with Book, with David Ajala, but also with her place on the ship, and her internal monologue about herself. And Sonequa was smiling. Something as simple as that you saw very little of in the first couple seasons. It's a joy to see in the later few seasons. It's one of the elements that I think has helped to redefine and move the show forward. I don't know if you watch it closely to notice that, but I think the tone change along with the time, if you will.

I know what you're talking about and agree. It's one of the rewards of watching a series progress through the seasons.

FRAKES: Yes, exactly.

In your episodes of Discovery , what ended up being the hardest shot to pull off and why?

FRAKES: Oh. It's funny, it's a tiny little shot and it wasn't this season, it was last season. We were outside on some sort of, it was a planet in which they had what seemed like a flea market of sorts. Where those gun runners, and I don't remember what it was called, but it was an exterior. It was out in the back lot, built on a parking lot. And it was loaded with aliens, loaded with costumes, loaded with props. And it was just part of a montage. That's what it was. But it took for fucking ever to gather everybody. And we had planned, I was working with Crescenzo, my cinematographer on a lot of the Discovery's . We had crane shots planned, it was some beautiful reveals, and we were going to color time it differently, because it was different planet.

And the sun was and cooperating, and for some reason there were issues with the costumes, and issues with the props, and issues with the extras who didn't show up on time. It was one of those deals where it was a perfect storm of shit to bury you. It was the first part of the day. It was meant to be a couple hours to get this and then we'd go inside and do the rest of the work. And for some reason, all the elements that usually fall into place managed to not. Eventually we got it, and we used it, and it looked great, and the audience never knows. As they tell you when you're learning this job, never let them know what time you shoot it, never let anybody know how many takes it took and no one will ever know. That sticks in my mind.

Yeah. It's true. Everything you just said. With Discovery , I believe this season they started using the AR Wall technology.

FRAKES: Yes. That's been developed for, you can see it in a couple of the episodes that have been on already. It's been, I think, used very effectively. I think we went to it. We, Discovery went to it because it was used on Mandalorian so beautifully.

From what I understand, they're building these walls all over the world right now because of Mandalorian and the success of the technology on that series.

FRAKES: Yes. I think you're absolutely right. I was on the periphery of that. I never shot on the AR Wall up in Toronto on Discovery , but everyone around me did. Mine was a bottle episode. It didn't have that set, if you will, in it. But they were learning. Again, Olatunde, the producing director, who really wrapped his head around at first and became the leader of how to shoot it, because he wanted to continue to use at least two cameras, whenever you can, to make a television show on efficient use of time.

And the AR Wall had technical limitations as to where you could put the lenses, and the lenses that you could use simultaneously. And that was something, a sort of experiment that needed to be conquered and eventually was. But I'm hoping to go back up there, and I'm hoping we use it on Strange New Worlds . I'm going to go up and do one of those next season. And I think it's a tool that is part of the future of filmmaking. On TV and film.

Oh, absolutely. It allows for just a lot to happen without going on location.

FRAKES: Yes, exactly. You control so many more the elements.

It's really unbelievable. So you are obviously directing an episode of Picard season two. Did you do one or more?

FRAKES: I did two in season two.

What can you actually tease people about season two and the way it maybe compares to the first season?

FRAKES: Season two of Picard explores a little more of the crew that Picard found and is with. Season one was sort of a coming to reintroduce Picard to the world, and the vulnerability, and the choice to be retired, and the demons that still haunt him. And season two is more inclusive of his crew. The characters that we came to know as they were introduced on season one and then became part of the family. That family now functions as a unit in a way that most shows, when they develop. Season two and three become seasons where they really get their footing as a cohesive ensemble.

I'm really looking forward to the second season.

FRAKES: Is that vague enough, do you think?

Yeah, I mean, listen, I know the way the game is played. You've got to talk without saying anything.

FRAKES: Right.

So I believe that Clockstoppers is finally coming to Blu-ray next month. Were you aware of that?

FRAKES: That is good news. That was the last successful movie I made.

Here's the thing. You've definitely landed on your feet though, in terms of, you know that having a career in Hollywood is like winning the lottery.

FRAKES: Absolutely. As I mentioned earlier, I am eternally grateful, and I'm actually glad to be back in television. The experience on Thunderbirds , as wonderful as it was, sunk three years out of my life, and I went to movie jail on the opening weekend, and have never been back. And it's been, very, very grateful to be, also again, referencing something earlier in this conversation, what you're encouraged to do on a show like Discovery , and Picard , and Strange New World , from what I understand, is to shoot movies. They just happened to be an hour.

That's one of the reasons why the shows are so successful is because-

I mean, look, I love movies, and I love going to the movie theaters, but the fact is that the stuff that's being created for the small screen right now is incredible. That's the reason why there's so much product being produced at all the different streamers and networks.

FRAKES: Yep. Very true.

If I'm not mistaken, you've done a few episodes of Lower Decks , and obviously voicing Riker. What have you enjoyed about that experience?

FRAKES: I'm a huge fan of that show. I know that some audiences were skeptical, because they thought it was sort of taking the piss out of the cannon. I happen to think that Mike McMahan is a comic genius. I love the cast. I did a DVD add-on or talk along with McMahan and Jack Quaid the other day on one of the Lower Decks episodes. That show has captured another cone of Star Trek that we've never been able to achieve. Because it's animated, and because it's adult, and because it's about the lower decks, another part of the ship that needed to be explored, and because it's got McMahon's writing, that Rick and Morty vibe. And then I haven't caught up with Prodigy yet, but I gather that's doing very well as well, with yet another color in the Star Trek rainbow.

It's also smartly going after a younger audience, which I think that-

FRAKES: Yeah, which we desperately need.

It is actually an audience that Paramount should go after, because you can't keep getting adults into Star Trek . You've got to get them when they're young.

FRAKES: Yeah. Good point.

I have to ask you. I obviously, and I'm sure you love it as well, I love Galaxy Quest .

FRAKES: Oh my God.

I just have to know, what was it like for you watching that film for the first time?

FRAKES: I was at the CineramaDome in LA, and I saw it on a Saturday morning, or Saturday matinee. As I got out of the movie the first thing I did was call Patrick, who was in Toronto, I think, shooting X-Men . I said, "Dude, I just saw a movie that is about us and captures us like they've been reading our mail." Patrick saw it that night. Then went again on the Sunday. And it was, I mean, some of the stuff in it is so on the nose and so accurate, and perfect, and funny. And Rickman. Rickman with the peeling makeup. Stuff that LeVar's character does. I mean, it's a favorite. I don't know why that sequels never been made. I gather it's encumbered with a lot of people who need money before they even shot, but this seems rife for a remake.

They talked about it for a while. Obviously, Alan Rickman has passed, so that's one thing. But I think it's the best Star Trek movie that doesn't star the cast.

FRAKES: Yeah. I agree with you.

There's a lot of people that have also wondered what would've happened had that script been given to you guys, for Next Generation , and making that as, essentially, a Star Trek . You know what I mean? A lot of people have wondered what would've happened or what that movie would be like.

FRAKES: I think that's one of the reasons I loved it so much is I fantasized that very thing. That would've been delicious to make that with our cast.

I think that's what a lot of fans... Well, I mean a lot of fans, it is essentially Star Trek , obviously.

I was a huge fan of Michael Piller's work. I'm just curious if you could reminisce a little bit about any time you had with Michael and his contributions to Star Trek .

FRAKES: I've got a wonderful memory about Michael. Two. More than two, but I'll tell you two quick ones. He was most famous, I think, for being open to submissions from young writers, non-union writers, which led to Offspring, which was my first directing episode. Rene Echevarria, who went on to other things like Castle, and became executive producer on Deep Space Nine , his spec script, he brought on Ron Moore, brought on Brannon Braga. He was open to, receptive to, and mentored writers unlike any other show runner that I've ever worked with.

My favorite Piller story took place at the Watergate Hotel. We had all been invited to a function at the White House to celebrate the astronauts. And Mike went, and Berman went, and all the cast went with all of our significant others. We were put up at the Watergate. After the event we went to the bar at the Watergate and we sat around in this lounge. Piller sat down at the piano, lifted up the keyboard cover, and proceeded to entertain us with the most beautiful, elegant piano playing, which was a talent I had no idea he possessed. And so whenever his name comes up, I remember how he shared that with all of us on that kind of wonderful night that we'd all been to the White House together. And on that note, I will wish you a happy holiday.

I was going to say, that's a great story. Thank you so much for giving me your time, and for your work both in front of and behind the camera.

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Star Trek: Discovery: Jonathan Frakes returning to direct an episode

As an actor, frakes played commander william t. riker on  star trek: the next generation, article bookmarked.

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With the release of Star Trek: Discovery fast approaching, more and more information regarding the series has debuted online.

Following the first trailer last month , the showrunners detailed some key plot information , mainly concerning First Officer Burnham, played by The Walking Dead 's Sonequa Martin-Green.

Excitingly, Entertainment Weekly has unveiled that Jonathan Frakes — known around the world for playing Commander William T. Riker on Star Trek: The Next Generation — will once again be returning to the series. However, this time, Frakes will be behind the camera, directing one of the episodes.

“Jonathan Frakes will rejoin the Trek world with Discovery ,” writer-producer Gretchen J. Berg told the publication. “He’s a fantastic guy and great director.” Showrunner Aaron Harberts added: “Our cast is dying to work with him.”

Frakes has directed multiple Star Trek projects, including episodes of The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine , and Voyager, along with the films First Contact and Insurrection . Both Berg and Harberts have previously worked with Frakes on the series Roswell , where he directed five episodes.

The highly-anticipated show will begin airing in the United States on the 2 September on CBS , starting 8:30 p.m. ET/PT. The first two episodes will then be made available on CBS All Access for US viewers, with subsequent episodes being uploaded on the streaming service weekly.

For UK viewers, the show will launch on Netflix 25 September, with new episodes uploaded every Monday.

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Jonathan Frakes Talks “Blueprint” For Potential ‘Star Trek: Legacy’ Series And His Vision Of Riker’s Role

| October 4, 2023 | By: TrekMovie.com Staff 56 comments so far

Even before Star Trek: Picard wrapped up its third and final season in April, the buzz had been growing about the possibility of a spinoff series which showrunner Terry Matalas envisioned as “Star Trek: Legacy.” The fan buzz has been amplified by the people who worked on the third season, including the Next Generation actors—led by Jonathan Frakes, who has spoken openly about his optimism for Legacy . In the latest official Star Trek Explorer magazine, Frakes lays out how he sees the setup for the show (if it moves forward) and his role in it.

Frakes’ Legacy

In the interview , Jonathan Frakes was asked about how Picard ended with respect to Will Riker’s marriage with Deanna Troi. The actor and director used that as a jumping-off point to talk about where he would like to see Riker go next:

“The Rikers’ marriage is back on track. In my mind, for the show to be able to move forward, Riker would be a captain and have his ship, or he would be promoted to admiral and be a liaison. I’m only half-kidding when I say it would be great for me if the show carries on and I’m like Charlie from Charlie’s Angels . They’d have to come to my office one day a week for a meeting with Riker. That’d be perfect. Then I could direct a bunch of the episodes and be around the show.”

Frakes has directed for all the new live-action Star Trek shows, including two episodes of season 3 of Picard . In a late 2022 interview with TrekMovie , he talked about his hope to work even more closely with executive producer Terry Matalas if a Picard spinoff ever moved forward, saying “I would love to be involved with him as an executive producer, certainly. And I really like working with Terry. I would love to have the producing director role like [Olatunde Osunsanmi] has for Discovery .”

Marina Sirtis as Deanna Troi and Jonathan Frakes as Will Riker in “The Last Generation” (Paramount+)

In the new Star Trek Explorer, Frakes also revealed how he sees the setup for the Picard spin-off:

“I suspect if it does go forward, it would be Jeri Ryan, Michelle Hurd, and Ed Speelers, who’s now in Starfleet, and Mica Burton and Ashlei Sharpe Chestnut, who played Geordi’s daughters. I would also imagine Lulu Wilson, who played the Rikers’ daughter in season 1 and was so fabulous, could be a part of it. She should come back and maybe be in Starfleet. It feels to me like there’s a real opportunity for three of the legacy characters’ children to carry on and sort of be the next Star Trek: The Next Generation . It just feels like it’s laid out there. It’s the blueprint for the next phase.”

The season 1 episode “Nepenthe” featured Lulu Wilson as Kestra Troi-Riker.

Lulu Wilson (right) with Sir Patrick Stewart and Marina Sirtis in “Nepenthe” (Paramount+)

Terry Matalas has made his interest in doing a Picard follow-up clear; however, he has also been clear that there is no active Star Trek: Legacy project in the works, nor have there even been any discussions. As of now the only development projects that have been given a greenlight by Paramount+ are the Section 31 streaming movie starring Michelle Yeoh and the Star Trek: Starfleet Academy series. During the five-month WGA strike, any discussions for the development of any projects were not allowed; in a TrekMovie interview last week , Picard production designer Dave Blass noted how the end of the strike gave CBS and Paramount an opportunity to move forward with Terry Matalas and the Legacy project, saying: “Hopefully they do that because he deserves the opportunity to do another series. But if he doesn’t get that offer soon, he’s going to be gone because everyone in the world saw what he did. ”

Michelle Hurd as Raffi Musiker, Ashlei Sharpe Chestnut as Ensign Sidney La Forge, Mica Burton as Alandra La Forge and Jeri Ryan as Seven of Nine in “The Last Generation” (Paramount+)

More in Star Trek Explorer #8

Star Trek Explorer #8 is on newsstands now in the USA and will arrive on October 12 in the UK and Ireland. In addition to the interview with Jonathan Frakes, there are interviews with Picard star Ed Speleers, Picard production designer David Blass, Strange New Worlds star Celia Rose Gooding, and Strange New Worlds and Prodigy composer Nami Melamud. There are also exclusive short stories from David Mack and Keith R.A. Candido and much more. You can find the issue on newsstands and comic book stores. You can also subscribe and buy issues directly from Titan .

Newsstand cover

Keep up with news for the  Star Trek Universe at TrekMovie.com .

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I would SO much rather the offspring of the TNG characters be in careers other than Starfleet. Likewise, I’d rather Riker have a different role, other than captain. It would be far more interesting to see people forge paths not taken, rather than just be a retread of a retread of a retread. And that’s if this series has to happen at all, rather than so many much more original ideas. If I just wanted to see another starship show, I have TOS, TAS, TNG, VOY, ENT, DSC, PIC, LDS, PRO, and SNW. If I wanted to see characters I’ve already seen in a new series, I already have SNW, as well as LDS and PRO.

There needs to be something new, groundbreaking, and challenging to the audience, rather than comfort food, in order for it to be Trek at all.

Trouble is when Trek *does* try to break new ground, people slam it and demand a return to the status quo they are used to. They studios literally cannot win.

I disagree. It’s poor writing and poor storytelling. Don’t misconstrue different with poor quality.

Nope. M1701 had it right.

I feel that DS9 def broke new ground when it veered from the first 2 shows but it was also not the best in its first 2 seasons either. Once it started picking up speed it got to the point now where it is beloved. Conversely shows like DISCO are headed into their 5th season and they still have not gotten out of the rut.

I totally agree that Trekkies do not like change but more than that, trekkies don’t like bad change and that to me includes bad writing.

Fans use to hate DS9 because it wasn’t TNG. Now they love it.

What kills new Trek is that TNG was supposed to be a perfected humanity, something expressly forbidden in the TOS writers guide where humanity was supposed to be above racism and pro learning, but relatable with a lot more to learn. This applies to the tech too, a primitive starship (but still able to warp) is just way more exciting than a flying hotel. If you are already perfect and can beat everyone and are so superior where you are preaching even to the Q Vs learning, dealing with hardships, dealing with conflict, well… it’s a Snoozefest like Voyager and most of TNG where ironically the ultimate bad guy that saves it is a collective unimind (until detoothed). Worse is time travel, why not just go back in time and save everyone? ENT was the biggest missed opportunity for new Trek, should have been humanity trying to find its place in the universe not being the smartest but able to bring the logical Vulcans to work with the passionate Andorrans, building colonies on the frontier, dealing with nuclear weapon strikes from the Romulans, Klingon raids, no phasers on stun to deal with that hostage situation, no transporters to beam you away from a difficult situation, no reset buttons, learning as they go. But instead they had to go TNG in one hour with transporters, phasers on stun, time travel, subspace comms and peace with the Klingons in less than 60 minutes. You couldn’t have screwed that up even more had one purposely tried. I suppose a rebuild series in the 32nd can try to emulate a frontier setting… but I bet they screw it up and TNGize. If they want use the ships from the museum but let’s explore and learn in an exciting final frontier

I am completely uninterested in a “kids of Star Trek” series. We don’t need more Ed Speelers. We don’t need Mica Burton, who was not that wonderful and was there for stunt casting. I liked Kestra, but we don’t need an entire series about her.

I dont see anywhere where they said there would be an entire series about her. Sounds like she could be a cast member in an ensemble cast.

young minds, fresh ideas, be tolerant

I’d like to know his thoughts on how Rikers and Shaw’s (and Saaviks) legacy on the Titan was erased for the ENT-G despite Picard being compromised for so many years resulting in all the young Starfleet officers being forced to kill their superiors (and this after having androids built as slaves under his watch leading to the destruction of utopia planta). Isn’t this trauma inflicted on all new Starfleet officers the real legacy to be explored as well? Just think most officers now will have helped destroy the Excelsior and Earth space dock. Hard to life with, how does that impact these crews? And to double down on Starfleet gone mad they then put “Seven of Nine” rushed up the ranks and not liking Anika attachment to when she herself was forced to engage in xenocide with her Doctor someone who rushed off for the Borg to assimilate the young fleet? Seems like they are setting up the burn

I just want a canon explanation in Legacy that Admiral B****face from Picard Season 1 was a Changeling all along :D

Deep down, Picard knew. So did Terry Matalas.

IF they do a Legacy show, we have no guarantee that Malala’s going to be involved and Stewarts too expensive to have on a weekly basis.

Why because a Woman hurt your feelings? Grow up.

Frakes is just looking for a paycheck.

He’s 71. I doubt he needs to work if he doesn’t want to.

Trust me he needs the money. You really think TV actors from a 30 year old show have huge piles of money thrown at them? He even sold his house a few years ago. After TNG ended most of the cast was typedcast right out of Hollywood.

You must have TOS on the brain. The TNG cast has kept busy post Trek, either in front of or behind the camera. None of them are living in 25 room mansions anywhere, but none of them are standing on the corner of Hollywood and Vine holding up ‘will work for food’ signs, either.

..there were also FOUR major motion pictures that I’m quite certain added hella bank to ALL of the TNG actors’ accounts…and lest we forget that in addition to starring in all four TNG films, Mr. Frakes in particular also freaking directed TWO of them…banking him a WAY heftier sum than the others.

Anyway…you can rest assured, oh jaded cynical ones of little faith…ain’t none of ’em shuffling barefoot into their local 7/11 and counting out loose change from their couch cushions to pay for a pack of smokes…at least not in this space-time continuum.

I’m pretty sure Patrick Stewart got the lions share in those movies. What do you think the whole Hollywood strike is about? They don’t get paid as much as you think.

Well I have seen them in a lot of low budget direct to dvd movies. I doubt they pay well. I’ve seen Worf in a lot of sci-fi stinkers. They take the jobs to pay the bills.

Frakes made a good living post TNG as a director and show runner on ‘leverage’.

And he not the only actor/director who got work after ST

You seriously think he’s done nothing since TNG? Check his IMDb entry, both under Actor and especially Director where he is credited on 46 TV shows or movies since TNG ended, with 13 episodes of Leverage and 10 of The Librarians . He’s never been out of work.

And a lot of older couples sell their houses once the kids have grown up and moved out. Note that his wife Genie Francis has been starring in General Hospital since 10 years before TNG was on the air. No, unless they invested very badly, they’re not hurting for money.

And which TNG actor was type-casted out of Hollywood? I’ve seen them all, except maybe Gates McFadden who went back to her evidently first love dance/choreography.

Frakes has been directing a lot of shows….I think he’s done every one except DS9?

He’s not making millions as a tv director. They’re a dime a dozen.

So to you the only choices are “needs the money” and “making millions”?

Yeah, better more than less. If Frakes was a big Hollywood movie director like Christopher Nolan, you think he would still do trek? I doubt it.

Yes I’ve seen the cast work in post TNG. But mostly in B movies.

Why should I trust you, exactly? Are you the guy Frakes calls when he needs to borrow two hundred bucks or something?

Taking that as a “no.” :lol

That entire cast probably makes well into 6 figures yearly on residuals alone for TNG reruns.

I doubt that after seeing them work on bad sci-fi B movies.

Nothing but respect for the work Mr. Frakes has done behind the camera, but this just seems self serving. Those who actually paid attention to the story (such as is was) in season three understand that for any TNG spinoff to work, season three has to be ignored.

I know S3 had its issues but why does it have to be ignored?

Ignoring Terry’s “one year later” reset button for the moment, what was shown the last couple of episodes should gut the Federation. If you’re any other member of the Federation, you’ve just seen the entirety of (human centric) Starfleet compromised, earths planetary defenses obliterated on short order, and (presumably) the planet’s major population centers targeted for destruction. The Founders are covertly everywhere. If you’re some other Federation planet, you have to be asking yourself, is the risk worth the reward? Oh, and then Q pops up post-credits. Hey hey, non-cap-ee-tan, I’m here to terrorize you now. Who wants to play?

If a spin off gets greenlit, just make Season 3 a Q induced hallucination and move on.

I mean I’d be fine with that but personally I think PIC S1 did way more damage to the Federation than S3. S1 basically took the Federation and turned it into the Terran Empire. We won’t save the Romulans. Sentient life, even artificial, not only have no rights but are banned. Picard turned into a StarFleet laughing stock.

As to the damage done to the Federation in S3, I don’t know we can quantify the extent of the damage done. We Sam a massive fleet headed towards Earth and attack but we don’t know the extent of the damage. The Changelings were always on Earth since DS9 S4 IIRC. There’s no real reason to believe they ever left in the first place.

Q, I hear ya. He doesn’t work without Picard. Heck he didn’t even work with Janeway IMHO. Voyager turned him into a punchline long before PIC did IMHO.

No thanks. I adore Frakes as a director, but every time one of the TNG crew speak up about what they’d like to see post-Picard, my eyes glaze over.

LOL Me too.

Bring back Stephanie Czajkowski as T’Veen’s twin sister. She was awesome and should not have been killed.

She was awesome and shouldn’t have been killed off — but she was. I don’t want magically identical twins or other gimmicks.

If it worked on the Sopranos, it can work on Star Trek.

Let the past die. Kill it if you have to.

Probably the best line from the sequel trilogy. So often I think that the real Next Generation needs to be as removed from TNG as TNG was from TOS.

I’d like to watch Legacy. But I long for something truly new.

Prediction: Section 31 will a duds. Academy might be good with the right cast. Episodic please. Legacy could be the best yet with an episodic format and really good writing. As you were.

I hope to see it. It would be the thing that convinces me to keep P+. LDS is the only Star Trek left for me to watch.

skip this academy-stuff and bring “legacy” on the road. try roads not taken. why not try to evolve frake’s idea of the “next next generation”? the young actor’s work was committed and fun, there is so much more. this feels much more like the future of trek than this academy-concept that has been kicking around since the late 80s without really generating any enthusiasm… and: as good as yeoh is, the character of emperor gheorgiou was never really convincing and only conditionally entertaining.

Ugh, No. Please

Can we not do a “Children of” series and just have a new crew on and new ship with little or no ties to the previous shows? We need a new show, post Picard, maybe 100 years after.

Star Trek Picard was a mess. Season 3 was a mess. Its entire story could’ve been told in 3 episodes. The Borg again? Not having the Enterprise D in use from the 3-4th episode was a massive mistake. All the non assimilated should’ve used the old ships from the museum! Now that would’ve been a finale

I was hoping for a finale where all the ships at the museum were used as well. If they were going to go with nostalgia, they should have gone full-throttle with it. As much as I did enjoy the 3rd season, I do agree that a ‘children of’ series doesn’t hold much interest for me, either.

The only Trek “kids” I really want to see back are Elnor and Soji. (OK, and the Prodigy crew, but different show there.) Aside from that, I’m good with Seven as the connection between 90s Trek and the current era.

Note to writer: Frakes did NOT direct season 1’s 7th episode “Nepenthe”. He only guest-starred in it. Frakes directed episode 4 and 5.

Informal poll: Is there ANYONE out there excited for a Starfleet Academy show? I mean for reasons beyond just spending more time in the Trek universe. This seems like the concept only Paramount executives think is *awesome*.

But hey, I’m willing to be proven wrong.

You should be used to being proven wrong by now.

I would watch Legacy many times over, probably in the 20s to 30s. This is so what I want Star Trek to be.

Here’s hoping…

I don’t like how the new series like discovery, & even the movies have changed some of the different species, like the Klingons…. how will they explain the difference between Worf & other klingons in the franchise? If they want some species to look so metallic, or whatever, make a new species, don’t change the ones that are already so popular & well known!

Jonathan Frakes Wants A Racist Episode Of Star Trek: The Next Generation Removed From Streaming

"Star Trek: The Next Generation" infamously got off to a rough start. The cast was great and the premise of the show was first-rate, but thanks to a lot of drama behind the scenes — Gene Roddenberry's personal lawyer reportedly rewrote scripts after they had been approved — a lot of the stories suffered. Sometimes a script began with a good idea, but was rewritten into oblivion, emerging as bland, confusing, bad, or, in the case of "Code of Honor," chock full of unfortunate racial stereotypes. 

"Code of Honor" (October 12, 1987) follows the Enterprise-D to the planet of Ligon II, where the inhabitants, audiences are told, abide by a strict [insert episode title]. In an unwise creative choice, the Ligonians were dressed to resemble, essentially, "African tribesmen" stereotypes straight out of a 1940s theatrical serial. The Ligonian king Lutan (Jessie Lawrence Ferguson) would kidnap Lieutenant Tasha Yar (Denise Crosby) and force her to fight his wife Yareena (Karole Selmon) in a duel to the death. In addition to the stereotypes, there is a lot of sexist language in "Code of Honor" wherein Captain Picard (Patrick Stewart) plays along with Lutan's misogyny. It's one of the low points of the series. 

The cast even felt that way at the time. In a 2012 interview with Entertainment Weekly , Stewart noted that the series didn't get good until its second season, and cited "Code of Honor" as evidence. Jonathan Frakes , who played Commander Riker on "Next Generation" has remained negative about the episode as well, telling Trek Nation in 2007 that he wanted to see the episode struck from reruns and from home video. In 2023, Frakes repeated that sentiment with TrekMovie , finding it surprising that the episode hadn't been removed from rotation already. 

Code of Honor

According to Larry Nemecek's indispensable sourcebook "The Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion,"  the original conception for the episode was to feature a species of reptiles whose code of honor was modeled after that of samurai. According to well-communicated production notes, it was the episode's first director, a man named Russ Mayberry, who cast Black actors as the Ligonians and wanted to dress them in their unusual outfits. Word on the street was Gene Roddenberry fired Mayberry during production. Actor Wil Wheaton, who played Wesley Crusher on "The Next Generation," heard that the director treated the Black actors poorly. Yikes. 

Jonathan Frakes, meanwhile, still feels that "Code of Honor" should be removed from rotation. It was racist in 1987, he feels, and it's racist now. When Frakes was told by his interviewer that "Code of Honor" was still readily available on Paramount+, Hulu, and several other streaming platforms, he was a little shocked. Frakes said to TrekMovie : 

"It is now. But I was told or I was under the impression that it had rubbed so many people the wrong way that it was pulled. I think they should take it out of the rotation. I think it is a great time to make that kind of — as small as it is — to make that kind of a statement would be fabulous." 

The interviewer, Anthony Pascale, suggested that the episode remain, but with the type of disclaimer that now often accompanies 1940s Warner Bros. cartoons with racist imagery or screenings of "Gone with the Wind." Frakes halfway agreed.

Jonathan Frakes felt that a disclaimer might work, provided it explained what the episode was trying — but failed — to do. Perhaps an interview or a brief documentary explaining how the episode fell apart so badly. Frakes said: 

"[Y]ou make a good point. Maybe it should be included with an appropriate statement of reason. A proof of concept. This is not who we are. This is not what we stand for. It's an embarrassment to the franchise and Gene [Roddenberry] would want us to do this. Something like that." 

Back in 2008, Wil Wheaton re-watched "Code of Honor" for the Huffington Post , and was prepared to be utterly repelled. While Wheaton did find the episode distasteful, he felt it wasn't the most offensive episode of early "Next Generation." Notably, Wheaton cites an episode called "Angel One" (January 25, 1988) as being more offensive for its outward sexism. He noticed that the script for "Code of Honor" is not outwardly racist in itself, but became that way when someone cast the episode the way they did. Wheaton said: 

"'Code of Honor' is not an especially good episode, but it's not as overtly racist as I recalled. I mean, it's certainly not as racist as 'Angel One' is sexist, and if the Ligonians hadn't been arbitrarily determined to be entirely African American, it wouldn't have even been an issue (although someone definitely owes the Sung dynasty an apology)." 

Sadly, Jessie Lawrence Ferguson, who died in 2019, never went on the record to discuss "Code of Honor," although Karole Selmon spoke at length about the episode for the video interview series "Trek Untold."  She very much recalls the "friction" on the set between Russ Mayberry and the Black actors. 

She did, however, admire that the script put Ligonian women in power. Thank goodness for that much.

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Published Sep 12, 2023

Jonathan Frakes Reflects on the Rikers' Relationship in Star Trek Explorer #8

The latest issue of Star Trek Explorer hits newsstands today, featuring additional interviews with Ed Speleers, Celia Rose Gooding, and more!

StarTrek.com

With today's release of  Star Trek Explorer #8 , Titan is ensuring your Star Trek Day celebrations carries on long after September 8!

Don't wait! As part of their Star Trek Day promotions , our friends over at Titan have a special Star Trek Day offer of 4 issues for $24.99 (a savings of $14.97). Valid through this Friday, 9/15.

Star Trek Explorer #8 - Newsstand Cover

In Star Trek Explorer #8's unmissable 100-page issue, you'll find

the unmissable 100-page issue, you’ll find Star Trek: Picard 's Jack Crusher, Ed Speleers , detailing whether he'll be returning to Star Trek ; Celia Rose Gooding reflecting on her role as Nyota Uhura in the first two seasons of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds ; and the second-half of their two-part interview with Jonathan Frakes .

That's not all! Go behind-the-scenes with composer Nami Melumad to learn about creating music for Star Trek: Prodigy and Strange New Worlds and with production designer Dave Blass to hear about developing the vision for the Federation's 25th Century aesthetic in Picard .

Star Trek Explorer #8 - Foil Cover

Plus, there are two all-new, exclusive short stories in this issue — Tuvok comes to the rescue in Keith R.A. DeCandido’s “The Kellidian Kidnapping,” then, in David Mack’s “Lost and Founder,” we find Odo in a reflective mood.

Don't miss your definitive guide to Star Trek engineers, and how comics have expanded the franchise.

Star Trek Explorer #8  is on-sale today, September 12, and you can  grab a copy at your preferred retailer !

Star Trek Explorer #8 - Diamond Cover

Thanks to our friends at Titan Magazine, we have an exclusive excerpt with Jonathan Frakes' "The Man in the Chair" interview below!

STAR TREK EXPLORER: How satisfied are you with where the end of Picard leaves the Rikers?

Jonathan Frakes: The Rikers’ marriage is back on track. In my mind, for the show to be able to move forward, Riker would have to be a captain and have his ship, or he would be promoted to admiral and be a liaison. I’m only half-kidding when I say it would be great for me if the show carries on and I’m like Charlie from Charlie’s Angels . They’d have to come to my office one day a week for a meeting with Riker. That’d be perfect. Then I could direct a bunch of the episodes and be around the show. I suspect if it does go forward, it would be Jeri Ryan, Michelle Hurd, and Ed Speelers, who’s now in Starfleet, and Mica Burton and Ashlei Sharpe Chestnut, who played Geordi’s daughter. I would also imagine Lulu Wilson, who played the Rikers’ daughter in season one and was so fabulous, could be a part of it. She could come back and maybe be in Starfleet.

It feels to me like there’s a real opportunity for three of the legacy characters’ children to carry on and sort of be the next Star Trek: The Next Generation . It just feels like it’s laid out there. It’s the blueprint for the next phase.

STAR TREK EXPLORER: People are excited for your Strange New Worlds episode, a crossover with Star Trek: Lower Decks …

Jonathan Frakes: What a treat, that show. I was there when they premiered, and all of a sudden, everybody loved it, the fans and the critics. I was able to experience the joy of that cast seeing their work appreciated and loved. Unfortunately, part of what happened during that time was that the fans and the critics took the same opportunity to say, “This is the Star Trek we’ve been waiting for.” Either written or unwritten was, “Not Discovery and not Picard ,” if you recall. There was a congratulations and a slap in the same swing, but I was fortunate, as I often am in my timing, to be on Strange New Worlds when all the good stuff happened.

My episode was a crossover show with Lower Decks . For some reason, the Lower Decks characters Tawny Newsome and Jack Quaid play, were drawn to look very much like Tawny and Jack when they cross over through a portal on to the U.S.S. Enterprise . They started animated and became live-action. It was fantastic, what the two of them brought. The characters on the Enterprise had their epilogue scene, and they were animated, which was adorable. Let me just tell you this: it was a flat-out, unapologetic, full-on comedy episode. That was a thrill for me, as you can imagine.

Read the full interview in Star Trek Explorer #8 , to discover Frakes’ thoughts on the development of Picard, directing on Discovery’s fifth season, and more! Plus, interviews with actors Ed Speleers and Celia Rose Gooding; go behind-the-scenes with composer Nami Melamud and production designer David Blass; and there are TWO all-new and exclusive Star Trek short stories! All this and all your regular favorites – on sale September 12!

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In addition to streaming on Paramount+ , Star Trek: Picard also streams on Prime Video outside of the U.S. and Canada, and in Canada can be seen on Bell Media's CTV Sci-Fi Channel and streams on Crave. Star Trek: Picard is distributed by Paramount Global Content Distribution.

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Love jeffrey combs in star trek: ds9 thank jonathan frakes.

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Every Star Trek Species Played By Jeffrey Combs

Netflix's new ghostbusters show has a big problem because of this 38-year-old series, you aren't ready for benedict's love story in bridgerton.

• Jonathan Frakes cast Combs in Star Trek: DS9, starting his legacy as Brunt and Weyoun.
• Jeffrey Combs excels at playing conceited villains; meaning that he wasn't right to play Riker in Star Trek: TNG
• Although he lost out on the Riker role, Combs found success in DS9 thanks to Jonathan Frakes.

Star Trek: The Next Generation 's Jonathan Frakes is to thank for fan-favorite actor Jeffrey Combs' appearances in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine . Since his debut appearance in DS9 season 3, episode 8, "Meridian", Jeffrey Combs went on to appear in thirty-one episodes as Liquidator Brunt, Weyoun, or both . Brunt and Weyoun, and their different iterations meant that Jeffrey Combs quickly became a recurring member of the Star Trek: DS9 cast .

Although probably best known for playing Herbert West in cult horror movie Re-Animator , Combs is synonymous with 1990s Star Trek . Since his debut in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine season 3, Jeffrey Combs played 10 Star Trek characters , becoming one of the franchise's best loved recurring guest actors. Combs even has the distinction of being one of very few actors to play two different characters in a single episode of Star Trek . Combs' impressive Star Trek resume begins with a decision made by Will Riker actor and director Jonathan Frakes in 1994 .

Star Trek's Jeffrey Combs has made a career from giving nuanced performances behind layers of alien prosthetics from DS9 to Enterprise, and beyond.

Jonathan Frakes Gave Jeffrey Combs His Big Break On Star Trek: DS9

Tiron in star trek: deep space nine, season 3, episode 8, "meridian".

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine season 3, episode 8, "Meridian" was directed by Jonathan Frakes , and so he was responsible for casting the guest roles. Frakes remembered Jeffrey Combs from when Star Trek: The Next Generation was auditioning actors to play Commander William T. Riker . Of course, Combs lost the part to Frakes, but the TNG star made it up to him by casting him in the breakthrough role of Tiron in "Meridian". A scuzzy alien who was obsessed with Major Kira Nerys (Nana Visitor), Tiron wasn't a particularly memorable character, but he gave Jeffrey Combs a chance to leave a lasting impression.

"Meridian" was the second of three Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episodes directed by Jonathan Frakes, alongside "The Search, Part II" and "Past Tense, Part II".

Jeffrey Combs had a number of scenes with Rene Auberjonois in "Meridian", which allowed the two actors to reconnect. While filming was taking place on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine season 3, episode 8, Auberjonois was casting episode 23, "Family Business". Rene Auberjonois suggested that Combs play the role of Liquidator Brunt , a suggestion that the producers allowed because, as the actor later told StarTrek.com , " no one will know " that it was the same actor. Eventually, Combs' performance of Brunt won him the role of Weyoun, something that would never have happened if Jonathan Frakes hadn't first reunited Jeffrey Combs and Rene Auberjonois.

Jeffrey Combs Could Have Been Riker In Star Trek: TNG - Would It Have Worked?

Jeffrey Combs and Jonathan Frakes first met at the auditions for the role of Commander William T. Riker in Star Trek: The Next Generation . It's fascinating to ponder how different Star Trek would have been had Combs been cast as Riker instead of Frakes. As his two recurring characters in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine demonstrate, Combs excels at playing conceited villains. Jonathan Frakes' Commander Riker was always confident and charismatic, whereas Combs played characters who had an abundance of confidence, often to their detriment.

The role of Riker required a charismatic romantic lead, words that don't describe the roles that Jeffrey Combs is known for.

Jeffrey Combs is a terrific character actor, a veritable chameleon of a performer, but he couldn't play Will Riker on Star Trek: The Next Generation . The role of Riker required a charismatic romantic lead, words that don't describe the roles that Jeffrey Combs is known for. Thankfully, Jonathan Frakes, Rene Auberjonois, and the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine team saw Jeffrey Combs' potential, and finally gave him not one, but two roles that perfectly suited his considerable talents as an actor.

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

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Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, also known as DS9, is the fourth series in the long-running Sci-Fi franchise, Star Trek. DS9 was created by Rick Berman and Michael Piller, and stars Avery Brooks, René Auberjonois, Terry Farrell, and Cirroc Lofton. This particular series follows a group of individuals in a space station near a planet called Bajor.

Star Trek: The Next Generation

Star Trek: The Next Generation is the third installment in the sci-fi franchise and follows the adventures of Captain Jean-Luc Picard and the crew members of the USS Enterprise. Set around one hundred years after the original series, Picard and his crew travel through the galaxy in largely self-contained episodes exploring the crew dynamics and their own political discourse. The series also had several overarching plots that would develop over the course of the isolated episodes, with four films released in tandem with the series to further some of these story elements.

Terry Matalas Has Found Things to Do Besides Waiting For a Star Trek: Picard Spinoff

Not content with his vision series for the mcu, matalas will stay with disney a little longer to pen a remake for enemy mine..

Last month, it was revealed Star Trek: Picard showrunner Terry Matalas was heading up a Disney+ show for Vision after his White variant departed WandaVision . Matalas now has another project lined up alongside that, which is good news for him, but not so good news for anyone holding out hope for him to continue any of Picard’s lingering threads.

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Per the Hollywood Reporter on Friday, Matalas has been tapped to write a remake of 20th Century Fox’s 1985 film Enemy Mine. The original film starred Dennis Quaid as a human pilot named Davidge and the late Lou Gossett Jr. as Jerry, a reptilian alien who crash land on an inhospitable planet and have to work together to survive, with Davidge eventually tasked with caring for Jerry’s baby. Despite its troubled production (including the firing of original director Richard Loncraine) and low box office, the film took on a cult status, and since it’s the summer of remake announcements , what’s one more to the list?

Between that and Vision, Matalas is going to be busy for a bit, in turn meaning it’ll likely be a while before he gets to his proposed follow up to Picard . Before and after the show wrapped its final season last year, he and several of the show’s actors   actors talked up a hypothetical Star Trek: Legacy series that’d function as the Next Generation equivalent to Star Trek: Strange New Worlds . Jeri Ryan’s Seven of Nine leading the adult kids of several Next Generation characters on weekly adventures (with potential cameos from their parents) was an idea fans really glommed onto , but since Paramount didn’t get that ball rolling once Picard wrapped, Matalas got scooped up by Disney.

Hope for Legacy still exists among the cast, and Patrick Stewart’s even said a movie for his Enterprise captain is in the works to help build off the show’s momentum. Should Matalas not return to Paramount once Vision and Enemy Mine wrap, that film may be the closest equivalent to his would-be show that Trek fans get.

Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel , Star Wars , and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV , and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who .