Jonathan Frakes knows Star Trek like the back of his hand. Having been cast as Commander Riker in The Next Generation, he used the opportunity to learn how to direct and ended up helming some pretty memorable episodes of that show, even going on to direct episodes of Deep Space Nine, Voyager and the movies Star Trek: First Contact and Star Trek: Insurrection (and regrets not directing Star Trek: Nemesis).
He’s recently returned to the franchise after getting behind the camera for three episodes of Discovery and now, it appears he’ll be turning his talents to the upcoming Picard show. In an interview with the Writer Experience podcast, Frakes discussed his career to date and went on to say what his upcoming schedule looks like, explaining:
Now my season looks like Star Trek: Discovery – the new wonderful Star Trek series, the Picard show – which Patrick [Stewart] is launching, and The Orville, which is some people’s new Star Trek. And I just finished The Gifted, which is a sort of X-Men Marvel origins show. So, I am back in that world.
Of course, if Jonathan Frakes is going to be on set directing, it’s only natural for fans to wonder whether Commander Riker will appear in the show. The Picard series is set twenty years on from the character’s last on-screen appearance in Nemesis, but when we left Riker he was married to Deanna Troi and was in command of the USS Titan. His captaincy of that ship was chronicled in a series of novels called Star Trek: Titan, though I don’t think they’re part of the official chronology of the series.
In any case, it’s reassuring to know that at least on some level, some of the cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation is getting back together. Now if only they could get Michael Dorn involved. I don’t know about you, but I’d love to know what Worf’s been up to all these years.