The second-to-last episode signals the end of a long and beloved 60-year run for this science fiction series. Jonathan Frakes, a well-known actor from The Next Generation and a successful director, recently shared that he won’t be directing any future episodes, with “300th Night” being his last. While not entirely disheartening for Star Trek fans, this news highlights what’s currently happening behind the scenes at the newly formed Paramount SkyDance studios.
How Jonathan Frakes Went from ‘Number One’ to Star Trek’s Number One Director
Many fans loved Jonathan Frakes as Riker in The Next Generation, where he played a bold and romantic first officer. After spending several seasons learning about directing and editing, he directed his first episode, “The Offspring,” during the show’s third season.
This project launched his career as a director and also paved the way for others. LeVar Burton, Patrick Stewart, Avery Brooks, and Robert Duncan McNeill all later directed episodes of various Star Trek series. While the results weren’t always flawless, it offered valuable directing experience.
Despite other projects, Jonathan Frakes is best known for directing the highly-regarded Star Trek: First Contact, as well as Insurrection. He’s also directed episodes of various TV shows and the Thunderbirds movie. However, he feels most comfortable working within the Star Trek universe and helped maintain a consistent feel across newer Star Trek series.
While discussing the third season of Picard, he explained that the movie Nemesis effectively ended Star Trek for a time. He also acknowledged J.J. Abrams as the person responsible for bringing the series back with its modern revival.
After a seven-year hiatus, J.J. Abrams revitalized the franchise with a fresh creative direction. This approach heavily influenced the beginning of Discovery, and we saw elements of it in Picard as well. We’re definitely continuing that style with Strange New Worlds, and it’s likely to shape future Star Trek projects too.
What Frakes Had to Say About Directing His ‘Final’ Star Trek Episode
Jonathan Frakes is currently co-hosting a YouTube show called Dropping Names…and Other Things with his Star Trek: The Next Generation co-star, Brent Spiner. The show is a casual conversation between the two actors, where they discuss their careers and share stories about the many famous people they’ve worked with.
He’s currently developing projects inspired by the writings of Arthur C. Clarke. Additionally, Frakes is directing a ten-episode series adapted from Christopher Lowder’s books, with Mark A. Altman serving as showrunner. Altman is known for co-writing several historical looks back at Star Trek with Edward Gross.
With the recent mergers at Paramount and SkyDance’s acquisition of Warner Bros., there are currently no new Star Trek shows being made for the first time in several years. Adding to this, Alex Kurtzman’s contract with Paramount ends this fall, which could lead to a change in who controls the future of Star Trek.
What Does This Mean for the Future of Star Trek and Jonathan Frakes’ Long History?
The practicalities of business are impacting production. For example, the final season of Strange New Worlds will have only six episodes instead of the typical ten, as that’s all the team could complete before their contract ended.
Because Warner Bros. has so many popular franchises, Star Trek might not be a top priority for SkyDance’s new studio plans. Considering the changes being made to the Star Trek universe, SkyDance might decide to pause the franchise for a couple of years.
As a huge movie fan, I think Star Trek is definitely Paramount’s biggest asset, and it makes them a lot of money. But honestly, it doesn’t quite reach the level of popularity or revenue of franchises like Harry Potter or Batman from Warner Bros. It looks like, after the current seasons of Star Trek finish airing, we might be waiting a long time for anything new to come out, which is a bit disappointing.
The merger could actually be a positive step for the future of Star Trek. It will allow new fans to access the newer Star Trek shows that were previously only available on Paramount+. Whether this leads to bringing back popular shows like Strange New Worlds and Starfleet Academy, or creating entirely new series, the person in charge should definitely work with Jonathan Frakes.
Jonathan Frakes is a remarkably skilled director with a deep understanding of the Star Trek universe, and his involvement helps maintain its long-running history. Star Trek has faced endings before, but both the show and Frakes himself have proven resilient, successfully returning time and again.
The first season of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy will conclude on Paramount+ on Thursday, March 12, 2026. Filming for Season 2 is already finished, and it’s expected to be released in 2027.
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2026-03-09 17:38