In any successful team, the captain is crucial, but for Star Trek, the actors who played First Officers – specifically Leonard Nimoy and Jonathan Frakes – have proven to be exceptional directors. While Will Riker and Spock are fan favorites, their biggest impact on the franchise may be what they’ve accomplished directing episodes. Now, as Paramount moves Star Trek forward following the Skydance merger, Jonathan Frakes is taking on a role similar to the one Nimoy once held – a key representative and guiding force for this long-running series.
Leonard Nimoy is best known for playing Spock in all of Gene Roddenberry’s Star Trek series. He was the only actor from the original pilot to continue with The Original Series, and Spock quickly became the most popular character. Later, Jonathan Frakes played the action hero William Riker. Both Nimoy and Frakes found themselves with downtime on set, which inspired them to explore directing. Their experience on Star Trek led to some of the franchise’s most acclaimed movies and episodes. This sparked a tradition of Star Trek actors learning the ropes behind the camera, with many, like Robert Duncan McNeil and Roxann Dawson, becoming successful directors. Nimoy and Frakes pioneered this practice, driven by a desire to challenge themselves and grow beyond their established roles.
Leonard Nimoy Became a Star Trek Director Almost by Accident
Leonard Nimoy, who sadly passed away recently, had a complex relationship with the iconic character he played on Star Trek. While he truly cherished the role, he wasn’t happy about seeing his image used on merchandise like lunch boxes and action figures without receiving any financial benefit.
He aggressively pushed the studio to kill off his character in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. Nearly everyone disagreed, especially Gene Roddenberry, who was so upset he revealed the plan to the public, sparking a strong backlash from fans. Even Leonard Nimoy began to doubt the idea himself.
Harve Bennett, the film’s producer, requested a short scene to hint at a possible return of Spock. Nimoy created the now-famous mind-meld scene on the spot. Following the success of The Wrath of Khan, Paramount approached Nimoy to discuss bringing him back for another film.
Making the first two films was difficult in many ways. When the planned director, Nicholas Meyer, faced delays, Leonard Nimoy believed he could handle the job just as effectively. He requested the opportunity to direct, and, to his surprise, studio head Michael Eisner agreed after some challenging discussions.
Despite having directed two successful movies, taking on Star Trek wasn’t a popular choice for most directors. The actors were initially unsure, but quickly recognized Leonard Nimoy’s talent. He also came up with the story for and directed The Voyage Home. It’s said that William Shatner included a clause in his Star Trek IV contract guaranteeing him the opportunity to direct a future film.
The situation arose from factors largely unrelated to William Shatner. However, it’s possible this event prompted Rick Berman, a rising producer, to avoid repeating it.
Jonathan Frakes May Be Star Trek’s Most Important Director
Rick Berman, the new executive producer, unintentionally created a training ground for directors with the shows he oversaw. Similar to Leonard Nimoy, Jonathan Frakes learned by observing the directors at work, often visiting the set even when he wasn’t acting.
Jonathan Frakes spent 300 hours observing the editing process of The Next Generation episodes. He explained on his podcast with Brent Spiner that the most valuable lesson he learned was understanding what editors require. This commitment to mastering a new skill further solidified his importance to the Star Trek universe, much like Leonard Nimoy did.
I first really noticed Jonathan Frakes’ directorial work with the Next Generation episode, “The Offspring.” He went on to helm seven more episodes of that show, and after that, he basically became the go-to director for everything in the Star Trek universe. The one exception? Enterprise. But honestly, he was too busy making Star Trek: Insurrection – and let’s be real, it’s one of the strongest films in the franchise – to worry about it.
Similar to Nimoy, Frakes developed a relationship with Gene Roddenberry, which likely gave him a deep understanding of Star Trek. Like Nimoy, he also directed numerous episodes of television shows other than Star Trek. He even directed the 2004 film Thunderbirds, a movie that didn’t receive the attention it deserved, especially since it came out in the same year as the satirical puppet film Team America: World Police.
As a huge fan, it’s really struck me how fortunate people like Jonathan Frakes were to come up through the Star Trek directing program. It feels like TV has really changed for the worse when it comes to how shows are made. The recent WGA strike was so frustrating, and it seemed like a lot of it came down to studios not wanting to invest in helping writers and directors actually improve the quality of what they’re creating – treating it all just like a ‘product’ instead of art.
Proof studios can learn a lot about developing talent and broadening skills by looking at the directing careers of iconic Star Trek first officers. When Star Trek returned with a new generation of shows, Jonathan Frakes was a key director they brought on board. His deep understanding of the franchise helped maintain the show’s established history. He directed at least one episode of every new live-action Star Trek series.
Paramount Must Bring Jonathan Frakes Back to Direct New Star Trek Episodes or Films
After directing an episode of Starfleet Academy, I suddenly found myself with some downtime. It was the first time since Discovery first came out that I wasn’t lined up to direct anything new – there just weren’t any series in production at the moment. But honestly, despite all the debate and sometimes negativity from fans about these newer shows, I’ve always been a huge supporter of the people making them – the cast and crew are fantastic.
He was qualified for the job because he’d both directed episodes of these kinds of shows before and remembered what it was like when they first aired. When The Next Generation was about to premiere, fans of The Original Series immediately complained that it wasn’t “true” Star Trek, even though Gene Roddenberry and other producers from The Original Series were involved.
Even though fans are excited about the recent news, the project isn’t finalized yet. Producer Alex Kurtzman has launched more new Star Trek TV shows recently than were created in the franchise’s first 50 years, but over a dozen potential movies have been cancelled. If this latest attempt fails, Paramount should consider Jonathan Frakes to direct a new film.
When the 2009 Star Trek film was released, Leonard Nimoy supported its fresh take on the established story, urging fans to embrace the new direction. Jonathan Frakes could similarly champion a new Star Trek project, particularly if he directs it. He understands how to craft a compelling Star Trek narrative, and importantly for Paramount, he can do so without breaking the bank.
Similar to how Leonard Nimoy approached the Kelvin timeline films, this actor deeply understands and impacts Starfleet Academy. He carries the same weight and respect as Nimoy, the original Star Trek ambassador who connected different generations of the franchise. He’s passionate about maintaining the quality of the stories and supporting the talented people who bring them to the screen.
As a huge Star Trek fan, I think Paramount would be making a big mistake if they didn’t seriously consider Jonathan Frakes. They’re trying to launch this incredible franchise into a whole new era of films and shows, and while no one could ever truly replace Leonard Nimoy – and Jonathan himself would be the first to admit that – he’s uniquely positioned to help keep the spirit of Trek alive. After all, he was a first officer on the Enterprise, and he’s a fantastic director in his own right. He just gets the universe, you know?
You can now watch all episodes of both Star Trek: The Original Series and Star Trek: The Next Generation on Paramount+.
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2026-04-28 13:13