I'm very glad that Jonathan Frakes will have a big role as a director in Star Trek's next two series on Paramount+, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3 and Star Trek: Starfleet Academy season 1. The long-awaited Strange New Worlds season 3 will premiere this summer on Paramount+, with the Tribeca Film Festival hosting Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3's world premiere on June 14. Starfleet Academy season 1 wrapped filming in winter 2025 and is expected to premiere on Paramount+ in 2026.
Jonathan Frakes has had a pivotal role as a director of every live-action Star Trek on Paramount+ TV series since Star Trek: Discovery season 2. Frakes considered Discovery, which ended with season 5 in 2024, his "home" Star Trek show, but Jonathan also directed several episodes of Star Trek: Picard, and he helmed the acclaimed Star Trek: Strange New Worlds crossover with Star Trek: Lower Decks. Frakes also voiced Captain Will Riker on Lower Decks and played Riker in live-action on Star Trek: Picard.
Paramount+'s Star Trek content has been streamlined to just two series: Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, which releases season 3 in 2025 and is currently in production on season 4, and Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, which also has a 2-season order. Thankfully, Jonathan Frakes will influence both Star Trek shows as a director, guaranteeing the high-quality and fan-favorite traits that have defined Frakes' Star Trek directing work.
Jonathan Frakes Directed An Episode Of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 3
Frakes Helmed Strange New Worlds' "Murder Mystery" Episode
The next chance Star Trek fans have to see an episode Jonathan Frakes directed will be summer 2025 during Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3. In a 2024 Variety article about the Star Trek franchise, Frakes beamed that his Strange New Worlds season 3 noir-inspired "Hollywood murder mystery" is “the best episode of television I’ve ever done.” Frakes spoke a bit more about his Strange New Worlds season 3 episode on TrekMovie's All Access Star Trek podcast:
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3's teaser trailer showcased footage from Jonathan Frakes' murder mystery episode. Frakes' noirish whodunit is apparently a Star Trek holodeck episode, and it includes the cast of Strange New Worlds clad in 1970s-inspired attire. Jonathan's Hollywood murder mystery is one of Strange New Worlds season 3's big swings to recapture the acclaim of season 2's crossover and Star Trek's first-ever musical episode, and don't bet against Frakes delivering another crowd-pleasing winner.
Jonathan Frakes Directed An Episode Of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy
Frakes Directed The First Part Of Starfleet Academy Season 1's Finale
While appearing on Virtual Trek Con's The Main Viewer to promote Trek Against Pancreatic Cancer, Jonathan Frakes fielded a question from ScreenRant about Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. Regarding whether he would be back to direct an episode of Strange New Worlds season 4, he said, "TBD. I do have a great episode coming up, dropping in August, I believe, on Strange New Worlds" before Jonathan spoke about the status of his episode of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy: “Starfleet Academy, [the] first half of the finale, is now almost in the hands of the producers. We’re in the middle of the producer’s cut. Yeah, it’s all good.” Check out Frakes' quote in 43:09:
Jonathan Frakes confirmed he's directing the first part of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy season 1's finale (likely episode 9). Similarly, Frakes directed the penultimate episode of Star Trek: Discovery season 5. Jonathan has already spoken excitedly about Starfleet Academy, which is led by "movie stars" like Academy Award-winner Holly Hunter and Academy Award nominee Paul Giamatti. Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is carrying on the 32nd century far future introduced by Star Trek: Discovery, and the new series will have a pleasing blend of comedy and a fresh young cast buoyed by Star Trek legacy characters like The Doctor (Robert Picardo) from Star Trek: Voyager.
Jonathan Frakes Is Star Trek’s Best Behind-The-Camera Connection To Its Last Golden Era
Frakes Is One Of Star Trek's Best & Most Popular Directors
Jonathan Frakes is a bridge from the golden era of Star Trek in the 1990s to Star Trek on Paramount+'s modern age of dazzling visual effects and a more freewheeling, improvisational style of character dialogue. Frakes is no stranger to both qualities; after making his bones helming episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation, Frakes directed Star Trek: First Contact, a crowd-pleasing, special effects extravaganza that is hands down the best of TNG's feature films.
Beloved by the casts of Star Trek on Paramount+'s series, Jonathan Frakes brings decades of Star Trek knowledge, technical know-how, and an ease with his fellow actors to his work behind the camera. Frakes' episodes never fail to deliver memorable character beats that don't get lost among modern Star Trek's requisite slam-bang moments. A prime example is his work in front of and behind the camera on Star Trek: Picard season 3, episode 4, "No Win Scenario."
Star Trek on Paramount+ has wisely retained Frakes' expertise as a director on multiple Star Trek series.
It's safe to expect Jonathan Frakes' upcoming episodes of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3 and Star Trek: Starfleet Academy season 1 will be standout hours of both series. Star Trek on Paramount+ has wisely retained Frakes' expertise as a director on multiple Star Trek series. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds and Star Trek: Starfleet Academy are bound to add to director Jonathan Frakes' winning streak.
