Summary
- Jonathan Frakes will continue to direct for Star Trek: Strange New Worlds in season 4 but a conflict prevents him from directing for Star Trek: Starfleet Academy season 1.
- Frakes directed a season 3 episode of Strange New Worlds, describing it as a "Hollywood murder mystery."
- Starfleet Academy, starring Holly Hunter, will begin production in late summer 2024 with Frakes potentially returning for season 2.
Jonathan Frakes reveals his Star Trek future as a director of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds and Star Trek: Starfleet Academy. Frakes, one of Star Trek's most beloved and prolific directors, has helmed episodes of every live-action Star Trek on Paramount+ series as well as reprised Captain William T. Riker on Star Trek: Picard and Star Trek: Lower Decks. Jonathan directed an episode of the upcoming Strange New Worlds season 3. Meanwhile, Star Trek: Starfleet Academy announced Holly Hunter, an Academy Award-winning actress, as its series lead.
In an upcoming interview with Screen Rant to discuss Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 9, "Lagrange Point," the final episode of Discovery directed by Jonathan Frakes, he addressed whether he will continue to direct Star Trek: Strange New Worlds in season 4 and if Frakes will also direct for Star Trek: Starfleet Academy. Check out his quote below:
I’m gonna keep going on Strange [New Worlds]. I was asked to come and do Starfleet Academy, but the [episode directing] slot conflicted with my son's wedding. So I'll come back, hopefully, for the second season [of] Academy.
Jonathan Frakes' Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3 episode is a "Hollywood murder mystery" .
What We Know About Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 3 & Starfleet Academy
Star Trek on Paramount+ is down to two Star Trek shows
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3 has been filming since December and is close to wrapping the 10th and final episode of season 3. Happily, Strange New Worlds received a season 4 renewal from Paramount+, so the cast and crew will return at an undisclosed time after their hiatus. Strange New Worlds season 3's episodes directors include Chris Fisher, Dan Liu, Jordan Canning, Valerie Weiss, and Jonathan Frakes, all of whom helmed popular Strange New Worlds season 2 episodes. Going by what Frakes said to Screen Rant, he plans to be back to direct for Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 4.
Star Trek: Section 31 , the first made-for-streaming on Paramount+ Star Trek movie that stars Academy Award-winner Michelle Yeoh, is also in post-production for an unknown release date.
With Star Trek: Discovery and Star Trek: Lower Decks both ending with season 5 on Paramount+, Strange New Worlds will be joined by Star Trek: Starfleet Academy as Paramount+'s two Star Trek series. Starfleet Academy, which is executive produced by co-showrunners Alex Kurtzman and Noga Landau, begins production in late summer 2024 and will film on the largest sets ever constructed for Star Trek. Academy Award-winner Holly Hunter stars as Starfleet Academy's Chancellor and Captain, but the cast will consist of younger actors playing cadets, with potential familiar faces from Star Trek: Discovery. And, possibly, Star Trek legend Jonathan Frakes behind the camera in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy season 2.
