Jonathan Frakes wants to direct STAR TREK 3

I have to admit I was a bit of a Trekkie when I was younger. I even had the First Officer’s uniform and perfected my “Picard maneuver” (the pulling down of one’s top, not the combat one). So it is with optimism that I can report that First Officer William Riker, played by the ever-bearded Jonathan Frakes, has been fan boosted as a possible hopeful to direct Star Trek 3.

Robert Orci, who penned and produced the previous two installments of the modern re-imagining of Star Trek, had originally been tapped to make his directing debut on the upcoming third film, something that left many fans a bit worried seeing as he a grand total of ZERO directing experience. Paramount may have agreed, as Orci recently teleported his way out of that seat, leaving it rather lonely. There were rumblings of fan-favourite director Edgar Wright perhaps topping a shortlist of possible replacements but nothing has been confirmed.

But because this is the Internet, a fan group has appeared on twitter with the hashtag #BringInRiker in the hopes that Jonathan Frakes would helm the movie. The former “Number 1” has spent his post-Star Trek years not just acting and writing, but also doing lots of directing, including episodes of some of your favourite shows like Roswell, Dollhouse, Castle, Persons Unknown, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and more. Clearly he is a lot more qualified for this job than Orci ever was.

And lots of people seemed to feel the same way as this fan campaign got so much attention that Frakes himself replied to the call-out via telephone interview with Komo News. Frakes made it pretty clear where he stood in regards to this, saying “unabashedly, I’d be great at it and would love to do it.” He also seems to be about as charged as I am at the prospect, adding “I’m trying to keep the lid on how excited I am about the possibility, knowing it’s such a long shot. But there’s nothing I would like better.”

I have to say that I would like nothing better as well. I loved Star Trek: First Contact, which Frakes actually directed, and many stand with me in saying it is the best Next Generation movie. Sadly he has also directed the worst Star Trek movie, Insurrection. Putting that aside though, I can’t think of a better candidate for the job and hopefully producer JJ Abrams, who Frakes has apparently already contacted about this, will “make it so!”

Fanboy, over and out.

Last Updated: December 12, 2014