Last week, Roberto Orci announced that he was giving up the helm of the USS Enterprise, and would no longer be directing the third instalment of Paramount Pictures’ Star Trek franchise. With the film having no replacement, Star Trek fans around the world united to put a new name toward continuing the new Star Trek universe, started by director J.J. Abrams. With #BringInRiker trending on Twitter, fans asked Paramount to enlist former TNG First Officer and Star Trek director Jonathan Frakes as the new director. After several days, Frakes responded that he would “love that job,” In a radio interview with Komo News in Seattle.
Frakes told listeners that he’s “all over it”. “I’m trying to keep the lid on how excited I am about the possibility, knowing it’s such a long shot,” said Frakes. “But there’s nothing I would like better,” he added.
According to Frakes, he has contacted Paramount to express his interest in directing and is waiting for their response. Jonathan Frakes certainly has the experience, having directed numerous episodes of Next Generation, Voyager and Deep Space Nine, as well as being responsible for bringing the techno-villainous Borg to the big screen in 1996’s Star Trek: First Contact, which is widely regarded as one of the best Trek films of the Star Trek TNG universe. He returned to direct the follow-up, Star Trek: Insurrection in 1998, which wasn’t as big a hit with fans.
Jonathan Frakes definitely has the experience to direct, and his impeccable Star Trek credentials would put any fan worries to rest, but we think that Paramount would more than likely see a Frakes-directed Star Trek film as a step backwards, and with names like Edgar Wright being mentioned, it seems even less likely Frakes will get his shot in the director’s chair.
We’re kinda on the fence about the whole thing, but we would love to know what you think. Let us know on Twitter!
