Sir Patrick Stewart is going to be reuniting with his Star Trek: The Next Generation co-star Jonathan Frakes on the highly-anticipated Jean-Luc Picard series. The brand new Star Trek project was announced last year to much adulation from the fandom. Work on the upcoming series is now taking place on the project which is set to be one story spanning over a number of episodes.
Will Jonathan Frakes star in the Star Trek Jean-Luc Picard?
Frakes is unlikely to be starring in the Star Trek Jean-Luc Picard series, however, the star will be involved in the making of the new show.
However, the actor, who is best known as William Riker from Star Trek: The Next Generation, will be reuniting with Stewart for the forthcoming series.
Frakes will be serving as one of the directors on the new Jean-Luc Picard series after the actor moved behind the camera.
Speaking on the Writer Experience podcast, the actor-turned-director said: “Now my season looks like Star Trek: Discovery – the new wonderful Star Trek series, the Picard show – which Patrick is launching, and The Orville, which is some people’s new Star Trek.”
STAR TREK JEAN-LUC PICARD SERIES RELEASE DATE, CAST, TRAILER, PLOT
The star went on to say: “And I just finished The Gifted, which is a sort of X-Men Marvel origins show. So I am back in that world.”
In the past, Frakes has directed episodes of Star Trek: Discovery, Voyager, Deep Space Nine and some of the Star Trek movies.
There were suggestions Frakes could be getting involved in the Jean-Luc Picard series after he was asked about it in a recent interview with US entertainment site Deadline.
“The feeling is [the cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation] would love to be part of it. But the feeling is also that it’s Patrick’s show,” he said when asked whether he would return as Riker.
HOW MANY EPISODES WILL BE IN THE STAR TREK JEAN-LUC PICARD SERIES?
He went on to explain: “Having said that, I can’t imagine a world where there’s no reference to what happened to the rest of the Next Generation cast.
“Patrick isn’t playing Capt. Jean-Luc Picard this time, he’s done with [that phase of his career in] Starfleet in this show.”
Adding: “That’s about the only thing I do know about the show.”
Even though the cast is not making a comeback, they are likely to be mentioned in the series with Frakes helming some of the episodes.
He revealed how excited Stewart was to be working on the new project, saying: “Patrick and I had a steak dinner a couple of weeks ago and this man, who I’ve known for 31 years now, is so excited about this show he’s like a little kid. It’s fabulous!
WILL STARFLEET HAVE A ROLE IN THE STAR TREK JEAN-LUC PICARD SERIES?
“He’s thrilled and excited to be invited into the writers’ room and he’s a producer on the show and he’s part of the development of the story arc. It’s terrific. I mean he is a guy who is fully engaged.”
Stewart previously hinted the Jean-Luc series could in fact run for more than one season rather than being a limited project.
He told Red Carpet News via TrekMovie.com: “Oh lord, we are set up for possibly three years of this show, so if there is a film, it’s a long way off.”
The X-Men star went on to say: “In returning to Star Trek later in the year, the one thing that will be different about this version of Star Trek is that we have simply moved the whole narrative 20 years from when I last wore Jean-Luc’s uniform.
“So, everything has aged. When the series gets released, you will see things are very different from what they are.”
The Star Trek Jean-Luc Picard series is currently in production