Jonathan Frakes Boldly Puts Star Trek Legacy Fan Reaction into the Spotlight
Jonathan Frakes eagerly supports Star Trek: Legacy, but Paramount Plus remains hesitant to give it the green light Discover why the beloved franchise's future is still uncertain
Summary
Jonathan Frakes, the iconic Star Trek figure, throws his weight behind the spinoff series of Star Trek: Legacy. He expresses his desire for Paramount+ to give the green light to the show, citing the immense enthusiasm from fans and the remarkable streaming success of Star Trek: Picard season 3.
The potential announcement of Star Trek: Legacy has been further delayed due to internal adjustments at Paramount+ and industry strikes, resulting in a longer wait for enthusiastic fans. However, despite the uncertainties surrounding Paramount+'s current Star Trek projects, there is still a strong desire for Star Trek: Legacy, as evidenced by a petition that has garnered over 61,000 signatures. Notably, fans like Jonathan Frakes continue to maintain their optimism.
Star Trek icon Jonathan Frakes lends his support to Star Trek: Legacy, the proposed spinoff of Star Trek: Picard season 3. Frakes, who played Captain Will Riker in Picard season 3 and directed several episodes, joins the rest of the cast from Star Trek: The Next Generation. The season finale of Picard, titled "The Last Generation," created a foundation for a spinoff centered around the USS Enterprise-G, featuring Captain Seven of Nine (played by Jeri Ryan) and Ensign Jack Crusher (portrayed by Ed Speleers), the son of Jean-Luc Picard (played by Patrick Stewart). Despite the passionate fan response, no progress has been made towards the realization of Star Trek: Legacy.
In an interview with Variety conducted prior to the SAG-AFTRA strike, Jonathan Frakes shares his optimism for Paramount+ to approve Star Trek: Legacy, expressing his willingness to reprise the role of Riker. Frakes acknowledges both the positive reception from fans and the impressive popularity of Star Trek: Picard season 3, which ranked among the Top 10 streaming shows. Read his statement below:
Why Star Trek: Legacy Still Doesn't Have A Green Light From Paramount Plus
Even if they deny the fan reaction, they cannot ignore the show's success, ranking it in the Top 10 on streaming charts. Furthermore, many consider the latest season of 'Star Trek: Picard' to be one of the best seasons in the 'Star Trek' franchise. Though the fandom may not be the largest or youngest, 'Star Trek' fans remain loyal. In an ideal world, I hope they gather the necessary resources and hire Terry [Matalas] to create the 'Legacy' show, which would ultimately become a reality.
Star Trek: Picard season 3 garnered immense praise from both fans and critics, surpassing the response received by other Star Trek series on Paramount+. The only series that came close to its success was Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. It is indeed perplexing that Terry Matalas, along with the creative team and cast of Picard season 3, did not instantly secure a contract to develop Star Trek: Legacy. They had expressed their willingness to collaborate on the project. However, Paramount+ was already undergoing internal adjustments due to the evolving state of the streaming industry, which is currently grappling with profitability issues. Astonishingly, even before the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, Paramount+ canceled Star Trek: Discovery while Picard season 3 was still being streamed. In a similar vein, Star Trek: Prodigy faced cancellation in June.
The double strikes by WGA and SAG-AFTRA have halted TV and movie production in Hollywood, resulting in a longer wait for a potential announcement regarding Star Trek: Legacy. It is uncertain how many Star Trek projects Paramount+ intends to include in its current lineup, especially with the introduction of a new series called Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, and the production of Paramount+ exclusive Star Trek movies, starting with Star Trek: Section 31 featuring Academy Award-winner Michelle Yeoh. Despite this, there is still a strong desire for Star Trek: Legacy, as evidenced by a Change.org petition which has gathered over 61,000 signatures. The decision to move forward with Star Trek: Legacy now rests entirely with Paramount+, but fans can remain optimistic alongside Jonathan Frakes.
