Jonathan Frakes: The Mastermind Behind the Success of Star Trek Crossover

The Frakes Effect: Making the Crossover Work

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' Anson Mount, Rebecca Romijn, and Ethan Peck singled out director Jonathan Frakes as the key to why Strange New Worlds' crossover with Star Trek: Lower Decks worked so well. In the Frakes-directed comedy, 'Those Old Scientists,' Jack Quaid and Tawny Newsome brought their animated Lower Decks Ensigns, Bradward Boimler and Beckett Mariner, to live-action, and they met Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount) and the crew of the USS Enterprise. Frakes had previously voiced Captain Will Riker on Star Trek: Lower Decks and was familiar with the rhythms of the animated comedy, which made him perfect to direct the Strange New Worlds crossover.

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The cast of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds took part in a Q&A to benefit the SAG-AFTRA Foundation, and when the conversation turned to Strange New Worlds' crossover with Star Trek: Lower Decks, Anson Mount, Rebecca Romijn, and Ethan Peck offered high praise for the guiding hand of director Jonathan Frakes, who knew how to fuse the two series' disparate styles and also coined the term 'Spoimer' for Lt. Spock and Ensign Boimler. Read their quotes and watch the video below:

Frakes Stramge New Director

Anson Mount: The episode really could not have happened without Jonathan Frakes who directs on both series. He was really the perfect person. And with the deep knowledge of Trek, to be able to come in and help meld those two tones together. It was really important that he was there at the helm of that. Rebecca Romijn: The energy on an animated show, voice-wise is going to be different than on our show. Watching them figure out how to massage that with the help of Jonathan Frakes was crucial. Ethan Peck: Indeed, Spoimler is a Frakes invention. It was great working with Jack. It's so fun because his character is such a nervous fella, and Spock is so the opposite, and they make a great yin and yang duo, in my opinion. I think Frakes tried to hone in on that. But I'd actually met Jack quite a few years before and was opining, I hope we get to work together someday. And this was just the most amazing venue to do that and with Frakes. So it was a blast working with him.

Ethan Peck as Spock, Paul Wesley as Kirk, Celia Rose Gooding as Uhura and Anson Mount as Pike.

Frakes' Continued Contribution to Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

Jonathan Frakes confirmed he'll be one of the directors for Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3, although it's unclear how many episodes Frakes is helming. Frakes' next upcoming episode he directed is the first half of the series finale of Star Trek: Discovery, which will premiere its 5th and final season on Paramount+ in April 2024. Jonathan is considered the favorite of all Star Trek directors among the actors of the various series, and he's known for his easygoing manner, sense of humor, proficiency in working with actors, and his quick work, which earned him the nickname 'Two Takes Frakes.'

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Frakes is currently starring in the Hallmark Channel movie, A Biltmore Christmas, one of his rare acting gigs outside of playing Captain Will Riker on Star Trek. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3 production is in full-swing in Toronto and is scheduled to last until May 2024. Producing director Chris Fisher is believed to be helming Strange New Worlds season 3's premiere, which will conclude the season 2 finale's Gorn cliffhanger, while Jordan Canning is confirmed to direct Strange New Worlds season 3, episode 2. Valerie Weiss is also believed to be back for season 3 after she directed Strange New Worlds season 2's courtroom drama, 'Ad Astra Per Aspera.' No doubt, whatever episode Jonathan Frakes directs will be one of the highlights of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3.

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