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Jonathan Frakes is a beloved director, with a prolific career in television, including directing episodes in Star Trek and other shows. Frakes directed iconic episodes like "The Offspring" in Tng and has also worked on films like Clockstoppers and Thunderbirds. Frakes has directed episodes in popular shows like Roswell, Dollhouse, Castle, Burn Notice, Agents of Shield, Falling Skies, and NCIS: Los Angeles.

Jonathan Frakes is one the most beloved directors of Star Trek, but he is also an incredibly prolific director across television. Frakes' directing career began on Star Trek: The Next Generation, where he occasionally took a break from starring as Commander William Riker to step behind the camera. Frakes directing debut was Tng season 3, episode 16, "The Offspring," which focused on Lt. Commander Data (Brent Spiner) and his attempt to create a child. With its compelling premise and heartbreaking ending, "The Offspring" remains one of the most highly-praised episodes of Tng.

Frakes anticipates a bright future for Star Trek with upcoming projects like Starfleet Academy and Section 31. Legacy spinoff still a possibility, but new showrunner Matalas working on Marvel's Vision could delay it. Frakes highlights success of existing series and movies as catalyst for future of Star Trek franchise.

Director Jonathan Frakes touts the "great shape" Star Trek is in as he looks to the franchise's future of new TV series and streaming movies, including the possibility of Star Trek: Picard's much-desired spinoff, Star Trek: Legacy. Frakes portrayed Captain William Riker in Star Trek: Picard and Star Trek: Lower Decks, but he is also one of the most prolific and beloved directors of the Star Trek on Paramount+ streaming franchise. Frakes has helmed numerous episodes of Star Trek: Discovery, Star Trek: Picard, and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.

IndieWire spoke to Jonathan Frakes about his most recent directing success, Star Trek: Discovery...