Fans of Star Trek and Jonathan Frakes will be disappointed on March 5, 2026, as he finishes directing an episode of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy. The series, executive produced by Alex Kurtzman and Noga Landau, will premiere on Paramount+ with a two-part episode on January 15, 2026.
Jonathan Frakes, known for his work on Star Trek, is directing the next-to-last episode of the first season of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy. The season has ten episodes total, and Frakes’ episode will set the stage for the season finale, which will be shown in two parts. The episode’s title hasn’t been announced yet.
I was really excited to hear Paul Giamatti was joining Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, but Jonathan Frakes recently shared at the Star Trek convention that he didn’t actually direct the episode with Giamatti’s character, Nus Braka. It’s a bummer he didn’t get to work with such a talented actor – Giamatti’s an Oscar and Emmy winner, after all! Still, it’s cool to know they did spend some time together while filming Star Trek: Starfleet Academy.
Jonathan Frakes, while appearing on the All Access Star Trek podcast from TrekMovie, shared details about directing the first season of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy. He also hinted at what’s coming in a future Star Trek series, but delivered disappointing news regarding the actors’ preferred director for the Paramount+ shows.
March 5, 2026 Will Be The Premiere Of The Last Star Trek Episode Directed By Jonathan Frakes
According to TrekMovie, Jonathan Frakes revealed on the All Access Star Trek podcast that the Academy episode is the last Star Trek episode he’s directed that hasn’t been released yet. This means episode 9 of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy season 1 will be the final Star Trek directing credit for the acclaimed Jonathan Frakes on Paramount+’s series.
Jonathan Frakes didn’t direct any episodes for the fourth or fifth seasons of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. The fifth season will be the show’s last, and filming is almost complete. He’s also not directing any episodes of the second season of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, which is currently in production.
| Star Trek: Starfleet Academy Season 1 Episodes | Premiere Date |
|---|---|
| Episodes 1 & 2 | January 15, 2026 |
| Episode 3 | January 22, 2026 |
| Episode 4 | January 29, 2026 |
| Episode 5 | February 5, 2026 |
| Episode 6 | February 12, 2026 |
| Episode 7 | February 19, 2026 |
| Episode 8 | February 26, 2026 |
| Episode 9 | March 5, 2026 |
| Episode 10 – Season 1 Finale | March 12, 2026 |
Jonathan Frakes mentioned to TrekMovie that he directed Academy Award winner Holly Hunter and Tatiana Maslany for an episode of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy’s first season. He enthusiastically praised both actors, calling them incredibly talented.
I directed an episode of Starfleet Academy, which was a fantastic experience. Tatiana Maslany and Holly Hunter were both involved, and honestly, Holly Hunter is incredible in the show. She’s remarkably prepared, intuitive, and intelligent – a truly gifted, Academy Award-winning actress who really understands the material and brings great ideas to the table. She’s a real asset.
Jonathan Frakes has been enthusiastic about the upcoming Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, particularly its cast, which includes actors with the potential for Oscar-level performances. This, along with a fresh, young group of actors and the return of beloved Star Trek characters like The Doctor (played by Robert Picardo), is what makes the new series so promising.
Jonathan Frakes Directed 17 Episodes Of Star Trek On Paramount+
Including his work on Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, Jonathan Frakes has directed a remarkable 17 episodes of Star Trek for Paramount+’s series, solidifying his status as a preferred director among the show’s actors. He began directing Star Trek: Discovery in its second season, leading eight episodes like “New Eden,” “Stormy Weather,” and “Lagrange Point.”
Jonathan Frakes directed six episodes of Star Trek: Picard, notably including “Stardust City Rag,” “Fly Me To The Moon,” and “No Win Scenario.” He also directed two episodes of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds: the popular comedic crossover with Star Trek: Lower Decks called “Those Old Scientists,” and the holodeck-based murder mystery, “A Space Adventure Hour.”
The ninth episode of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy season 1 marks the last Star Trek installment Jonathan Frakes will direct for Paramount+ for now. Currently, Paramount+ doesn’t have any Star Trek shows planned after seasons 5 of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds and season 2 of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, both anticipated to launch in 2027.
The future of Star Trek on Paramount+ is now in the hands of new leadership at Paramount Skydance, and we should know more in 2026. It’s currently unclear if Jonathan Frakes will be back to direct any future episodes.
Why Jonathan Frakes Hasn’t Directed Another Star Trek Movie Since Insurrection
Jonathan Frakes began directing episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation and then moved on to direct the feature film Star Trek: First Contact, which was both critically acclaimed and a box office hit. While his next film, Star Trek: Insurrection, didn’t perform as well, Frakes had successfully established himself as a feature film director.
Following his work on Star Trek: Insurrection, Jonathan Frakes directed the film Clockstoppers. However, his biggest directorial project, Thunderbirds, wasn’t successful. The film’s poor performance at the box office effectively ended Frakes’ career as a movie director, though he later found success directing television, and has continued to do so extensively.
A few years back, Jonathan Frakes contacted producer J.J. Abrams and volunteered to direct Star Trek 4. The film had been stuck in development for almost ten years, but despite Frakes’ experience with Star Trek, the offer didn’t lead to anything.
Paramount Skydance is working on a brand new Star Trek movie that won’t connect to any existing Star Trek series or films. Jonathan Frakes found out about the project – which is being developed by Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley – while appearing on the TrekMovie‘s All Access Star Trek podcast.
The future of Star Trek is uncertain. After 2027, the franchise could look very different with Star Trek: Strange New Worlds concluding and Star Trek: Starfleet Academy potentially ending if Paramount+ doesn’t pick it up for another season.
The next-to-last episode of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy‘s first season wraps up the season’s storylines and, unfortunately, marks Jonathan Frakes’ final time directing a Star Trek series – though fans hope he’ll return in the future.
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2025-11-20 14:01