Summary
- Jonathan Frakes believes there is a “real opportunity” for a Star Trek: The Next Generation sequel series, with a blueprint in place for a Picard follow-up.
- Frakes suggests that a possible sequel series could focus on the daughters of TNG characters and sees a potential for three legacy characters’ children to carry on the next generation of Star Trek.
- While there are currently no plans for another sequel series, the showrunner for Picard’s third season hints that there are ways to continue expanding the franchise, expressing a desire to go back to the spirit of Star Trek: The Next Generation.
Star Trek: Picard actor Jonathan Frakes reflected on his character and revealed that he believes there’s a “real opportunity” to make a Star Trek: The Next Generation sequel series and noted that there’s a “blueprint” in place for a Picard follow-up. Frakes is best known to Star Trek fans for playing William T. Riker on the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation as well as its follow-up films and series. Most recently, Frakes starred on the drama series Picard which premiered back in 2020 and recently wrapped up its third and final season.
At this time, there are no plans for another sequel series following the events of Picard. However, while chatting with Star Trek Explorer, Frakes revealed that there is a “blueprint” in place that allows the franchise to continue moving forward and could potentially follow the daughters of TNG characters. Frakes told the outlet:
“In my mind, for the show to be able to move forward, Riker would have to be a captain and have his ship, or he would be promoted to admiral and be a liaison. I’m only half-kidding when I say it would be great for me if the show carries on and I’m like Charlie from Charlie’s Angels. They’d have to come to my office one day a week for a meeting with Riker. That’d be perfect.”
Jonathan Frakes Said There’s Definitely a “Blueprint for the Next Phase”
The actor continued, revealing what he thinks a possible Star Trek: The Next Generation sequel series would involve:
“I suspect if it does go forward, it would be Jeri Ryan, Michelle Hurd, and Ed Speelers, who’s now in Starfleet, and Mica Burton and Ashlei Sharpe Chestnut, who played Geordi’s daughter[s]. I would also imagine Lulu Wilson, who played the Rikers’ daughter in Season 1 and was so fabulous, could be a part of it. She could come back and maybe be in Starfleet. It feels to me like there’s a real opportunity for three of the legacy characters’ children to carry on and sort of be the next Star Trek: The Next Generation. It just feels like it’s laid out there. It’s the blueprint for the next phase.”
Previously, Terry Matalas, the showrunner for the third season of Picard, hinted that another follow-up series was not out of the question. While speaking to ComicBook.com following the series finale of Picard, Matalas noted that although nothing was official yet, there were definitely ways to continue expanding the franchise.
While expressing enthusiasm for a follow-up Matalas said, “I would love to go back to the spirit of Star Trek: The Next Generation quite a bit. This last season of Picard is not season eight of Star Trek: The Next Generation. It’s more Star Trek 11. It’s a movie. The characters are much closer to their cinematic versions than they are Star Trek: The Next Generation versions of their characters. I would love to go back to the spirit of Star Trek: The Next Generation as much as you can, but we’d have to see if it would be possible.”
Star Trek: Picard is currently streaming on Paramount+.
