Jonathan Frakes has been outspoken about being behind the creation of Star Trek: Legacy.
The actor and prolific Star Trek director recently wrapped up a return to the Will Riker character that began on Star Trek: The Next Generation. And he’s happy to return again as the character, as he told Star Trek Explorer Magazine. He feels his character would need to have his own ship again, or he would need to be promoted to admiral. While we’d love to see Riker in command of his own ship, which we never really got to see in full, the director admits, though, a future show would have to be about the passing of the torch and not about him being in the spotlight.
Star Trek needs to move forward, and the one way it can do that is by focusing on some newer characters that were recently introduced on Star Trek: Picard and even his onscreen daughter who appeared in one episode of Star Trek: Picard.
"“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. I would also imagine Lulu Wilson, who played the Rikers’ daughter in season one and was so fabulous, could be a part of it. She could come back and maybe be in Starfleet.”"
Jonathan Frakes sees a real opportunity for the legacy characters’ children to carry on Star Trek.
It does make sense to have the children of the cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation pick up the torch with just enough legacy characters to make things more interesting. Even though Seven of Nine would be at the helm of the Titan and Raffi her second in command, Star Trek: Legacy would essentially be about the younger characters that we’re just getting to know.
"“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.”"
That’s why Frakes sees this is a blueprint for the next phase of Star Trek. Showrunner Terry Matalas essentially created the newest show for Paramount, with practically everything and everyone in place. Throw in some warp speed, a few villains here and there, and many more first contacts, and there is another Star Trek series that could potentially draw in the same level of interest as The Next Generation did. If Paramount wants this franchise to keep going forward, it really needs to listen to Jonathan Frakes.