Actor and filmmaker Jonathan Frakes mentioned recently that despite the Star Trek franchise only having one show through 2027, there was still hope for the future. The statement comes after the franchise entered into a state of limbo after the cancellation of Starfleet Academy.

Speaking about the 60th anniversary of the franchise, Frakes said it was unfortunate that there were no projects in active development. However, the longtime member of the franchise was not completely hopeless about the future of the franchise, and said that the studio could take the time to figure out the next best direction.

Jonathan Frakes Addressed The Impact of Starfleet Academy’s Cancellation

Jonathan Frakes in Star Trek: Picard | Credits: Paramount+

The Star Trek franchise seems to be in the dark again as its crown jewel, Strange New Worlds, is gearing up for its final two seasons, which are set to release in 2026 and 2027, and its latest venture, Starfleet Academy, will end its run after a second season in 2027.

The cancellation of Starfleet Academy seemed to be a huge nail in the potential coffin of the franchise, as it had piqued a lot of interest. Still, the show was the subject of alleged review-bombing and faced several criticisms in its direction (via Forbes).

Jonathan Frakes, who has long been associated with the franchise as an actor and director, mentioned that many of Starfleet Academy’s harshest critics did not even watch the show (via Trek Movie).

Yeah, isn’t that unfortunate? And that’s how [Alex] Kurtzman felt. I got a call from Alex and Noga [Landau], who was his co-showrunner on Starfleet Academy. They were calling people to let them know that the show was kind of ‘on ice,’ I think was the phrase they used. And it was what you just said [critiques coming from people who hadn’t watched the show], they couldn’t not mention as a factor, the trolls.

The cancellation of Starfleet Academy seems to have brought the ‘streaming era’ of Star Trek to an end. The way forward for Paramount+ seems to be unclear again as the parent studio aims for a merger with Warner Bros. Discovery.

Star Trek’s Unsure Future Does Not Mean The End of A Beloved Franchise

The Star Trek franchise has had its ups and downs since its debut in the ‘60s. After the premature cancellation of The Original Series, the franchise bounced back bigger than ever with The Next Generation and has been more or less consistent since then, barring the hiatus post-Enterprise.

Now that the franchise is in the dark yet again, fans are worried about its future and whether it will have one. However, it has faced harsher odds, and all is not doomed yet. At CinemaCon, Paramount announced that there was a Star Trek movie in development (via Variety). A film by Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley was announced last year.

While there is no new update, potential shows like Legacy, Year One, and United still have plenty of interest from fans and the attached talent. Jonathan Frakes put the situation of the franchise in the best way possible (via Trek Movie).

I’m very optimistic about the future. I just wish that something was percolating now. I know that there’s talk of another movie…All I’ve got is rumor and innuendo, and none of it is encouraging… But in truth, there will be a Star Trek on the air through 2027. That gives us a lot of time to get something else in the oven, if you will.

There is hope for Star Trek, even if the tides are not in favor of the Enterprise at the moment. With encouraging signs for the upcoming movie, the franchise might not be dead yet.

Streaming Era Star Trek ShowsNumber of SeasonsStatusDiscovery5FinishedShort Treks2Cancelled after Season 2Picard3FinishedLower Decks5FinishedProdigy2Cancelled after Season 2Strange New Worlds5Renewed till a Final Season 5Starfleet Academy2Canceled after season 2

What do you think about Star Trek’s future? What should Paramount prioritize for the franchise? Comment below.
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