Star Trek: Picard icon Jonathan Frakes sheds light on why Paramount+ isn't making its own Star Trek movies. Along with portraying Captain William T. Riker in Star Trek: The Next Generation and Picard season 3, Frakes is also one of the most celebrated Star Trek directors. Frakes' hits include Star Trek: First Contact and numerous episodes of Trek TV series, including Star Trek: Discovery, Picard, and the upcoming comedy crossover episode of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds and Star Trek: Lower Decks.

In an interview with Mick Joest at CinemaBlend, Jonathan Frakes lends his insight as to why Paramount+ isn't making its own Star Trek movies, given how Paramount Pictures has been unable to get the long-delayed Star Trek 4 produced by J.J. Abrams into theaters. Read Frakes' quote below:

My understanding is that Paramount+ has the television franchise and Paramount has the movie franchise. I could be wrong, but that’s what I gather is the separation between the movie and television divisions.

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Star Trek Movies Are In Limbo, And Paramount+ Can't Help

Jonathan Frakes clarifies why Paramount+ hasn't expanded its five current Star Trek series into feature films on its streaming service. After all, with Star Trek: Discovery season 5 announced as the end of the series in 2024, it was logical to assume the voyages of Captain Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) can continue in a Discovery movie made for streaming on Paramount+. Frakes' "understanding" of the delineation between Star Trek's film and TV divisions indicates this won't be possible under the current structure of the franchise.

When Frakes was asked by CinemaBlend if this breakdown of Star Trek movies and TV means that the only potential for Star Trek movies will be ones set in J.J. Abrams' Kelvin timeline, Jonathan responded, "That's my understanding." This could also explain why Jonathan Frakes hasn't been selected as the director of Star Trek 4, despite fan support and Frakes himself publicly lobbying for the gig. Perhaps Frakes is now too closely associated with Star Trek on Paramount+'s TV franchise to 'cross over' into the Abrams movie universe.

The dividing line of Star Trek movies and TV Jonathan Frakes describes is a loss for fans who hoped that made-for-streaming Star Trek movies could tie up the series' loose ends and continue the adventures of beloved characters from Discovery and Picard. It also means that Chris Pine's idea for Star Trek movies "made on a budget" aren't feasible, as the Abrams' Star Trek films are expected to be huge cinematic blockbusters by Paramount. Perhaps as Paramount+ undergoes changes to its streaming agenda, the wisdom of making Star Trek movies directly for the streaming service will prevail, especially if Star Trek 4 remains in development hell.

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Source: CinemaBlend