Jonathan Frakes has teased that his upcoming appearance as Riker on Star Trek: Picard season 3 may not be the last time he returns to the role. Picard is a Paramount+ series that began airing in 2020, back when the streaming service was still known as CBS All Access. It follows Star Trek: The Next Generation's Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) through his later years as he goes on adventures with a brand new crew by his side. Although the series has featured plenty of cameos from previous Star Trek actors, the upcoming third and final season will feature a reunion of nearly the entire TNG team, including Frakes as Will Riker, Marina Sirtis as Deanna Troi, Gates McFadden as Beverly Crusher, LeVar Burton as Geordi La Forge, and Michael Dorn as Worf.Although this is the first time that the entire cast has reunited, Frakes has never strayed far from the Star Trek universe. In addition to making several appearances as Riker in earlier episodes of Picard, he has voiced the character on three episodes of the animated series Star Trek: Lower Decks. Before that, he hadn't played Riker in a Star Trek property since 2005 on the series Enterprise, but he has made a habit of directing episodes of various Trek series, including Picard, Discovery, Voyager, and Deep Space Nine. That's all in addition to helming the films First Contact and Insurrection as well as the upcoming Strange New Worlds and Lower Decks crossover episode.
Recently, the official Star Trek: Picard season 3 trailer was shared during a panel at New York Comic-Con. The official Star Trek Twitter account later posted the trailer online, with the caption "The final voyage." This prompted Frakes to quote-tweet the trailer with the intriguing comment "Maybe not final...."
What To Expect From Riker in Picard Season 3 & Beyond
So far, it seems like Riker will be playing a major role in the upcoming Next Generation reunion. The Star Trek: Picard season 3 trailer featured him prominently, seeming to imply that he will be front and center over the course of the season's run. Although most of the plot details are still tightly under wraps, the tease showcases the altered dynamic between Riker and Picard now that Riker is a Starfleet captain with over a decade of experience under his belt, leveling the playing field between them.
Given Frakes' clear willingness to continue playing in the Star Trek sandbox, it makes sense that Star Trek: Picard may not be Riker's last outing. However, finding the exact place that he fits in could be more complicated, given the contrasting timelines of many of Paramount+'s series. Their premier live-action series Strange New Worlds and Discovery both take place long before the events of The Next Generation, so those options would seem to be out unless Riker is sent back in time. Therefore, it's possible that what Frakes is implying is an as-yet unannounced Riker-centric spinoff, or perhaps some other kind of project for the Next Generation cast. Either way, there seems to be much more ahead for Will Riker.
Source: Jonathan Frakes/Twitter