Beloved Star Trek actor and director Jonathan Frakes told SYFY WIRE this week that he has been asked to direct for the upcoming series, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.

Jonathan Frakes was just 35 when Star Trek: The Next Generation first aired in September of 1987. In 1990, he would make his directorial debut with the TNG episode,“The Offspring”, where it was revealed that he had a flair for the craft. Frakes continued to direct for the franchise and has left his imprint on two films, Star Trek: First Contact and Star Trek: Insurrection, along with five different Star Trek series and a sixth, Strange New Worlds, coming “down the pike” (pun intended).

In the interview with SYFY WIRE, Frakes noted that he’s looking forward to directing Strange New Worlds. In particular, he is excited to be able to work once again with the lead actors of the series, Anson Mount, Rebecca Romijn and Ethan Peck. “I've had great experiences with all three of them,” Frakes said of the trio. “Anson and I worked through finding Captain Pike. And Ethan and I worked through finding who Spock was. Spock, in particular, was so complicated and so emotionally taxing...and Ethan felt it. Rebecca and I have a long relationship from back on The Librarians, and we have a fabulous working shorthand, so it will be great getting back to the floor with three old friends.”

Today, Frakes has been a fixture in the Star Trek franchise for 33 years, appearing in or directing every series since 1987. Catch him in all his Trek endeavors, in front of or behind the camera, with Star Trek on CBS All Access.