Jonathan Frakes can’t wait.
Production on “Star Trek 9” begins at the end of March, and once again calling the shots as director will be Frakes, who guided “First Contact” (1996) to a $150 million international box office take. Of course, Frakes also will work in front of the camera, reprising his role as Riker.
“I think there’s more pressure this time,” Frakes says by telephone from his production office on the Paramount Pictures lot in Hollywood. “The last script was so wonderful and the story was so exciting. The film itself did so well and, frankly, it made so much money — it kind of reinvigorated the whole franchise.
“To top that is truly going to be a challenge,” he says. “Fortunately, this script is of a different tone. I think we’ll have the opportunity to present some new and different colors.”
Though he can’t elaborate on plot specifics, Frakes describes the story as a cross between “For Whom the Bell Tolls,” “Lost Horizon” and “All the President’s Men.” He also promises lots of action and strong roles for three guest stars.
Look for a romance for Captain Picard (Patrick Stewart) and, finally, for some attention to be paid to the long-neglected relationship between Riker and Troi (Marina Sirtis).
“We’re deep into preproduction on the film,” Frakes says. “I think we’re all very excited to get in there and get going on it.”
Frakes, as always, is juggling several balls at once. He turns up briefly as Riker in “Star Trek: The Experience,” the new “Trek” theme ride at the Las Vegas Hilton, and in the CD-ROM game “Star Trek: Captain’s Chair.”
Through his Goepp Circle production company, Frakes is developing several additional film projects. He hopes to direct a heist thriller called “Quid Pro Quo,” a Michael Crichton script titled “Genes” and one other little something, “Total Recall 2.”
In fact, “Total Recall 2,” a sequel to the 1990 Arnold Schwarzenegger sci-fi blockbuster, is the closest to realization.
“I really wanted to direct something else before `Trek 9,’ but nothing came together in time,” he says. “Miramax bought the rights to `Total Recall’ from Carolco and made a contract with me and my partner, Lisa. She’ll produce it and I’ll direct it.
“We’re working on treatments now with some different writers,” Frakes says. “So I’m very jazzed about that. If it all works out and Mr. Schwarzenegger is available, we’ll get going with the preproduction of it at the end of `Star Trek 9.”‘
Schwarzenegger is, of course, one of the most in-demand actors in Hollywood.
“They wouldn’t have gone this far if Schwarzenegger weren’t interested,” Frakes says. “Miramax bought it because he wants to play the character again.
“Wouldn’t it be cool if it all happens?”
Returning to “Trek,” Frakes figures he’s in it for the long haul, an entrenched member of the family. He expects that he’ll direct more “Voyager” and “Deep Space Nine” episodes in the future, perhaps even another film, and that he’ll participate in other “Trek”-related events and projects as they pop up.
“I’m sort of in for a penny, in for a pound with `Star Trek,”‘ he says. “It’s my life at this point.
“I’m more invested now in `Star Trek,”‘ he adds. “It takes more of my time, more of my energy and more of my thoughts. It keeps me awake at night.
“When I was just acting on the show,” Frakes says, “I learned my lines, went to sleep, then woke up and went to work. Now it’s sort of become an obsession.
“I like the success,” he concludes. “I’m thrilled with the way things have gone — but my life was simpler 10 years ago.’
