As we reported over the weekend, Roberto Orci has dropped out of directing the next Star Trek film and the search is on for a replacement.
Although Edgar Wright was initially suggested as a likely replacement, there may be another horse in the race. A bearded horse who knows the bridge of the Enterprise very well.
Jonathan Frakes, who played Commander Riker in The Next Generation, has built up a solid career in directing.
As well as directing Star Trek: First Contact (the best of the TNG Trek movies, by the way), he's also racked up an impressive TV resume. Just recently, he directed a key episode of Marvel's Agents of SHIELD.
A Twitter campaign started by Trek fans, entitled #BringInRiker, is attempting to put Frakes in the directing chair.
What's more, Frakes has said he's up for the gig.
"I would love that job," he exclaimed in a recent interview. "I say, unabashedly, I'd be great at it and would love to do it."
We would too. Frakes' directing skills are very noticeable. Not only that, he's got history with Star Trek and he would most definitely assuage fans' fears about where the series is headed.
According to sources, JJ Abrams and Frakes have been in contact and there's a discussion happening.
In all likelihood, however, we can't see Paramount turning over control of one of their crown jewels to someone like Frakes - no matter how much we Trekkies would love it.
Edgar Wright is the most likely candidate. Time will ultimately tell, but we'd like to live in the fantasy of another Commander Riker-directed Trek movie for a little while.
