By GustavoLeao / 03:06, 5 December 2008 / Feature Films

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iFMagazine posted the second part of their extensive interview with Star Trek The Next Generation actor/director Jonathan Frakes and here are few excerpts.

iF: And of course there's STAR TREK - but of course there was a long time between the original series and the movies and it was a logical progression to go from CLASSIC TREK to NEXT GEN movies. Speaking of STAR TREK, are you excited about the new J.J. Abrams movie?

FRAKES: I've very optimistic about the new movie. I'm a big fan of his as a storyteller and I was there and it looked great. I was lucky enough to visit the set and was overwhelmed how beautiful the [Enterprise] bridge was.

iF: You were just there to hang out - no top secret cameo?

FRAKES: My First [A.D.] was my first, and J.J. is married to a girl I know in Maine, so we had these connections and we've been trading notes back and forth and finally went over to have a little schmooze with them and it happened to be the day they were on the bridge. I must say, it was very emotional to be on someone else's STAR TREK set, as you could imagine.

iF: At the same time, do you feel sad that the NEXT GEN movies have come to an end?

FRAKES: Yes. By all means. I had dinner with Patrick [Stewart] last week and we were both ready to go back to do another one.

iF: Do you think that ship has sailed that NEXT GEN anything is pretty much off the table.

FRAKES: I don't think so. I think if this is successful, it opens up any number of possibilities for the whole STAR TREK franchise, so we'll see how this does.

iF: ENTERPRISE gave an opportunity to offer another NEXT GEN ending, in a weird way - how was it coming back doing the final episode of that series with Marina Sirtis.

FRAKES: That was a very interesting choice. The theory was it was a valentine to the fans, but the reality is it was a bit of a stretch to have us shut down their show.

iF: I thought it was a disservice to everything that ENTERPRISE had done - it didn't really give them a proper send-off.

FRAKES: I think maybe in hindsight, everybody probably feels that way.

iF: It must have cool though, in that it's the last time you'll probably get to play those characters for the time being.

FRAKES: It was great to be with Marina again and get into your spacesuit and not have to let it out. A lot of the crew I had worked with for 30 years, so it had a very nice sentimental value going back there.

iF: So there's nothing on the table for NEXT GEN?

FRAKES: The idea of coming back together is the most attractive. Obviously my character has been promoted and has his own ship and is married, so we've toyed with the idea of a sitcom and an opera. There are a lot of spaghettis that have been thrown up on the wall.

iF: A half hour?

FRAKES: THE RIKERS IN SPACE and their wacky uncle Data and their little dog Worf. [laughs]

iF: Did you have conversations with Paramount about this.

FRAKES: No, I had conversations with Marina about this.

The full interview is here.