Star Trek Legends Jonathan Frakes And Robert Picardo Reunite In Starfleet Academy

Star Trek legends Jonathan Frakes and Robert Picardo have a touching but funny reunion on the set of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy. Executive produced by Alex Kurtzman and Noga Landau, Star Trek: Starfleet Academy premieres with two episodes on January 15, 2026, on Paramount+.

Reprising The Doctor from Star Trek: Voyager, Robert Picardo is the most prominent Star Trek legacy actor returning in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy. Meanwhile, Jonathan Frakes joins the newest Star Trek on Paramount+ series as a director, helming Star Trek: Starfleet Academy season 1’s penultimate episode.

On his Instagram, Jonathan Frakes posted a photo of himself sharing a warm hug with Robert Picardo, with a tongue-in-cheek caption that “Bob Picardo is searching for a line reading” from his Star Trek: Starfleet Academy director. See Frakes’ post below:

Not to be outdone, Robert Picardo also shared the photo on his Instagram, accusing Jonathan Frakes of a hug that “clocked 20 minutes” and led to Bob “calling HR.” Check out Picardo’s post below:

Robert Picardo and Jonathan Frakes have worked together as actor and director several times. Frakes directed Picardo as an alternate version of the EMH in Star Trek: First Contact. Jonathan also directed three episodes of Star Trek: Voyager season 2: “Projection,” “Parturition,” and “Prototype.”

Most recently, Jonathan Frakes and Robert Picardo appeared together in the 2023 Hallmark Christmas movie, A Biltmore Christmas. Picardo also posted a hilarious dig at Jonathan Frakes on Instagram to mark the premiere of their holiday collaboration.

Jonathan Frakes’ episode of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy premieres March 5, 2026, on Paramount+. Unfortunately, it’s also the final episode of Star Trek that Frakes is scheduled to direct for the foreseeable future. Frakes won’t be directing episodes of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds seasons 4 or 5 or Star Trek: Starfleet Academy season 2.

Jonathan Frakes has noted that Academy Award nominee Paul Giamatti is not in his Star Trek: Starfleet Academy episode as the villainous Nus Braka. Thankfully, both actors have confirmed that Robert Picardo will be playing The Doctor with Jonathan Frakes calling the action from behind the camera.