Jonathan Frakes wants to appear on The Orville

Jonathan Frakes has said that he’d like to appear in The Orville.

While Frakes has appeared in several series of Star Trek, and directed both Star Trek and The Orville, he’s never appeared on the latter. Now, in a special birthday message to Seth MacFarlane, who turned 46 on October 26th, he proposed the idea that he might make a special appearance on MacFarlane’s Trek-alike show.

On Friday, Comicbook.com reported that Frakes sent a video to YouTube channel Orville Nation celebrating MacFarlane’s birthday. In it, he says, “I guess we all celebrate Seth MacFarlane’s birthday. I think he’s only 29. I’m hoping at some point that I can appear on Orville, perhaps in full alien regalia.”

Frakes has so far directed two episodes of The Orville, “Pria” starring Charlize Theron, and “Sanctuary” which featured his TNG and Picard co-star Marina Sirtis in a supporting role. If Frakes were to appear in The Orville, he’d be in good Star Trek company; in addition to Sirtis, Trek actors Robert Picardo, John Billingsley, and Tim Russ have all appeared on screen, as well as a handful of other Trek guest stars.

The Orville season three is currently in production, and expected to premiere on Hulu in late 2020.