Star Trek’s Jonathan Frakes to Direct TV Adaptation of “Deathlands” Sci-Fi Book Series
Jonathan Frakes, known for his role as Commander William Riker in Star Trek, is set to direct a TV adaptation of the sci-fi book series “Deathlands” for crypto developer Jeff Garzik’s Web3 production studio NextCypher, according to Deadline reports.
Commander Turned Director
Frakes has a bevy of directing titles under his belt, including Burn Notice, Roswell, and two Star Trek films. Garzik, a prominent developer of Bitcoin Core, opened NextCypher in 2022.
“I launched NextCypher to capitalize on the appetite for innovative, high-quality genre entertainment,” Garzik told Deadline. “I’m glad to see the market aligning with our vision of producing smartly budgeted, and exceptional content for a global audience.”
Originally published in 1986, Deathlands takes place in a post-apocalyptic world and follows a group of survivors who must band together as they utilize teleportation technology to traverse their unforgiving landscape.
Hope, Romance, and Resilience in the Face of Adversity
“With a series that is gritty, suspenseful, and action-packed, with a sense of hope, romance, and resilience in the face of adversity, I cannot imagine anyone better to bring Deathlands to the screen than visionary director, Jonathan Frakes,” Altman told Deadline. “I couldn’t be more thrilled to have him onboard to ensure the series will be appointment television for viewers everywhere.”
Currently, shooting is scheduled for this spring in Bulgaria. Garzik is serving alongside Thomas P. Vitale as executive producer, with Mark A. Altman as both showrunner and executive producer. International sales are being handled by Tai Truesdell and Bertrand Reignier of Rogue Wave Entertainment, with casting by Christine Sheaks.
“One of the things that I find so compelling about Deathlands is that it’s a series about hope and the chance to build a better world,” Frakes told Deadline. “I’m excited about the opportunity to bring this show, combining feature-level action and compelling character drama, to the world.”
Yet, Deathlands is just the tip of the iceberg for the Web3 production studio. NextCypher is also developing another sci-fi series about a woman who loses her memory on a quest to “save the outcasts of society from a deadly conspiracy that threatens to destroy the future.”
“Deathlands is an ideal launchpad for us, especially considering the success of similar post-apocalyptic series based on successful IPs like The Last of Us and the eagerly anticipated Fallout,” Garzik said. A release date is yet to be announced.
Ian is a cryptocurrency enthusiast blending humor with professionalism. With an engineering background and a storyteller's heart, he simplifies the blockchain world with sharp analysis and a touch of wit. At Cryptowire, he brings his unique perspective to make digital financial innovation accessible to all.
