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Jonathan Frakes is a long-seasoned veteran of being both behind and in front of the camera. Frakes got to cut his teeth directing on the show that made him a beloved sci-fi character, Star Trek: The Next Generation, where he portrayed Captain Picard‘s second in command, Commander William Riker. Frakes would go on to helm some of the continuing spin-offs of the popular show, as well as the film adaptations. Recently, Frakes got to make a triumphant return as Riker in Star Trek: Picard, but would also direct several episodes.

Deadline now reports that Frakes is set to direct television adaptations of the novel and audiobook series, Deathlands. The novels come from crypto pioneer Jeff Garzik’s indie company, Next Cypher Productions. The show is planning to start production this year and set to begin shooting in Sofia, Bulgaria in the spring. Deadline would get a little detail about...

Exclusive: Star Trek icon Jonathan Frakes is to direct a 10-part series based on novel and audio book Deathlands.

The series comes from NextCypher, the indie that crypto pioneer Jeff Garzik launched last year, and is set to begin shooting in Sofia, Bulgaria, this spring. When we first told about the show in August 2022, Garzik described it as “Mad Max: Fury Road meets Yellowjackets in an epic post-apocalyptic sci-fi adventure.”

Mark A. Altman as the showrunner and executive producer. Thomas P. Vitale and Garzik are also executive producers. Christine Sheaks is handling global casting efforts.

Frakes — known for his role as Commander William Riker in Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Picard and several Star Trek movies — is directing. “One of the things that I find so compelling about Deathlands is that it’s a series about hope and the...

Exclusive: Cryptocurrency pioneer Jeff Garzik has launched NextCypher Productions (NxC), a new independent entertainment company that will focus on using the emerging technology of Web3 to empower the sci-fi community to turn fantasy into reality.

“NxC is more than just a mere production company. It is a passionate community, defined by the people and projects that it interacts with,” said Garzik, who is best known as one of the pioneers of cryptocurrency, having worked on the Bitcoin Core project – the first blockchain node – as well as Bitcoin mining projects and the Linux operating system. “One of our core principles is to enable sci-fi and fantasy fans to do more than simply consume content from the worlds we construct, but to allow them to truly participate in beloved properties in ways they never thought possible. Above all, NxC pledges to always put the needs of the audience...

Sneak Peek footage, images and synopsis from "The Vampire Diaries" episode "Fade Into You", written by Nina Fiore, John Herrera and directed by Joshua Butler ("Deathlands"), that aired November 20, 2014 on The CW:

"...as 'Caroline' (Candice Accola) and 'Elena' (Nina Dobrev) prepare to host 'Friendsgiving' at the dorm, they receive some hopeful news from 'Alaric' (Matt Davis) and 'Stefan' (Paul Wesley), who have traveled to Portland to gather some information regarding the 'Gemini Coven'.

"'Tyler' (Michael Trevino) is determined to help 'Liv' (Penelope Mitchell) after she and 'Luke' (Chris Brochu) reveal some disturbing information about their witch lineage and the impending plans their coven has for them.

"Meanwhile, dinner takes a drastic turn when 'Jo' (Jodi Lyn O’Keefe), who has revealed some painful details about her past, finds herself fighting for her life, leaving Alaric scrambling to help from a distance.

"Finally, 'Kai' (Chris Wood) makes a dangerous discovery that...

Sneak Peek footage, images and synopsis from "The Vampire Diaries" episode "Fade Into You", written by Nina Fiore, John Herrera and directed by Joshua Butler ("Deathlands"), that aired November 20, 2014 on The CW:

"...as 'Caroline' (Candice Accola) and 'Elena' (Nina Dobrev) prepare to host 'Friendsgiving' at the dorm, they receive some hopeful news from 'Alaric' (Matt Davis) and 'Stefan' (Paul Wesley), who have traveled to Portland to gather some information regarding the 'Gemini Coven'.

"'Tyler' (Michael Trevino) is determined to help 'Liv' (Penelope Mitchell) after she and 'Luke' (Chris Brochu) reveal some disturbing information about their witch lineage and the impending plans their coven has for them.

"Meanwhile, dinner takes a drastic turn when 'Jo' (Jodi Lyn O’Keefe), who has revealed some painful details about her past, finds herself fighting for her life, leaving Alaric scrambling to help from a distance.

"Finally, 'Kai' (Chris Wood) makes a dangerous discovery that...

Sneak Peek footage, images and synopsis from "The Vampire Diaries" episode "Fade Into You", written by Nina Fiore, John Herrera and directed by Joshua Butler ("Deathlands"), that aired November 20, 2014 on The CW:

"...as 'Caroline' (Candice Accola) and 'Elena' (Nina Dobrev) prepare to host 'Friendsgiving' at the dorm, they receive some hopeful news from 'Alaric' (Matt Davis) and 'Stefan' (Paul Wesley), who have traveled to Portland to gather some information regarding the 'Gemini Coven'.

"'Tyler' (Michael Trevino) is determined to help 'Liv' (Penelope Mitchell) after she and 'Luke' (Chris Brochu) reveal some disturbing information about their witch lineage and the impending plans their coven has for them.

"Meanwhile, dinner takes a drastic turn when 'Jo' (Jodi Lyn O’Keefe), who has revealed some painful details about her past, finds herself fighting for her life, leaving Alaric scrambling to help from a distance.

"Finally, 'Kai' (Chris Wood) makes a dangerous discovery that...

Sneak Peek footage, images and synopsis from "The Vampire Diaries" episode "A Bird In A Gilded Cage", written by Neil Reynolds and directed by Joshua Butler ("Deathlands") that aired March 19, 2015:

"...with the help of 'Bonnie' (Kat Graham) and 'Kai' (Chris Wood), 'Damon' (Ian Somerhalder) and 'Elena' (Nina Dobrev) set forth a plan to rescue Damon's mother 'Lily' (Annie Wersching), who is trapped in the 1903 prison world.

"Meanwhile, when 'Caroline' (Candice Accola) plans for 'Stefan' (Paul Wesley) backfires, she is left to pick up the pieces.

"Elsewhere, back at 'Whitmore College', 'Enzo' (Michael Malarkey) and 'Alaric' (Matt Davis) attempt to reel Caroline back in, but that doesn't quite go as planned when they realize they're outmaneuvered. Lastly, an unexpected gift from Bonnie leaves Damon shaken to his core..."

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "The Vampire Diaries: A Bird In A Gilded Cage"...

Sneak Peek new footage and images from "The Vampire Diaries" episode "A Bird In A Gilded Cage", written by Neil Reynolds and directed by Joshua Butler ("Deathlands") airing March 19, 2015:

"...with the help of 'Bonnie' (Kat Graham) and 'Kai' (Chris Wood), 'Damon' (Ian Somerhalder) and 'Elena' (Nina Dobrev) set forth a plan to rescue Damon's mother 'Lily' (Annie Wersching), who is trapped in the 1903 prison world.

"Meanwhile, when 'Caroline' (Candice Accola) plans for 'Stefan' (Paul Wesley) backfires, she is left to pick up the pieces.

"Elsewhere, back at 'Whitmore College', 'Enzo' (Michael Malarkey) and 'Alaric' (Matt Davis) attempt to reel Caroline back in, but that doesn't quite go as planned when they realize they're outmaneuvered. Lastly, an unexpected gift from Bonnie leaves Damon shaken to his core..."

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "The Vampire Diaries: A Bird In A Gilded Cage"...

Sneak Peek new images and synopsis from "The Vampire Diaries" episode "What Lies Beneath," written by Elisabeth R. Finch, Holly Brix and directed by Joshua Butler ("Deathlands: Homeward Bound"), airing May 1, 2014 on The CW:

"...when 'Tyler' (Michael Trevino) turns up at the 'Salvatore' house with the news that 'Markos' (Raffi Barsoumian) has a plan to break the witches' curse, putting 'Stefan' (Paul Wesley) and 'Elena' (Nina Dobrev) in imminent danger, 'Damon' (Ian Somerhalder) suggests they hide out in the remote cabin once owned by the father of 'Caroline' (Candice Accola).

"Once there, it becomes obvious to Caroline that Stefan and Elena are keeping a secret, so Damon comes up with a parlor game designed to expose the truth.

"Then a ghostly presence at the cabin uses violence and fire to make itself known, while Matt (Zach Roerig) takes charge of Tyler’s plan to get information from one of...