This has been a busy week in Star Trek-related showbiz news, and it keeps on comin'.

The "Thunderbirds" are go! The cult British TV series is being made into a movie, and Jonathan Frakes ("William Riker" in Star Trek: The Next Generation) is set to direct it for Universal Pictures, according to Daily Variety. "Thunderbirds" revolves around the exploits of International Rescue, a top-secret organization that uses an astounding gallery of special vehicles to respond to worldwide emergencies. The original TV show, conceived and produced by Gerry Anderson, used puppets and models in a process called "Supermarionation," but the screen adaptation will be live-action. Universal is aiming to start production early next year. This is the second youth-oriented film in a row for director Frakes, who most recently helmed "Clockstoppers" for Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon. He cut his teeth in feature directing with "Star Trek: First Contact" and "Star Trek: Insurrection."

Frakes is also directing the pilot episode of UPN's new incarnation of The Twilight Zone hosted by Forest Whitaker and written by Ira Steven Behr, which premieres September 18 after Enterprise.

Jeri Ryan also has news in Variety this morning. She has been appointed to the executive committee of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, the organization behind the Emmy Awards. Star Trek: Voyager's "Seven of Nine" currently stars in Boston Public, and also toplines "The Last Man," an independent feature film that was released on video and DVD earlier this month (for more information, visit Amazon.com).

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