Casting Stones: Star Trek
Published June 25, 2006
Welcome to the first edition of Casting Stones. You all know how this works, each column will feature a recasting of something, a television show, a movie, comic book, novel, anything that has characters that can be adapted to the screen. Who knows, perhaps we can help remake-happy Hollywood in casting the films they think we want to see. Maybe we can build enough influence to bend Hollywood to our whims, or something.
The seed that was planted and blossomed into this column was the rumor of a casting idea for the potential Star Trek film that JJ Abrams has signed on to helm. Before going any further, not all of the ideas are mine originally, some are ideas that I stumbled across in forums and blogs around the net. Some of them sound very good and I agree with the idea, so they would appear here as well, for better or worse.
So how would you recast the original crew of the Enterprise? How about these choices:
Captain James T. Kirk. This is the casting I read and really liked. Replacing the legendary William Shatner, Matt Damon. The guy can act, he can do action, he can shift between comedy and drama with ease, and I think he could do the character proud. The big question will be if he would go the Shatner route, or if he would employ more human-like inflections. Either way, I think Damon would be a good choice.
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Commander Spock. Originally played in stoic, emotionless fashion by Leonard Nimoy, he always had this great matter of fact way of delivering lines, and having great presence with minimal motion. Who could don the pointed ears and take over as the half alien science officer? I read someone suggesting Adrien Brody, I don't think so. The name that I like is Billy Zane, he has the right voice, and facial features that look right for the role. He doesn't really look like Nimoy, but I think I could believe him as Spock.
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Doctor Leonard "Bones" McCoy. There is only one person I can think of to take over the reigns from the late DeForrest Kelley, that name is Gary Sinise. He can act and has the perfect look to take on the role of the good doctor. Can't you picture Sinise entering into some verbal sparring with Zane's Spock, or one of those "I'm a Doctor" lines, or even a classic "He's dead, Jim." Sinise is the one name to consider.
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Chief Engineer Montgomery Scott. None other than Austin Powers himself, Mike Myers, would be up to the task of the late James Doohan's most famous role. Take this comedic chameleon and focus his abilities on the Scottish engineer, and you could have a match made in heaven. There is no doubt that he could do the accent, and he seems to have the right physical presence for the job. Myers in this role could prove to be inspired casting.
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Ensign Pavel Chekov. This is a tough one, a young Russian for the helm. Perhaps someone like Frankie Muniz? He seems to be about the right age and have the right build for it. I think the biggest question would be if he could pull off the Russian accent. I am sure a vocal coach could get him doing it, but then it would be up to the audience buying Malcolm as a bridge officer on the Enterprise. Could be interesting to see if he can put a spin on Walter Koenig's Monkee inspired role.
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Lieutenant Uhura. Another tough one. How about Regina King? She is a very good actress, and I think she could take on the role of the Enterprise communication officer. She is equally adept at drama and comedy, as shown in films like Ray and Miss Congeniality 2. I would like to see her in the role originated by Nichelle Nichols.
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Lieutenant Commander Hikaru Sulu. As I was thinking of names, a certain guy came to mind, but I could only think of the movie I saw him in, not the name. The film is Better Luck Tomorrow and the actor is Parry Shen. I know, Shen is Chinese and George Takei is Japanese, but that doesn't chnage my opinion that Shen would be very good in the role. I think he has the right look, and from what I saw in that aforementioned film was very good.
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Now, hopefully this will kick off some interesting discussions. I know there are probably many of you who do not like these choices, or even like the idea of recasting these iconic characters. Be that as it may. It can be fun to toss in some speculation. What do you think?
Christopher Beaumont spends much of his time writing about entertainment when he isn't sitting in a movie theater. He is known around the office as the "Movie Guy" and is always ready to talk about his favorite form of entertainment and offer up recommendations. Interests include science fiction, horror, and metal music. His writings can be found at Draven99's Musings, as well as Film School Rejects. 
- Casting Stones: Star Trek
- Published: June 25, 2006
- Type: Review
- Section: Video
- Filed Under: Video: SF
- Writer: Chris Beaumont
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Comments on this articleComments
I demand that Jessica Simpson play Yeoman Janice Rand!
Dave
You're off base on Uhura, though. Since you're casting name stars, why not go for the whole enchilada and get Halle Berry? She'd be perfect.
Dave
I demand that Jessica Simpson play Yeoman Janice Rand!
Amen to that!
You're off base on Uhura, though. Since you're casting name stars, why not go for the whole enchilada and get Halle Berry? She'd be perfect.
I totally agree. Halle Berry is much better suited for the role.
This IS a fun game!
I think we also have to make sure the script includes a role for Spock's father so that Leonard Nimoy can have an appearance in place of Mark Lenard from the original series.
Dave
Nimoy as Sarek is a pretty good idea. Not really sure I would like Berry as Uhura, although the thought had crossed my mind....
I thought about talking about the Cold War aspect of Chekhov's character and thought about maybe recasting with a Middle Eastern character, but I wanted to stick with the characters that we had to work with,not introduce new ones. I do think that would be a good idea, and it could work since Chekhov wasn't around until season 2 anyway.
Nimoy as Sarek is a pretty good idea. Not really sure I would like Berry as Uhura, although the thought had crossed my mind....
How can you not like Berry as Uhura? Berry is not only absolutely gorgeous, her acting ability is extraordinary, and her fan base will bring more viewers for the film.
I think I may have been adversely affected by her performance in the X-men films, which I found lackluster. I do not doubt her acting ability or how gorgeous she is, she probably could be a very good Uhura, just not my choice.
I do like the idea of "Austin Powers" playing the role of my Father, James "Scotty" Doohan. Although, I would like to drop this in to the mix. I'm about the same age as my Father was when he began on Star Trek, and think that maybe I could take a stab at the part ???
After my forgetable appearence on, Breaking Bonaduce, that's the least they could do.
Sincerely, Chris Doohan
Halle Berry?
Shudders in horror.
Regina King fits just with the picture alone. With her arms folded she actually looks like the federation symbol.
Chris' accent is pretty good, I should know...I'm his sister Deirdre. We all acquired Dad's gift of accents... even my children (his grandchildren).
Chris Doohan is always calling me up with a different accent... and usually fools me. Last year I received a telemarketing call from some strange sounding man...and I thought it was Chris, so I let him go on forever and told him I would buy everything he was selling..then I realized it wasn't him!
Yep ... they look like some good choices. I especially like your selection of Billy Zane cast in the role of Spock. I also agree with the suggestion of Jessica Simpson in the role of Yeoman Janice Rand.
If you go with Chris Doohan for the role of Scotty, why not go the whole nine yards and cast all original actors' offspring as the new leads?-- except for Sulu of course, since he obviously has no offspring... but you could make his character a North Korean, like making Chekhov of middle eastern decent. Maybe Chekhov is from Georgia or some other southern Russian state and is of middle eastern decent to begin with...
That's a really good idea actually-- making the minor characters relevant to today's environment and society. Imagine a character in a world with one government and no religion being a devout Muslim. What direction would he face when praying to Allah? To Earth, the center of the galaxy or the center of the universe?
Frankie doesn't need a vocal coach to pull as bad a Russian accent as Koenig did.
All in all, a wonderful list, Chris!
I doubt the Chekov character will be in the movie. He was right out of the Academy in the second season of TOS, which would make him a child when Kirk and company were there. I wouldn't count on seeing Sulu either.
I've heard that Ben Affleck was going to be in it. He'd be perfect to play Captain Pike, originally played by Jeffrey Hunter.
To remake the TOS is a sick idea!! Forget this idiot thing. Tos is a classic series with great actors. It would be better to respect them and try to understand TOS.
I like your casting choices, and agree with most of them. My only issue is this...the prequel is to be set during Kirk and Spock's Star Fleet Academy days, correct? Which would make them (or at least Kirk, since Vulcans live much longer than humans) in his late teens/early 20's at the time of this film. Ditto for the other characters. All these actors are too old! :(
All great casting, but most of them are too old for a PREQUEL. A re-make, perhaps, but none of them (not even Damon, the only "legit" casting on here) are young enough to be in the acadamy. I mean (and I'm sorry i know this), Damon is the age Kirk was when he got command of the Enterprise. I think he would be perfect, if they were making a movie about the crew's time on the enterprise.
Aunjanue Ellis (also of Ray & Undercover Brother) would make a much better Uhura than Berry.
Andy Bray who plays the young Checkov in the online series New Voyages should play him. He's an exceptional actor.
Yeah, excellent choice for a remake but way too old for a prequel. Think of actors in their late teens to early twenties. What if Haley Joel Osment packed on about twenty pounds of muscle weight to take on the Kirk role?
How about Vivica A. Fox as Uhura, Josh Lucas as Kirk and BD Wong as Sulu? I love the other choices, though!
How about Daniel Dae Kim from "Lost" as Sulu, especially if the character was changed to Korean?
Just a thought... We need younger actors, right? We're going to focus on their Academy days. How about casting complete unknowns? People who have never appeared on-screen before? It worked for the first Harry Potter movie. That way, if this one "prequel" has a potential for becoming yet another Trek franchise, the young unknowns could grow into their roles and reprise them for Prequel #2. (Just remember, our new, young Kirk has to have the verve and swagger of a Shatner to pull of the Kobayashi Maru!) ;-)
The only man who could play Scotty is Billy Connolly!! Hands down the best man for the job. Mike Myers would just make a mockery of the character and everyone would just think he was dragging out yet another "scottish" character like fat bastard or the father in "So I Married an Axe Murderer".
As for Chekov, I could see bringing in a new face or a no name actor. That way it could really be the "new guy" or young face just added to the crew. I mean, why not? That's what they did with the new Superman movie!
For Sulu I could see the young asian guy from "Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle". I can't remember his name, but he definitely has a great presence on camera and can play a very dry kind of wit on camera but also deliver serious material as well.
I would write in a cameo of Christian Slater though, since he is known for being a huge trekkie and having not seen him in anything in a while, I would like to see him on screen again.
I, too, read about Matt Damon possibly portraying Kirk and almost puked. I love Shatner and the Kirk he created. I would rather see someone new and fresh play the role than an actor (if you can call Matt Damon that) I truly cannot stand!
I love Billy Zane but I almost think he is too physically "built" to play Spock.
How 'bout Ewan McGregor for Scotty?
Someone said, "This is a fun game" and they're right, it is, but I would not trust anyone to do ST-TOS right. It was a different time. I understand the sentiment and rational behind having a Middle East character play the Checkov character. However, I would hope that by ST's time, the proper response regarding the Middle East and Muslims would be "Muslim? What's a Muslim?" C'mon, give war a chance.
Each of these ideas is absolutely horrible. Especially Matt Damon.
No Halle Berry please
If we're visiting the original series, what about seeing Ray Liotta as Captain Pike?
Any game that lets fans pretend they can pick the cast of the next Trek movie is a fun game! Excellent list Chris, and great additions from the commenters, with this exception:
Jessica Simpson in the role of Yeoman Janice Rand ?!? Are you kidding me? There isn't a less talented person acting in movies today. Just the idea of using her cheapens the whole thing.
But while we're nominating blondes for Janice Rand, how about Allison Mack (Chloe from Smallville)?
And I think Damon, Zane and Sinise are great picks. I also like Daniel Dae Kim for Sulu.
So what are the chances any casting directors are lurking in here gleaning some info from real fans anyway?
Campbell Scott as Kirk. He's got the looks, the intelligence and the self-deprecation.
Wes Studi as Spock. He's got that sort of ugly/handsome thing with the Magua stare.
Mark Hamill as McCoy. He could have the distinction of playing the two biggest whiners in SF history.
I'm inclined to say Will Ferrell as Scotty, but he's too big as star now.
I would write in a cameo of Christian Slater though, since he is known for being a huge trekkie and having not seen him in anything in a while, I would like to see him on screen again.
If we weren't having to cast younger, I'd stand firm on casting Slater as McCoy. He'd be better than any of the suggestions so far. He has that crazy factor that McCoy had.
Jessica Simpson in the role of Yeoman Janice Rand ?!? Are you kidding me? There isn't a less talented person acting in movies today. Just the idea of using her cheapens the whole thing.
That's the fun of it, man. Did you notice ANY acting talent in the role in the original series?
Dave
"I would write in a cameo of Christian Slater"
He was already in ST6 as Excelsior Communications Officer.
If we're focusing on the right age range, how about Chris Pratt (Bright from "Everwood") as Kirk and Topher Grace (Eric from "That 70's Show") as Spock.
this is a bit daft.
leave the old characters alone.
let new actors play new chracters.
First of all, hi to Chris: we met briefly at your father's tribute in LA two years ago. It was great to meet your family.
I think this whole project of recasting the original crew is going to bomb miserably. Get creative and bring us new Star Trek stories, instead of going back in time (Star Trek Enterprise is proof that this idea doesn't play well with trekkers). Besides, no one can replace Shatner, Nimoy, De, Jimmy, etc. Leave it alone.
Give us either more of The Next Generation or move even further into the future and show us the next one hundred years.
i have my own cast in list in mind, i am going on the premise that Matt Damon is confirmed as kirk, and this in turn influences my choices. {i had thought about the possibility of having tobey maguire as kirk and topher grace as spock}
but anyways
i would like to see either Christopher Ecclestone or David Tennant (both British actors who have played Dr. Who recently} they are both camaleon like in their acting abilities and would do brilliantly. But if u want an american then either James Van Der Bleek (dawson from the creek) or Jason Schwartzman
i agree about mccoy
i think Alfred Molina may be a better choice for Scotty, or even William H Macy. because myers would play it with too much of wink-to-the-audience
Alisha king as Uhura
Perhaps Joshua Jackson for Checkov, though I doubt about the russian accent. Tom Welling perhaps?
As for Mr. Sulu, I would go for John Cho (Harold and Kumar go to white castle) though he is south korean, and george takkei is jappanese
I don't know if anyone has ever seen Star Trek: New Voyages, but the guys over there have done a fantastic job at recasting the originals. Very believable in their roles.
Check it out at startreknewvoyages.com
If a remake of the original Star Trek crew were ever to actually get off the ground, and I'm not sure it should, I would be more amenable to unknown actors. I also think that a family legacy role like Chris Doohan as Scotty would be very cool provided he has the acting chops. Jessica Simpson could only ruin anything she touches. She's not even really that hot. Just slutty. Halle Berry would make a terrible Uhura. Obviously she has some talent, but she just doesn't get the genre. She has been less charismatic than a piece of wood in her last 2 roles (Catwoman and Storm). I am especially disappointed in her portrayal of Storm. She has no concept of science fiction. This said, I know it's fun to cast name actors. I do it all the time. Some of the choices here are inspired, but for God's sake, some areally bad.
"However, I would hope that by ST's time, the proper response regarding the Middle East and Muslims would be "Muslim? What's a Muslim?" C'mon, give war a chance."
Couldn't agree more ;)
Prequel to TOS:
Takeshi Kitano as Sulu's father
The pinnacle of miscasting but it would be fun :D
I saw somewhere else that said Gary Sinise for McCoy; that would be good. And what about William Petersen (CSI) for Kirk? Too old maybe?
"but anyways
i would like to see either Christopher Ecclestone or David Tennant (both British actors who have played Dr. Who recently} they are both camaleon like in their acting abilities and would do brilliantly."
Actually, Tennant is Irish, but he plays a brit for Dr. Who.
Oops, I meant Scottish on Tennant.
"Will Ferrell as Scotty"
I Like it - let's redo ST with the entire "frat-Pack" groups of actors!
Ben Stiller - Mr. Spock
Vince Vaughn - Dr. McCoy
Will Ferrell - Scotty
Steve Carell - Chekov
Luke Wilson - Sulu
Jack Black - Uhuru
....and Owen Wilson as James T. Kirk
The thing about Chekov is that at the time, it was politically acceptable to make fun of russians. Putting any depth into a muslim character would be a political minefield today.
Other global powerhouses: India or China?
I think an indian/hindu would work.
Cuban?
A multiracial actor as a chekov from antartica?
So you didn't like my "Aristocrats" cast?
Kirk = Kevin Pollak or Larry Miller
Uhura = Whoopi Goldberg
Spock = Penn Jillette
Bones = George Carlin
=)
I'd thought about Luke Wilson as Spock. If age weren't a factor, I'd think Matt Dillon (not Damon) has the right energy for Kirk. If you want to recast the story to today's "controversial" ethnicities, you'd be meddling with the Star Trek canon. There'd be an outcry. Besides, it's sort of implied in Star Trek, and most sci-fi, that religion will completely disappear in the future.
There's no avoiding outcry when remaking Star Trek. Someone's going to be upset with any choice you make. Even if you cloned all the actors from the original series, and raised the clones under carefully controlled conditions so they had the exact same appearances, personalities, and cultural quirks as the original actors, some psychotic faction of Trekkies would say they're different somehow.
Kirk - Charlton Heston ("You damn, dirty Klingons!")
Spock - David Caruso (with wig or hair dye), or maybe George Clooney--he already has the hair cut down
Scotty - Liam Nieson (great Scottish brogue)
Sulu - Jet Li... or Jackie Chan's more used to getting beat up
Uhuru - Queen Latifah ("Open your own damn channel, sir.")
Chekov - I could see Matt Damon in that role
McCoy - Jerry Stiller ("Dammit Jim, I'm a doctor, not a miracle worker... Serenity Now!")
Yeoman Rand - Sharon Stone
Nurse Chapel - Maybe Faye Dunaway
Security Guard That Gets Killed By an Alien About Twenty Minutes Into the Plot - Owen Wilson
I Like it - let's redo ST with the entire "frat-Pack" groups of actors!
Ben Stiller - Mr. Spock
Vince Vaughn - Dr. McCoy
Will Ferrell - Scotty
Steve Carell - Chekov
Luke Wilson - Sulu
Jack Black - Uhuru
....and Owen Wilson as James T. Kirk
Careful what you post, These guys might see it and are just crazy enough to try it. :P
No TOS remakes or prequels. New story, new cast is what Star Trek needs if it wants to move forward.
McCoy is a doctor. He can be cast a little older as he would have gone through years of school and residency, or however they train docs in the future. I believe that he was the oldest in the cast anyway.
when u think about it with a little time all those choices seem pretty good love the gary sinise idea! this could give the franchise it he boost it needs. now about those teaser trailers....
All valient attempts but I thought you might to look at our list (which was also a podcast) from July 2005. We had Brad Pitt as...
Xan Phillips presents - Vol. 20: The new Star Trek is called Kirk
"If we're visiting the original series, what about seeing Ray Liotta as Captain Pike?"
heck yeah. Liotta'd make a great Cap'n Pike. I really like some of the rest of these suggestions too. not all of them, mind you. Mike Myers as Scotty? surely you jest! i mean, i really like Mike, but i can't see him lying on his side in a jeffreis tube with a wrench (or whatever), and muttering to himself as he trys to fix something and not making it seem like a farce.
that said, i really don't thnk they ought to do this. Justin was right when he said it was time to moove on. Prequils are just ways for Hollywood to try to squeeze alittle more money out of us while turning canon lore and beloved characters on their ears. don't get me wrong, prequils are all the rage right now and as trekkies (trekkies/trekkers, call yourself what you will) we are some of the trendiest people on earth (well, ok, maybe not), so i understand the appeal this idea has... to hollywood. basically, a prequil is a way to make money without having to think all that hard. i can't speak for anyone else, but i have yet to see a prequil that did not either leave me feeling unsatisfied, intellectually insulted, bewildered (by the changes to the storyline that invalidate the previous/following films), or some mixture of all three.
Yes. Bring back our STAR TREK. Do a good job of it and we'll love you forever. just please don't screw up the whole story laid out over the last 40 years and expect us not to notice or to clap dumbly while you do it (however easily distracted by aliens in skimpy clothing some of us may be).
I don't know why Matt Damon is the obvious choice for Kirk for everyone. I think that the roles of kirk and spock should actually be filled by unknowns who are closer to personifing the characters more than the standard hollywood "casting shuffle." Then with two unknowns, the other roles can be filled in with more recognized faces (such as the perfect choice for sinse as mccoy). I don't know about everyone else, but i want the new film to bring me back into why i enjoyed the original series, not to go to the theater and give me hollywood's version of what they want in star trek.
Haven't seen a picture of Chris Doohan, so I dont know. Myers, until I see a picture of Chris. (scotty)
for spock...Zane...Yes.
For McCoy....Sinise, hands down.
Uhura....not berry? ok well whatever you said else
Checkov...Uhm, check him off...
Sulu...uhm, no. cant see sulu being replaced. Any of you realize Sulu Outed himself recently? Shatner said he always had suspiscions because Sulu always kept trying to set his phaser to "Fabulous" (hey y'don't believe me?! ASK HIM!)
and now Kirk....why I think *I* should be kirk. Why? well, i don't know...maybe not, I kinda liked fruit salad. He didn't. I wonder if he still
has that same aversion to fruit salad like he once did. I dont know......
and You need to have some really good baddie or bureaucrat in the flick. (or maybe someone like a burned out headmaster or something)...Terence stamp (Kneel before Starfleet!...well ok jut stand there, Ya dumb bumpy-head, I dont care! Sh-t!)
or Alan Rickman ("It would be most appropriate to Kneel before Kalas,Now. I should hate to have to ...instill...some discipline into you. I assure you...it would be most...pain-ful.")
Add your comment, speak your mind
(Or ping: http://blogcritics.org/mt/tb/49645)
I like your choices.
You know, Checkov was important in the original series because at the time we were locked in a not-so-Cold War with the Soviets and most could not imagine a world in which we could be chums. In that regard, I think a muslim at the helm would be a good choice. I would completely rewrite the character.
And along the lines of recasting, I have some observations at my blogsite. Check it out...
Aron Head
www.EvilBastard.net