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?
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Aron Head
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
2 - Dave Nalle
I demand that Jessica Simpson play Yeoman Janice Rand!
Dave
3 - Dave Nalle
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
4 - Mr. Real Estate
Amen to that!
5 - Mr. Real Estate
I totally agree. Halle Berry is much better suited for the role.
6 - Dave Nalle
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
7 - Chris Beaumont
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.
8 - Mr. Real Estate
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.
9 - Chris Beaumont
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.
10 - Chris Doohan
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
11 - darkbhudda
Halle Berry?
Shudders in horror.
Regina King fits just with the picture alone. With her arms folded she actually looks like the federation symbol.
12 - Dave Nalle
But Chris, how's your scotts accent?
Dave
13 - Deirdre
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!
14 - PoizonMyst
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.
15 - David tz
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?
16 - Phillip Winn
Frankie doesn't need a vocal coach to pull as bad a Russian accent as Koenig did.
All in all, a wonderful list, Chris!
17 - Sam
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.
18 - Sereno
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.
19 - Justin M.
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! :(
20 - Pat
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.