7 Star Trek castings that never happened but definitely should have seen the light of the day

Star Trek has a long-standing reputation of being very bold and memorable. The franchise's legacy has benefited greatly from the casting process. Before appearing on screen, several prominent actors have made it as far as the Star Trek world over the years. Fans have talked about the exciting possibilities that the near casts brought.

Some actors have declined roles that were offered to them, while others were given serious consideration before the roles were distributed. In a few cases, actors even took a little break to film before moving away. If these decisions had been successful, each Star Trek film or television series would depict how the various Star Trek franchises would have appeared.

Disclaimer: This article contains the writer's opinion. Reader's discretion is advised.

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Here is the list of 7 Star Trek castings that never materialized:

7. Billy Campbell

Billy Campbell was initially considered the first choice to play Commander William Riker in the TV series Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987). The producers favored him because of his charm and screen presence. However, at the auditions, the studio executive, John Pike, opined that Campbell did not possess a sense of command. He could not gauge that people in the future would put their faith in him to lead them. The role nonetheless went to Jonathan Frakes instead. Campbell was angry that he lost the job, but he remained associated with Star Trek.

He later appeared as a guest on the show in the episode "The Outrageous Okona," playing the vivacious character Okona. There, he sparkled as a quick-witted and mischievous rogue. Years afterwards, Campbell revived Okona in Star Trek: Prodigy and gave the character a new voice and a different edge. There, he portrayed Okona as more edgy and selfishly motivated. After all these years, Campbell said he was thrilled to have another opportunity to play this Star Trek character.

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6. Sean Connery

Sean Connery was the very first actor the producers wanted to play Sybok in the film Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (1989). The role is Spock’s emotionally intense half-brother. The role was written with Connery in mind. However, he was already contracted to play Indiana Jones's father in the concurrently filmed Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. He had to decline the role of Sybok due to scheduling conflicts.

Despite his absence, he inspired the story's nomenclature for the major holy planet. They called it Sha Ka Ree, a playful nod to Connery’s name. Laurence Luckinbill played the role, yet it still made it to the big screen. Many fans note that Connery’s presence would have been powerful and added depth to the character and to the film.

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5. Tom Hanks

Tom Hanks' name was mentioned when casting Zefram Cochrane, the developer of warp drive, in the film Star Trek: First Contact (1996). Hanks is a popular enthusiast of the Star Trek series. According to reports, he would have seized the chance to portray Cochrane and joked that he would have brought Tribbles as gifts for the cast and crew.

However, Ronald D. Moore, the show's writer, explained that the actor was never a good fit. There was no real offer, but his name was on a fantasy casting wish list. James Cromwell eventually played the role, and the outcome was an outstanding and unforgettable performance. Fans now continue to wonder what would have been the result had Hanks been cast in the role of the imperfect genius.

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4. Yaphet Kotto

At the onset of casting for Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987), Yaphet Kotto was a contender to play Captain Jean-Luc Picard. Kotto was an experienced movie actor. However, he decided to pass up the chance. He stated that at the time, he was devoted to making movies and did not believe he wanted to work on television.

Subsequently, he regretted the decision and described it as a blunder. Eventually, the role fell into the lap of Patrick Stewart, and he became a legend in the role. Fans now continue to fantasize about how he would have portrayed the captain. Kotto accepted that perhaps turning down the assignment could have been a life-altering mistake and internalized the opportunity he had lost.

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3. Geneviève Bujold

Geneviève Bujold was selected to play Captain Janeway in the TV series Star Trek: Voyager (1995). She began to film the pilot and worked for two days. However, she thought the TV moved too quickly. She wished to act in a more controlled fashion. The director desired the character to have greater strength and authority. She didn't feel quite suitable for it, and she withdrew. This allowed the producers to easily modify the role. They had already observed Kate Mulgrew at the auditions. She was free and ready. She became the Captain that the audience knew, with strength and presence.

Today, fans continue to speculate on how Voyager would have been with Bujold. Everyone agrees that Mulgrew's aggressive and assertive style of acting was just what the show needed. Bujold had a long history of film before and after this episode. However, she is recalled due to her retirement from one of Star Trek's most beloved characters. In Trek history, her limited exposure on set is a well-known what-if.

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2. Benicio del Toro

Benicio del Toro almost played Khan in the film Star Trek Into Darkness (2013). He consulted with director J.J. Abrams on the role of the villain. The producers had broached the subject of his playing the role. But afterwards, he stepped out of the running. That left the door open for Benedict Cumberbatch, who accepted the role. Cumberbatch's portrayal of Khan was a big attraction factor.

Fans and critics loved his performance. Del Toro is associated with tough and dramatic roles in other movies. His participation could well have given the narrative a different kind of edge. However, he may have been pulled from the part due to scheduling conflicts or other hidden factors. The eventual casting defined the movie that we watched. The character of Khan became the movie's most powerful factor. Nonetheless, the concept of del Toro playing the character is a reminiscence of a different face that the story could have taken through the casting decisions. It is a tantalizing lost opportunity in contemporary Star Trek.

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1. Eddie Murphy

Eddie Murphy almost appeared in Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986). He was a giant star and a big Trek supporter. He was included in a role in the first draft by the writers. He would've been a professor at a university who thought that aliens existed. But he turned it down. He told them that he wanted to beam on the ship and not be a human on the planet. He thought that the role sounded too similar to his character Axel Foley. The idea was scrapped as the script became more somber. Instead, Catherine Hicks played the part of the doctor, played by Dr. Gillian Taylor.

Murphy went on to mock that he wanted pointed ears and a phaser. Fans continue to speculate on what it would've been like with him sitting at the bridge. However, the film became a classic without him. One of the most captivating near-casts in Star Trek history is still the near appearance.

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It is concluded that these casting reports were a demonstration of the extent to which Star Trek might have been different with a different cast. Billy Campbell, Sean Connery, Tom Hanks, Yaphet Kotto, Genevieve Bujold, Benicio del Toro, and Eddie Murphy, among others, played significant roles in shaping the franchise.

Their choices and situations provided other players with an opportunity to produce long-term performances. In retrospect, these were events that were documented in Star Trek history. They reminded fans that casting was never simple and often unpredictable. The roles that did not occur became just as popular as those that did.