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Although Star Trek V: The Final Frontier may not be held in high regard among the fans, it did introduce the Trekkies to some memorable characters. The antagonist of the story, Sybok, Spock’s (played by Leonard Nimoy) half-brother, was played by Laurence Luckinbill. Many fans may not know that the role was initially meant to be played by none other than Hollywood legend Sean Connery, known for his classic portrayal of James Bond.
In the movie, which came out in 1989, Sybok is on the quest to find ‘God’ beyond the Great Barrier. Connery was one of the biggest movie stars of the time and William Shatner, who was directing the Star Trek V wanted him to portray the role of Sybok. Connery's involvement would have lent the movie greater prestige and opened the franchise to new audiences globally. However, the actor opted to go with Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade instead.
Shatner ended up casting Luckinbill for the role, who was known for his incredible theatre performances. Even though the movie met with a disappointing reception, Luckinbill’s portrayal of Sybok was impressive and did end up becoming one of the more notable characters from the Star Trek universe.
Who is Sybok in Star Trek V: The Final Frontier?
The USS Enterprise will get a directive from the Starfleet to rescue three diplomats; a human, a Klingon and a Romulan, from the planet Nimbus III, where they were being held hostage. On the planet, Captain James T. Kirk (played by William Shatner) and the crew will encounter Sybok, a Vulcan who rejected the traditional Vulcan philosophy of emotional suppression. He is also Spock’s half-brother.
After the hostages are rescued, they learn that it was all just a ploy to bait a Starfleet ship. Sybok will reveal that he is searching for ‘God’ on the mythical planet called Sha Ka Ree, which lies beyond the Great Barrier.
Sha Ka Ree is a mythological planet that some Vulcans believe holds the answers to existence. Sybok will use the Vulcan mind meld technique to turn the Enterprise crew into his followers. He would take control of the ship and set it en route the dangerous Great Barrier.
The Enterprise ultimately manages to cross the Great Barrier and discover an inhabitable planet. Sybok, Kirk, Spock and Dr. Leonard McCoy (played by DeForest Kelley) will arrive on the planet’s surface and encounter the ‘God’. Sybok initially believes the glowing field like entity to be the ‘God’ and asks for its wisdom. The alien entity will demand for the ship instead so it can travel through the galaxy and share its wisdom. A skeptical Kirk questions its true intentions.
They discover that the malevolent alien was a powerful entity, which had been imprisoned on the planet long ago and the Great Barrier was put in place to keep it in. The planet or the ‘God’ is nothing like the lore that Sybok had believed all his life. Sybok realizes his mistake and apologizes for his gullibility in believing in the urban legend that had put others in danger. He helps the crew members escape, getting killed in the process.
Sean Connery could have been a part of the Star Trek universe
The role of Sybok is that of a worldly man who believes in embracing the unknown. While Luckinbill did give a brilliant performance, Connery would have also fared well in the role. Ironically, the planet that Sybok is looking for in the movie is called ‘Sha Ka Ree’, which is a play on Connery’s name. So, in a way, Sean Connery’s name retains an indirect connection to the Star Trek universe.
It is interesting to note that while Star Trek V: The Final Frontier was panned by critics and fans, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade became a Box Office success. In hindsight, it seems Connery made the right choice after all. Whether Connery’s presence would have saved the movie’s fate, is of course up for debate.
Sean Connery appeared in several Hollywood blockbusters, including The Hunt for Red October, The Untouchables, Alfred Hitchcock’s Marnie and Entrapment.
Star Trek: The Original Series was created by Gene Roddenberry in 1966. Watch Star Trek on Paramount+.
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