# Star Trek Recast **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 27, 2003, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-recast/198037 "2003-08-27T18:38:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![The\_Mad\_Hermit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5ac83/32.png) [@The\_Mad\_Hermit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Mad_Hermit)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2003, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-recast/198037/1 "2003-08-27T18:38:03Z")
I know that a remake of the old series is potentially on the table, and I’m curious: Who would play the parts as well or better than the original actors? I don’t want this to be a debate about whether it’s a good idea to remake the original series. Let’s just assume that it’s greenlighted, you are the casting director, money is no object, and you will be telling the same stories: for instance, classics like “Where No Man Has Gone Before”, “Errand of Mercy”, “Balance of Terror”, “The City on the Edge of Forever,” and “The Doomsday Machine.” Who would you pick for the cast roles, and who would be the best guest stars in the original roles? I’m asking because I’m not as good at this as some of you are. Please indulge me- who can be Kirk better than Shatner? (Assuming modern actors, TV or cinema.) ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2003, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-recast/198037/2 "2003-08-27T19:39:09Z")
If it were a movie I would want Jude Law to play Spock. ---
**Author:** ![Short\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Short\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Short_Guy)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2003, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-recast/198037/3 "2003-08-27T20:35:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Zebra \* > \*\*If it were a movie I would want Jude Law to play Spock. \*\* That is so perfect I can’t even begin to describe how perfect that is. I would pay good money to see that. Personally, I’d like to see Bill Pullman as captain Kirk. I think he’d make a great captain, and he’s a far better actor than Shatner. Chechov would be… Steve Buscemi. Just the pleasure of watching him do a Russian accent should do the trick. I can’t think off hand of anyone to play Bones. Maybe a younger Sean Connery would have been able to capture the cynicism of that role. Don’t know about Scotty, either. Of course, Halle Berry as Uhura. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2003, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-recast/198037/4 "2003-08-27T20:48:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Steelerphan \* > **I know that a remake of the old series is potentially on the table.** I’ve not a heard a thing about this. Cite? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Mad\_Hermit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5ac83/32.png) [@The\_Mad\_Hermit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Mad_Hermit)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2003, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-recast/198037/5 "2003-08-27T21:11:45Z")
**Aesiron,** I don’t have a particular cite- I got this idea from a previous Trek thread; someone posted that The Powers That Be were considering it for the next incarnation. Jackie Chan as Sulu? Halle Berry as Uhura- not as voluptuous, but the standard Captain shot had Uhura’s legs in it most of the time. Would work. Denis Leary as McCoy? He’s the one with the closest attitude (that I know of). Tim Allen did a good interpretation of the actor in the role; I wonder how he would do as Kirk in a serious vein. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2003, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-recast/198037/6 "2003-08-27T21:12:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Short Guy \* > \*\*Personally, I’d like to see Bill Pullman as captain Kirk. \*\* Which means Bill Paxton would play the Evil Captain Kirk. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2003, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-recast/198037/7 "2003-08-27T21:16:19Z")
Kirk- Brendan Fraser Spock- Daniel Day Lewis (he can certainly play anything else) Scotty- Sean Connery (of course) Uhuru- Angela Bassett Chekhov- George Stanchev ([http://us.imdb.com/Name?Stanchev,%20George](http://us.imdb.com/Name?Stanchev,%20George)) Sulu- B.D. Wong McCoy- Barry Corbin ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2003, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-recast/198037/8 "2003-08-27T21:37:13Z")
Kirk: John Goodman McCoy: Bradley Whitford (West Wing) Khan: Michael Clarke Duncan Janice Rand: Brittany Murphy Spock: The brother from Everybody Loves Raymond Chekhov: Joey Fatone (Chekhov was always intended to be a lightweight teen idol) Reilly: DJ Qualls Nurse Chapel: Laura Prepon Harry Mudd: Robbie Coltrane The Backstreet Boys and O-Town: disposable Redshirts Orlando Jones: the redshirt who gets turned into a styrofoam cube Charlie X: Jim Carrey Uhura: The actress who played Kendra on Buffy ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2003, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-recast/198037/9 "2003-08-27T21:40:55Z")
Sean Connery turned 73 two days ago; I think he’s too old to be part of the crew. His [son](http://www.imdb.com/Name?Connery,%20Jason) on the other hand… ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2003, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-recast/198037/10 "2003-08-27T21:44:25Z")
Mike Myers’ Fat Bastard as Scotty would be interesting. “We’re goin’ dam’ quickly, then… ew… those Klingons like it kanky!” Speaking of West Wing & Mike Myers, Rob Lowe would do well as Kirk or as Spock. It might be interesting having Spock as a super-good looking guy. For the real odd couple: Sarek: Anthony Hopkins Amanda: Joan Rivers ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2003, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-recast/198037/11 "2003-08-27T22:24:33Z")
Christopher Walken would be a great if somewhat different kind of Kirk. Liam Neeson as Spock. Nick Nolte as McCoy. Tony Shaloub as Checkov(I bet he can do the accent as well as Konig did :)) I agree with Halle Berry and B.D. Wong as Uhura and Sulu. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2003, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-recast/198037/12 "2003-08-27T22:33:37Z")
For guest stars: Paul Rubens as Trelane, Squire of Gothos Jim Broadbent as Harry Mudd Judi Dench as T’Pau ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2003, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-recast/198037/13 "2003-08-27T22:36:04Z")
Hell, how about an all-_West-Wing_ Trek: Martin Sheen as Kirk. Bradley Whitford as McCoy. Richard Schiff as Spock. Allison Janney as Uhura. Rob Lowe as Checkov (later replaced by Josh Molina). John Spencer as Scotty. ---
**Author:** ![photopat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e95f7d/32.png) [@photopat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/photopat)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2003, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-recast/198037/14 "2003-08-27T22:43:31Z")
I was thinking awhile back about how it would have been if Star Trek was cast with the actors on the Andy Griffith Show. Think of the character exchanges like this: Kirk: Andy Spock: Barney McCoy: Howard Spraig Scotty: The repairman guy. Chekhov: Floyd Sulu: Goober Uhura: Andy’s girlfriend Chapel: Aunt Bea Just imagine… ---
**Author:** ![RikWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/49beb7/32.png) [@RikWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RikWriter)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2003, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-recast/198037/15 "2003-08-27T23:03:07Z")
Kirk-Nathan Fillion Spock-Val Kilmer McCoy-Kevin Spacey ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2003, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-recast/198037/16 "2003-08-27T23:21:15Z")
**Aes** of Space, e-mail **Viva** about it. She’s the one that brought it up over the summer. Now, to casting! [raises drinks] TO CASTING! I don’t really care who plays anyone\*, but Uhura has to be played by Beyonce. \*until you guys make a choice I dislike. Then, I will jump all over it. ---
**Author:** ![Hugh\_Jass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/4da419/32.png) [@Hugh\_Jass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hugh_Jass)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2003, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-recast/198037/17 "2003-08-29T16:34:12Z")
THis is a little Law and Order-ish, but here goes: Kirk: Vincent D’Onofrio. I can see you cringing right now. But listen, Kirk is a scene chewer. You gotta have a guy that your eyes are just drawn to as the heroic Captain. I can’t take my eyes of D’Onofrio when he is on the screen. Imagine D’Onofrio reading the Constitution to the Yangs. If Vincent D’Onofrio got split into a good and bad version, I can believe it. Or being held back by Spock as Edith Keeler dies. Speaking of Spock: Spock: Chris Meloni. From Oz, I can tell he can act. I can understand objections here. I was going for a conflicted thing here. If you wanted a better dynamic with McCoy, what about Jason Isaacs? He has a rather sinister edge that might be interesting. McCoy: Sam Waterston. He fits the craggy mold. If you want a little edge to your simple country doctor, howzabout J.K. Simmons? I really like the idea of J.K. Simmons in this role. Think J. Jonah Jameson, with a cupful of Dr. Skoda, and a heaping teaspoon of Vern Schillinger. Oh yes. Uhura, Sulu, Chekov, Nurse Rand: These guys aren’t terribly important. Cast unknowns for these roles. And note that Sulu is Japanese, so B.D. Wong (Chinese), Jackie Chan (Chinese) would not work. I like B.D. Wong, actually, but he isn’t Japanese. Scotty: He’s one of my favorites, but he isn’t terribly important. Since he’s one of my favorites though, howzabout Angus MacFadyen, who played Robert the Bruce in Braveheart? ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2003, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-recast/198037/18 "2003-08-29T19:25:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Hugh Jass \* > \*\*McCoy: Sam Waterston. He fits the craggy mold. \*\* And plus, he wouldn’t have to worry about learning his new character’s name. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2003, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-recast/198037/19 "2003-08-29T20:17:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Hugh Jass \* > \*\*And note that Sulu is Japanese, so B.D. Wong (Chinese), Jackie Chan (Chinese) would not work. I like B.D. Wong, actually, but he isn’t Japanese. > \*\* Leonard Nimoy wasn’t really Vulcan, either. My new choice for Scotty: Billy Connelly. ---
**Author:** ![Hugh\_Jass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/4da419/32.png) [@Hugh\_Jass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hugh_Jass)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2003, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-recast/198037/20 "2003-08-29T23:09:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Sampiro \* > \*\*Leonard Nimoy wasn’t really Vulcan, either. > \*\* Good point. How about Chris Rock to play Sulu, then? B.D. Wong can play Chekhov.:rolleyes: [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-recast/198037.md?page=2)