Olmos on the Enterprise

[Lanny77]

Recently learned that Edward James Olmos was considered not once, but twice for roles in Star Trek, fist as Kruge in the Search For Spock and later as Jean-Luc Picard.

This got me wondering as to what TNG would have been like if he had been cast, or if indeed any of the alternative performers considered for the cast had been chosen.

 

[marksound]

Something like Miami Vice: The Next Generation

 

[Hartzilla2007]

Recently learned that Edward James Olmos was considered not once, but twice for roles in Star Trek, fist as Kruge in the Search For Spock and later as Jean-Luc Picard.

This got me wondering as to what TNG would have been like if he had been cast, or if indeed any of the alternative performers considered for the cast had been chosen.

Basically Picard's perfered form of diplomacy would be to beat the other party to death with a flashlight.

 

[Alrik]

...fist as Kruge in the Search For Spock and later as Jean-Luc Picard.

I could see Kruge being a possibility during hiatus, however, I can't believe that EJO would have ever been seriously thought of for Picard. Was he on someone's wish list? Could be. Seriously pursued? I don't think so. He already had a day job, and a pretty good one at that. For EJO to take the gig, he would have had to walk away from one of the most popular TV shows going in 1987. Miami Vice was still in its prime.

 

[Disruptor]

Basically Picard's perfered form of diplomacy would be to beat the other party to death with a flashlight.

That would never get old.

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

The Klingons would've been much more afraid of him.

 

[Cyke101]

...fist as Kruge in the Search For Spock and later as Jean-Luc Picard.

I could see Kruge being a possibility during hiatus, however, I can't believe that EJO would have ever been seriously thought of for Picard. Was he on someone's wish list? Could be. Seriously pursued? I don't think so. He already had a day job, and a pretty good one at that. For EJO to take the gig, he would have had to walk away from one of the most popular TV shows going in 1987. Miami Vice was still in its prime.

I don't know about seriously pursued, but he would have gone from supporting character to lead actor, which itself is pretty alluring if the deal is right. Then again, as you pointed out, he already had a cushy and secure job anyway, which no doubt played a role in him staying put.

 

[Sindatur]

The Klingons would've been much more afraid of him.

Q wouldn't have had to wait until he started messing with Sisko before getting punched

"Hey Picard always used to punch me too"

 

[Alrik]

RE: Cyke

Couple that with the fact that most considered TNG a risky gig. Stewart, himself, speaks of living out of his suitcase the entire first year just waiting for the plug to get pulled. I doubt EJO would be interested in taking that kind of a chance at that time.

 

[Cyke101]

RE: Cyke

Couple that with the fact that most considered TNG a risky gig. Stewart, himself, speaks of living out of his suitcase the entire first year just waiting for the plug to get pulled. I doubt EJO would be interested in taking that kind of a chance at that time.

Yeah, arguably EJO had more to lose - his rep and whatever sum he commanded at the time, if TNG flopped like most had feared. By contrast, Stewart was a relative unknown and could afford to take a chance.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

Basically Picard's perfered form of diplomacy would be to beat the other party to death with a flashlight.

That would have been refreshing.

 

[Hartzilla2007]

The Klingons would've been much more afraid of him.

Q wouldn't have had to wait until he started messing with Sisko before getting punched

"Hey Picard always used to punch me too"

Not to mention the fan coments if this had happened, just imagine

"Hey remember the episode where Picard had Q thrown out of an airlock? Good times"

 

[23skidoo]

Remembering of course the character would not have been named Jean-Luc Picard had Olmos, I remember his name being mentioned. At the time he was very popular through his work on Miami Vice (plus he had serious SF cred via Blade Runner). Whether he would have taken the role is another question, if his somewhat negative attitude towards sci-fi, as expressed when he made comments implying he'd have turned down Adama if nuBSG had been anything like oldBSG, still applied back in 1987.

Having an Hispanic Enterprise captain would have likely created whole different avenues of storytelling (just as having a French captain - albeit played by a Brit - created storytelling options like the episode "Family"). I'm sure some things would have stayed the same. I bet Olmos would have done a hell of a job with the whole "THERE ARE FOUR LIGHTS!" scenario. I don't think Olmos, in 1987, would have necessarily played "PicardAdama" any rougher than Stewart did. Roddenberry decreed the type of man he wanted running the Enterprise 100 years after Kirk and he said back then he didn't feel Kirk's fisticuff diplomacy would have been acceptable. We'd more likely have seen the Edward James Olmos of Stand & Deliver in charge of the 1701-D rather than, say, the character he played in Miami Vice. Or he might have played it quiet and sinister the way he played what's-his-name in Blade Runner.

Alex

 

[T'Girl]

Roddenberry decreed the type of man he wanted running the Enterprise 100 years after Kirk and he said back then he didn't feel Kirk's fisticuff diplomacy would ...

But if you remember EJO on Miami Vice, that is not how he played that character http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miami_Vice#Main_characters (or had it written), Martin Castillo was controlled and methodical, sometimes the pot seemed ready to boil over, but he was no Dirty Harry.

A variation of that as Picard (different name) would have been interesting.

")

 

[Nerys Myk]

Roddenberry decreed the type of man he wanted running the Enterprise 100 years after Kirk and he said back then he didn't feel Kirk's fisticuff diplomacy would ...

But if you remember EJO on Miami Vice, that is not how he played that character http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miami_Vice#Main_characters (or had it written), Martin Castillo was controlled and methodical, sometimes the pot seemed ready to boil over, but he was no Dirty Harry.

A variation of that as Picard (different name) would have been interesting.

")

I think he'd still be "Picard". After all they didn't change the character to John L. Pickard when they cast a Brit. Though Capt. Juan Lucas Piccardo has a nice ring..

 

[Skellington]

The Klingons would've been much more afraid of him.

He would have out-Klingonned the Klingons.

 

[Enterprise is Great]

Olmos would've made a great Klingon.

 

[YARN]

It would have been a different take on the character.

Stewart's Picard is Shakesperean Dudley do-right.

Olmos has a more introspective approach. His Picard would been more serious, a bit more quiet -- you would have seen the wheels turning as he contemplated situations. When Picard's Captain chews out a character it's basically bombastic British indignation. When Olmos (as an Adama or Castillo) disciplines a subordinate he's carving on their soul - and you suspect, on occasion, that he might murder you for having failed his expectations so completely.

It might have been a better show with him as Captain. He's a good choice for a lead.

Stewart, however, is NOT the guy you wish they would've cast differently, but rather his supporting cast. You never watch TNG and think "If only they'd picked a different actor."

 

[Ryan Thomas Riddle]

Stewart, however, is NOT the guy you wish they would've cast differently, but rather his supporting cast. You never watch TNG and think "If only they'd picked a different actor."

Very true. However, when this casting memo was uncovered, I was very intrigued by the possible of Yaphet Kotto as Julian (later Jean-Luc) Picard. He would've brought a strange, intense energy to the role of Picard.

 

[Mysterion]

Olmos would have been interesting as Jellico in Chain of Command.