Reusing actors and actresses in new characters
- Thread starter NervousEnergy
- Start date
Its a shame the PTB didn't just go: "Oh hell with it, why don't we just cast Vaughn as Captain Archer, he's obviously up for doing as much Trek as he can get!"
Yes, I think Trek was fortunate to have guest stars of the calibre of Armstrong and Combs. They often elevated their given episodes considerably.Its a shame the PTB didn't just go: "Oh hell with it, why don't we just cast Vaughn as Captain Archer, he's obviously up for doing as much Trek as he can get!"
I just hope like hell that "they" don't cast any of the next series' regulars with previous TREK talent. I am totally against that. But I do feel very strongly about the door at least being open wide for any who want to come back for a guest spot, or even a recurring character. I'm kind of doubting there will even be a STAR TREK television series, just because CBS doesn't need it. Paramount relies on the movies alot more, in that regard ...
I'm thinking sometime between the next movie and the fourth - provided the third is commercially successful of course. Most likely in the style of/set in the JJverse, but not necessarily connected to TOS explicitly.
I'd defenitely be up for a return to an action/adventure series of that type, with so called "depth" and character development perhaps somewhat more ancillary to the format.
And Fionnula Flanagan and Jeffrey Combs and James Sloyan and so many more
My issue with casting the same people over and over again in guest-starring roles is that eventually, it started to make the Trek universe seem small.
It first really became noticeable to me when Vaughn Armstrong continued to be cast in alien roles on ENT after he had established the recurring role of Admiral Forrest.
Please note I have no problem with people being cast in recurring roles at all. But it's like when the same actor is cast in seven different guest spots, it sort of narrows the diversity of the Trek universe.
The next series should be trying to find new faces, and broadening the diversity of Trek's characters, not simply retreading what had already been done.
It first really became noticeable to me when Vaughn Armstrong continued to be cast in alien roles on ENT after he had established the recurring role of Admiral Forrest.
Please note I have no problem with people being cast in recurring roles at all. But it's like when the same actor is cast in seven different guest spots, it sort of narrows the diversity of the Trek universe.
The next series should be trying to find new faces, and broadening the diversity of Trek's characters, not simply retreading what had already been done.
It is kinda interesting when they reuse actors for different roles when Hollywood is filled with tens of thousands of struggling actors who would love to play a random background alien of the week.
I guess one of the reasons is that the writers always have a specific actor that they know in mind, and then it is tried to get that one.
I guess one of the reasons is that the writers always have a specific actor that they know in mind, and then it is tried to get that one.
But how many of them can act?
If there should be another series (please please please) having former stars and guest-stars return in minor roles would be fun. As main characters, don't know.
STAR TREK re-using the same actors makes sense for too many reasons to not have it be very tempting to do so. For one, Jennifer Lien, for example wore prosthetic ears for most of the time she played Kes. As far as she knew she wasn't allergic to it. Then, all of a sudden, it came on her and so the regular usage of it had to stop. An actor having an allergic reaction to being made-up as the Alien of the Week is a real concern. Using a known talent who can reliably endure it is a really good idea.
In that same vein, when an actor's been cast as a Klingon, and given his own forehead, a cast is made of their entire head. Having that cast available for other Alien appliances on the same actor must be a huge time-saver. Also, it is harder to act when your face is buried in plastic, so somebody who can do that well is even more valuable.
Also, when you know someone is reliable and can deliver for you without holding up production, or isn't a Prima Donna, or a pain-in-the-ass, otherwise, those known-qualities are an asset to the shoot. On the other hand, it can leap someone in the audience out of the episode, to recognise an actor from another episode. So, hopefully, if you give them contact lenses and body padding, it's not so noticable. But it's a two-edged sword, reusing people, there's no doubt about that. But when you've got a schedule to keep and money's tight, you don't want any surprises, that's for sure ...
In that same vein, when an actor's been cast as a Klingon, and given his own forehead, a cast is made of their entire head. Having that cast available for other Alien appliances on the same actor must be a huge time-saver. Also, it is harder to act when your face is buried in plastic, so somebody who can do that well is even more valuable.
Also, when you know someone is reliable and can deliver for you without holding up production, or isn't a Prima Donna, or a pain-in-the-ass, otherwise, those known-qualities are an asset to the shoot. On the other hand, it can leap someone in the audience out of the episode, to recognise an actor from another episode. So, hopefully, if you give them contact lenses and body padding, it's not so noticable. But it's a two-edged sword, reusing people, there's no doubt about that. But when you've got a schedule to keep and money's tight, you don't want any surprises, that's for sure ...
I think I'm with you BillJ.
Unless they played an alien of the week type character.
We need new blood.
Depending on when the new series takes place, I'm not opposed to seeing crossover type characters though.
It can be a family, the actress hire to replace Gates McFadden during season two of TNG was choosen primarily because she was a personnal friend of Gene Roddenberry.
Doctorwhovian
Fleet Captain
This kind of happens in a lot of long-running shows and movies...Doctor Who (most recently with Capaldi), CSI, and films such as Star Wars and the James Bond series recast supporting roles all the time. For example Joe Don Baker, who played the villain Whitaker in The Living Daylights appeared two films later as a good guy, Jack Wade.
Heck TNG's first season had two supporting actors from Wrath of Khan in in Symbiosis.
Heck TNG's first season had two supporting actors from Wrath of Khan in in Symbiosis.
THIS.
It's high fucking time for people to accept the new continuity, and to stop blasting it because it took some chances and made Star Trek fun again as a franchise. Besides, what if Berman & Braga don't want to make any more TV shows or do any movies connected to Star Trek? Or if the actors involved in past projects want to make sure that 'They did Star Trek' isn't the only thing they have on their tombstones?
Let's let the old Trek be in the past, and let this new continuity (with all that will likely flow from it) stand.
And let it be noted that Xena was the third character Lucy Lawless played on Hercules. Didn't seem to bother anyone that the show had already used the same actress twice before . . . or stop audiences from embracing the character.
Doctorwhovian
Fleet Captain
Good point about Mark Lenard, he was also the first actor we saw in the movies (as the Klingon commander of the Amar).
I understand what BillJ and others mean about small universe syndrome, and for long running viewers it can jump you out of the show when you realise its someone who played larger role in a previous series.
Two examples would be J.G. Hertzler with the pair of Klingons he played during Enterprise or Casey Biggs who was left without Warp Drive by Enterprise in the Expanse, funnily I watched this episode the other day and was thinking of this exact problem (although I will admit it was more of a jolt to see him play someone other than Damar in Enterprise than the Mentalist episode he was in).
Im going to contradict myself though and say that Jeffery Combs I would be happy to see in Trek again as I enjoyed seeing what he could bring to so many roles and I am very much looking forward to seeing J.G. Hertzler play a human in Axanar.
Two examples would be J.G. Hertzler with the pair of Klingons he played during Enterprise or Casey Biggs who was left without Warp Drive by Enterprise in the Expanse, funnily I watched this episode the other day and was thinking of this exact problem (although I will admit it was more of a jolt to see him play someone other than Damar in Enterprise than the Mentalist episode he was in).
Im going to contradict myself though and say that Jeffery Combs I would be happy to see in Trek again as I enjoyed seeing what he could bring to so many roles and I am very much looking forward to seeing J.G. Hertzler play a human in Axanar.
