Andrew Robinson was almost Odo

[tomalak301]

Im at the convention this weekend and during the DS9 panel, Ira Behr said that Andrew Robinson auditioned for the role of Odo. I didn't know about this until this weekend but I was wondering if anyone else had heard about it. I'm glad he played Garak, but Robinson as Odo would have been really interesting.

 

[Finn]

Odo...would have been a very different character. He wouldn't have seemed trustworthy.

 

[Griffeytrek]

That sort of thing wasn't that uncommon in Trek. Many actors didn't get the roles they originally auditioned for, but left a lasting impression. And Trek had such a steady long term casting team that they remembered and brought them back. Or found or even created the perfect roles for them. Sometimes years later. I believe Tim Rice, Voyagers Tuvok was originally a runner up for Sisco?

 

[Bad Thoughts]

According to Larry Nemicek, the leading candidates for each role became obvious very fast in most cases. Auberjonois was the choice of all the producers on his first audition. Their was only one studio exec who held out, demanding more auditions, but he was worn down eventually.

Dax was the only role that requires extensive auditions, and it was the last to be cast.

 

[Griffeytrek]

According to Larry Nemicek, the leading candidates for each role became obvious very fast in most cases. Auberjonois was the choice of all the producers on his first audition. Their was only one studio exec who held out, demanding more auditions, but he was worn down eventually.

Dax was the only role that requires extensive auditions, and it was the last to be cast.

In all cases they still would have done a bit of casting auditions, just to have a backup plan. At least until those that they all really wanted were locked in and contracted. You don't want to get closer to production and find you have been outbid for one of your main cast, and have to start the process then. (Ok Voyager did it, but I suspect it was not the ideal situation for anyone.)

 

[Triskelion]

Auberjonois said, before his audition, someone had told him none of the actors auditioning for Odo had been "grumpy" enough. A distinct advantage for him to make a good impression with his "QUAAAARK!" shtick.

I can just see Andrew Robinson as Odo. "I know what you're thinking: "Did he fire six shots or only five?" Well, to tell you the truth, in all this excitement, I've kinda lost track myself. But being this is a Type I Phaser, the most powerful sidearm in the quadrant, and would blow your head clean off, You've got to ask yourself one question: 'Do I feel lucky?' Well, do ya, Quark?"

(Because if you didn't know, that was Robinson/Garak playing the killer Scorpio in Dirty Harry).

In all cases they still would have done a bit of casting auditions, just to have a backup plan. At least until those that they all really wanted were locked in and contracted. You don't want to get closer to production and find you have been outbid for one of your main cast, and have to start the process then. (Ok Voyager did it, but I suspect it was not the ideal situation for anyone.)

I always got the feeling that with Geneviève Bujold, they were going for a Captain Garrett-type from TNG's Yesterday's Enterprise, for the Janeway character. Mulgrew - was completely worth the disruption, and it's hard to imagine Voyager with Bujold's smoldering noire element. Might have worked, but very differently.

 

[Terok Nor]

Plain and simple Odo.

 

[Bad Thoughts]

In all cases they still would have done a bit of casting auditions, just to have a backup plan. At least until those that they all really wanted were locked in and contracted. You don't want to get closer to production and find you have been outbid for one of your main cast, and have to start the process then. (Ok Voyager did it, but I suspect it was not the ideal situation for anyone.)

No doubt. I just wanted to emphasize that this sort of apocrypha adds color to our understanding of the series, but we shouldn't take it that a specific alternative choice could have been made. The producers were interested in Siddig as captain and in Grodenchick as Quark. And while they invited Siddig to send an audition tape, it's clear from Nemecek's notes and recollections that Brooks was the leading candidate as soon as he auditioned. Auditions are still an extensive process, and there is always the hope that someone better will walk through the door.

Personally I find it hard to insert Robinson as Odo. He wouldn't play it like he did Garak, of course, but I do feel something would have been lost.

 

[Jedman67]

I always got the feeling that with Geneviève Bujold, they were going for a Captain Garrett-type from TNG's Yesterday's Enterprise, for the Janeway character. Mulgrew - was completely worth the disruption, and it's hard to imagine Voyager with Bujold's smoldering noire element. Might have worked, but very differently.

http://www.nytimes.com/1994/09/15/arts/real-star-trek-drama-enlisting-new-skipper.html

 

[tomalak301]

No doubt. I just wanted to emphasize that this sort of apocrypha adds color to our understanding of the series, but we shouldn't take it that a specific alternative choice could have been made. The producers were interested in Siddig as captain and in Grodenchick as Quark. And while they invited Siddig to send an audition tape, it's clear from Nemecek's notes and recollections that Brooks was the leading candidate as soon as he auditioned. Auditions are still an extensive process, and there is always the hope that someone better will walk through the door.

Personally I find it hard to insert Robinson as Odo. He wouldn't play it like he did Garak, of course, but I do feel something would have been lost.

This is the kind of thing I'm interested in and I hope is in the documentary. I know they have to have many different auditions but you never really know the whole casting process. I mean take discovery for example. I'm sure they are auditioning many different people for the various roles, but we won't know any of it. Still, after the series is concluded, it's interesting to find out about the casting process, amongst other behind the scenes stuff that happened for the series. I think in Trek we only go a clear glimpse with Bejold for Janeway, and Sirtis auditioned for Yar, but it's fascination to imagine the possibilities of various actors in different roles.

 

[Griffeytrek]

No doubt. I just wanted to emphasize that this sort of apocrypha adds color to our understanding of the series, but we shouldn't take it that a specific alternative choice could have been made. The producers were interested in Siddig as captain and in Grodenchick as Quark. And while they invited Siddig to send an audition tape, it's clear from Nemecek's notes and recollections that Brooks was the leading candidate as soon as he auditioned. Auditions are still an extensive process, and there is always the hope that someone better will walk through the door.

Personally I find it hard to insert Robinson as Odo. He wouldn't play it like he did Garak, of course, but I do feel something would have been lost.

There's another element to them auditioning Robinson as Odo. Rene was largely an unknown for how well he could tolerate the makeup. Robinson was a known quantity in that regard. That's the trick with casting the aliens in Star Trek. Being able to tolerate all the heavy makeup and the toll it takes on your skin, and deliver a good performance through it are needs above and beyond the normal. Acting skills and voice and take on the character. Case in point Idris Alba in ST Beyond. A truly great actor, but clearly not in his element inside all the layers of latex. Actors like Ron Perlman, Tim Curry and Zoe Saldana (the most colorful "person of color" in Hollywood) have a rare set of skills and tolerances. When a production goes to cast one of those type roles they will hope they have found a new such individual, but they will as I said, have a backup plan in mind, just in case. This is also why we saw Armin Shimmerman and Marc Aliamo in so many ST roles over the years. Such makeup tolerant actors are a rare gift.

 

[Bad Thoughts]

 

[OldManDoom]

Odo...would have been a very different character. He wouldn't have seemed trustworthy.

You're making that assumption based on what? I mean, odds are yes, the character would have been different. But to assume Odo would have Garak's qualities because of who the actor is seems a bit silly.

 

[Sophie74656]

That sort of thing wasn't that uncommon in Trek. Many actors didn't get the roles they originally auditioned for, but left a lasting impression. And Trek had such a steady long term casting team that they remembered and brought them back. Or found or even created the perfect roles for them. Sometimes years later. I believe Tim Rice, Voyagers Tuvok was originally a runner up for Sisco?

Tim Russ auditioned for Geordi not Sisco. He also had a role in Generations, an episode of TNG, and episode of DS9

 

[Sophie74656]

After watching the actors in their roles for so many years I can't imagine anyone else playing them. I can't say if I think it would have been better or worse for someone else to play a character but it sure would be different.

 

[Seven of Five]

Well that would have been interesting. I love Odo and Garak, and Rene Auberjonois and Andrew Robinson were excellent in their roles.

It's hard to say if it would be better or worse as we've had the all those episodes engraved on our brains with our Odo and Garak.

 

[locutus101]

Odo...would have been a very different character. He wouldn't have seemed trustworthy.

I think Andrew Robinson is talented enough to play a trustworthy man if that's what was asked of him.

 

[TommyR01D]

When I first glimpsed at the thread title I thought it said Anne Robinson.

 

[tomalak301]

When I first glimpsed at the thread title I thought it said Anne Robinson.

Well Odo did remind me of a male Anne Robinson, but that was so 2005.

 

[locutus101]

When I first glimpsed at the thread title I thought it said Anne Robinson.

She's 72 now.