Captain Pike (actor) to get top billing?

[Kokomo]

T'Cal said:
How about John Cusak as Pike? Bigger name, though probably not A-list, great dramatic actor, excellent comedic timing, right age range, etc.

Ironically, he was the top choice to play Spock back when Harve Bennett was developing the Starfleet Academy movie back in the late 80's.

 

[spiff628]

I just was looking at the Wiki page for ST XI and it stated that Josh Lucas was being considered for the Captain Pike role. I think he'd be great, what does everyone else think about it?

 

[ktanner3]

Trekster said:
Is Chris Pine even guaranteed top Billing in this film?

Remember this movie is said to be "spock centric", and they may cast a big name actor like Liotta or Affleck to play Christopher Pike (who actually maybe a bigger part in this film than Kirk)

Think about it. If this film is based before Kirk is captain it's reasonable to assume Pike will be a more prominent character,possibly played by a more prominent actor.

Maybe this film will be billed similar to "The Cage". Jeffrey Hunter and Leonard Nimoy were the top billed cast members in "The Cage" ..

Could the opening credits read like this?:

STAR TREK:

starring: *unknown big name actor" as CAPTAIN CHRISTOHER PIKE

AND

Zachary Quinto as " Mr. Spock"

Also starring:

Eric Banna as "Nero"

Chris Pine as "Kirk

(rest of the main cast then appears)

and Leonard Nimoy as "Spock" (ala Ricardo Mantalban getting final billing in TWOK)


Remember that Christopher Reeve was not even billed first in SUPERMAN. Marlon Brando was. And Gene Hackman second. Could something similar occur in Star Trek 11?

It very well could because it all depends on who the bigger "star" is. Brando was on top of the mountain back in the 70s because of the success of "The Godfather". Gene Hackman was also an established star. Chris Reeves and Margot Kidder were unkowns(Kidder remained an unkown long afterwards). So it made sense. Put someone big in the Pike role and that will pretty much duplicate itself here.

 

[Captaindemotion]

^ You can't say Kidder remained an unknown. BY virtue of having been in the (high profile) Superman movies, she wasn't an unknown. She wasn't a box office draw, sure, no did she have the high profile of Hackman or Brando, but neither was or did Reeve. That's not the same as being unknown, however.