So, who might our "A-List" villain be?

[Star Treks]

I think it's pretty obvious that Trek XI will have a villain of some sort, and that the honchos will probably try to land a named star. Assuming the rumor is correct that they're trying to land an "A-List" actor, who might they go for?

I've been thinking about what major actors might be under consideration. One of the first names that came to mind was of course the guy who has been in every movie ever made ever, Anthony Hopkins. That would certainly be a big-name choice, and he has a history of playing some memorable bad-guy roles, though I wouldn't want his character to be some sort of a parody of Hannibal Lecter.

A strange part of me wants to see Alan Cumming as the bad guy; he was great in that role in Titus. I don't think he's considered A-List, though.

I'm having trouble thinking of A-List actors who would make a convincing Trek villain. What other ideas can you come up with? Who else do you think might work?

 

[Zachary Smith]

Danny Devito

 

[Balthier the Great]

The dude who played Sylar

oh wait... maybe not.

 

[Plum]

Well, there's talk that there is a "villian", but we've no idea what that might mean for the character, which makes it hard to choose the actor.

 

[Aragorn]

Anthony Hopkins? Daniel Craig? Liam Neeson? Morgan Freeman? Nicolas Cage?

William Shatner?

 

[Corinthian7]

Maybe Tom Hanks will finally get his chance.

 

[trekkiebaggio]

Samuel L. Jackson as a Klingon.

"Get these motherfuckin' tribbles off this motherfuckin' starship!"

 

[Dale]

I'm going to pipe up with a minority voice here and say I think this is a bad idea. I don't like the idea of stunt casting, even for a villan, and I don't like the idea of any superstar outshining the protagonists as they try to establish themselves in their new roles. This is either a one-shot attempt to wring a few more hundred million dollars out of an ailing franchise or else it's an attempt to revitalize said franchise for the future. I don't think it should try to be both, and I don't want to see Kirk, Spock et al reduced to supporting cast for the stage chewing of some latter-day Khan wannabe. Just MHO.

 

[Cary L. Brown]

dalehoppert said:I'm going to pipe up with a minority voice here and say I think this is a bad idea. I don't like the idea of stunt casting, even for a villan, and I don't like the idea of any superstar outshining the protagonists as they try to establish themselves in their new roles. This is either a one-shot attempt to wring a few more hundred million dollars out of an ailing franchise or else it's an attempt to revitalize said franchise for the future. I don't think it should try to be both, and I don't want to see Kirk, Spock et al reduced to supporting cast for the stage chewing of some latter-day Khan wannabe. Just MHO.

I'm not sure you're a minority voice anyway.

One of the things that Trek has become infamous for has been... well, not-exactly-inspired casting, and a desire (never truly ACCOMPLISHED) to "come up with the next Khan."

It's part of the FORMULA.

1) Invent B-grade, mustachio-twirling villain.
2) Cast known actor for the part, but put actor under a couple of layers of rubber.
3) Have villain die through own shortsightedness and general "baddieness" at end, allowing hero to be victorious without sullying hero's hands.

How many of the great films of all time have included a "mustachio-twirling villain?" By contrast, how many of the "greats" have not even HAD a villain, or at most have had an "annoying roadblock" character?

Can you guys honestly not imagine a Trek film without an "Evil Bad Guy (tm)?"

 

[RookieBatman]

I agree that it would be a very bad thing if the villain is listed on the marquee before the hero. That doesn't really seem like a good thing to me. But if they can find an A-lister who's willing to take a lesser role, then having his name third-billed might really help pull in the crowds.

 

[Dale]

I'm hoping for a broader foe like "the Klingons" or "the Romulans" or even the tried-and-true "emotionless superpowered thing from outside the galaxy."

 

[Temis the Vorta]

BalthierTheGreat said:
The dude who played Sylar

oh wait... maybe not.

With a goatee?

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

Casting an "A" list actor in a big budget film isn't "stunt casting;" it is, for the most part, how big budget films are made. The major exception would be Summer kids movies that depend on lots of things blowing up.

 

[Aragorn]

People here like to drop "stunt casting" the same way they use "soap opera."

 

[Lumen]

UWC Defiance said:
Casting an "A" list actor in a big budget film isn't "stunt casting;" it is, for the most part, how big budget films are made. The major exception would be Summer kids movies that depend on lots of things blowing up.

More or less what I would have said.

As long as the actor in question is talented, I have no problem with the notion. It would also help if the villain were a little layered and perhaps a human instead of an alien. Hiding a high-profile actor under makeup seems to defeat the purpose of having such an actor in the film.

Tom Hanks would be a dream come true for me, and I'm sure I'm not alone there.

 

[Dale]

In my opinion, sticking a big-name in a villan role amid a bunch of relative unknowns in a film that is trying to establish those unknowns as the replacements for one of the best-loved ensemble casts in history is very much stunt casting... a stunt designed to put butts in the seats that might otherwise stay away. I want to see the rebirth of Kirk and Spock and the rest, not a poster with some giant image of the A-lister twirling his moustache surrounded by a bunch of little tiny hero/protagonists...

 

[Lumen]

I haven't seen anything to indicate that this villain will be a walking cliche, so the references to twirling moustaches are probably premature.

You can think of it as stunt casting if you wish, but I reaffirm that, if the villain is well-written, well-acted, and helps secure more Trek, there is no reason to complain.

And besides, it is like UWC said -- you need something bankable to justify a big budget to the studio. The brand isn't as bankable as we'd hope, regardless of whatever hype Abrams can muster, so a bankable name was probably always in the stars.

 

[Triptacular]

trekkiebaggio said:
Samuel L. Jackson as a Klingon.

"Get these motherfuckin' tribbles off this motherfuckin' starship!"

:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

 

[TK421]

William. Shatner.

 

[Triptacular]

Maybe Billy Bob Thornton