Who would you cast for an imaginary TNG Reboot

[C_Miller]

How about Gillian Anderson for Dr. Crusher? It may be type casting, but I think she would do a good job of making Dr. Crusher, a strong character with a lot of depth.

 

[Cyke101]

Fourteen posts and no one said Wesley Snipes for Geordi LaForge? C'mon now!

He isn't an unknown.

Pfft, neither are Timothy Dalton, Jason Isaacs, Christina Hendricks, Alicia Witt, or any other still-successful actors in this thread

 

[Malleus]

How about Gillian Anderson for Dr. Crusher? It may be type casting, but I think she would do a good job of making Dr. Crusher, a strong character with a lot of depth.

I was waiting for someone to vouch for Gillian Anderson despite her not being gorgeous enough, but I would think she's better off cast as Troi and possibly wearing a brunette wig.

Her voice reminds me of Diana Muldaur's voice a bit too much.

Speaking of whom, I'd like to see both Crusher and Pulaski in a reboot. Have Pulaski promoted at the end of the first movie and not dumped hastily like she was at the end of S2. That episode where Crusher and a guest doctor operate on Worf could serve as a template for conflict between the two in the movie.

 

[DevilEyes]

So anyway, any more casting suggestions for TNG? Anyone have any actual French actors in mind for Picard, say? Or someone Russian to play Tasha Yar? Or would you rather bring back to the original idea of Macha Hernandez as the security chief?

Now that you mention it, I'd love to see Oksana Akinshina ("Lilya 4-Ever") as Tasha.

How about Gillian Anderson for Dr. Crusher? It may be type casting, but I think she would do a good job of making Dr. Crusher, a strong character with a lot of depth.

I think that's a great idea.

 

[Christopher]

Worth pointing out that Gillian Anderson is 42 now... could work for Crusher, who was supposed to be 39 at the start of TNG, but I don't see it working for Troi.

 

[DevilEyes]

It would be hard to do better than Timothy Dalton for Picard.

Except Jason Isaacs! I forgot about him.

If they decided to go with a younger, Frencher Picard... Vincent Cassel would be great.

I love Vincent Cassel, but he's totally wrong for Picard.

Here's another suggestion: Monica Raymund (Ria Torres from "Lie to Me") for Ro Laren.

 

[Malleus]

Worth pointing out that Gillian Anderson is 42 now... could work for Crusher, who was supposed to be 39 at the start of TNG, but I don't see it working for Troi.

I'm too busy at the moment to come up with a case against the not-so-gorgeous Gillian Anderson, but rest assured a case will be made like with the others soon.

 

[C_Miller]

Okay, I've made my cast list. I'd prefer a TV show, because I think if done right, you can do more with the format, some some of these people are decidedly film actors. The beautiful thing about fantasy casting is that it can be completely unlikely.

Captain Jean Luc Picard- Jason Issacs (I think he has the gravitas for the role. He can play the hardass captain and I think he can play the gentle side)

Commander William Riker- Ian Somerhalder (I think he's perfect for the untested, yet driven XO and I think he'd be able to grow into her role)

Lieutenant Commander Data- Zachary Quinto (I watched Heroes before he was casted as Spock and he would have been my choice back then. He has a very robotic quality to him, in a good way and I would believe him on a quest to be human, though I would probably change his origin to be a product of an alien species. If female, I'd go with the 100% shameless type casting of Summer Glau)

Lieutenant Deanna Troi- Emmy Rossum (Way too high profile, but she's one of my favorites. She's a pretty good actress and I think she has the angelic beauty and I think she can play an intelligent professional as well. Plus, she was in Dragonball Z, which means she's not opposed to the genre)

Lieutenant Worf- Naveen Andrews (I always liked Worf better when he was playing up the child of two worlds, rather that uber-Klingon warrior, which frankly clashed with his Starfleet duties. I believe Andrews is perfect to play a person tormented by where he comes from. Plus he can play a badass when need be).

Lieutenant Commander Geordi LaForge- Lee Thompson Young (I feel like he's can be kind of geeky, yet he can be cool at the same time. And since we're in an era of nerdiness being kind of "cool" I think we need a cool chief engineer while still staying true to the character. He was easily the best part of Flash Forward)

Dr. Beverly Crusher- Gillian Anderson (Nuff said. We already know she can play a Doctor, which I have to imagine is pretty difficult. Crusher, to me is someone who should be kind of normal, in an extraordinary world and I think Anderson can excell at that. She also has that classic beauty that I associate with the good Doctor)

Lieutenant Natasha Yar- Allison Mack, but only because I don't want to say Emilie de Ravin (I think both can play varried roles where they can show some sensitivity, yet at the same time be very strong women, which is how I see Yar. With her history, it would make sense that she would be relatively broken, yet trying to hide it with her rocky exterior. I think both can do that. Emilie would be my first choice due to how she played Claire in Lost from Season 1-4 to Season 6, but I don't want to make it seem like I can only think of people from Lost)

Q- Michael Emerson (He was born to play the role of the sometimes good, sometimes evil always troublesome Q. Yes, I know he's from Lost, but honestly who could be better?)


And I'd probably switch Wesley to a girl, although I don't really like the name Leslie. Don't know why, someone by the name of Leslie probably did something to me in another life. But I think that the single mother/son relationship is a television cliche. So making her a girl would change that. Maybe have someone like Kay Panabaker play her.

 

[Analog Kid]

Anderson as Crusher and Mack as Yar are very good suggestions. I can completely see them in the roles.

How about Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Troi?

 

[C_Miller]

Anderson as Crusher and Mack as Yar are very good suggestions. I can completely see them in the roles.

How about Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Troi?

That's another option. I don't think I've ever seen her in anything mature, which I feel is important for Troi to be taken seriously. She does have the looks though.

Edit: The one thing that de Ravin has on her side is that I think she'd be able to do a convincing Sela, which I would use, but in a very different capacity.

 

[Christopher]

Commander William Riker- Ian Somerhalder (I think he's perfect for the untested, yet driven XO and I think he'd be able to grow into her role)

Never cared for him.

Lieutenant Deanna Troi- Emmy Rossum

Why is she only a lieutenant in your version?

Lieutenant Commander Geordi LaForge- Lee Thompson Young (I feel like he's can be kind of geeky, yet he can be cool at the same time. And since we're in an era of nerdiness being kind of "cool" I think we need a cool chief engineer while still staying true to the character. He was easily the best part of Flash Forward)

That's an interesting choice. He also plays Vic "Cyborg" Stone on Smallville, so he has some experience playing a guy with bionic parts.

And personally I thought John Cho was the best part of FlashForward, but Young was good too.

Lieutenant Natasha Yar- Allison Mack, but only because I don't want to say Emilie de Ravin (I think both can play varried roles where they can show some sensitivity, yet at the same time be very strong women, which is how I see Yar. With her history, it would make sense that she would be relatively broken, yet trying to hide it with her rocky exterior. I think both can do that. Emilie would be my first choice due to how she played Claire in Lost from Season 1-4 to Season 6, but I don't want to make it seem like I can only think of people from Lost)

Of those two, I'd prefer de Ravin. I recall her doing a good job as the menacing Curupira on BeastMaster: The Series, so I think she has more of an edge.

And I'd probably switch Wesley to a girl, although I don't really like the name Leslie. Don't know why, someone by the name of Leslie probably did something to me in another life.

Can't quite agree with that, since Leslie happens to be my middle name...

 

[Analog Kid]

How about Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Troi?

That's another option. I don't think I've ever seen her in anything mature, which I feel is important for Troi to be taken seriously. She does have the looks though.

To be honest, Marina's filmography prior to TNG is spotty. She didn't have many roles where her character even had a name, so lack of prior form in main-cast drama isn't necessarily an obstacle. As for Mary, it sort of depends if you count being Lucy McClane in Die Hard 4 as mature or not.

 

[Christopher]

I just had a cool idea for a reinvented version of TNG: Combine the characters of Tasha Yar and Ro Laren. Call her Ro, but blend her Bajoran-Occupation backstory with Tasha's story of a woman who grew up under hellish conditions and came to see Starfleet as her salvation from them. But have her be not as "domesticated" an officer as Tasha, more prone to defiance like Ro, which creates more inner conflict.

 

[Analog Kid]

Of those two, I'd prefer de Ravin. I recall her doing a good job as the menacing Curupira on BeastMaster: The Series, so I think she has more of an edge.

I think Mack looks more distinctive as well as having the range, though that's just personal preference. De Ravin doesn't really stand out from the crowd for me.

Your suggestion for a Ro/Tasha combination bears merit

 

[C_Miller]

Never cared for him.

Riker (and Yar) are probably the two I had the most trouble casting. I don't spend a lot of time watching TV or movies, so I'm not well versed in young Hollywood. Somerhalder seemed to have some Season One Riker like qualities from what I saw in Lost. What would your choice be?

Why is she only a lieutenant in your version?

Because I casted her so young and I didn't want to have a ship full of Commanders. It's already unlike that there are as many officers as are shown.

Can't quite agree with that, since Leslie happens to be my middle name...

Sorry, Mate. I tell you, It was a past life. haha

 

[Crewman Wunline]

The RedLetter review of ST'09 had some good insights into this and the stunning statistic that 90%+ of the last few years' films have all been reboots. Wow.

Not stunning to me. For most of history, the majority of literature and drama has been retellings of existing stories. Shakespeare practically never told an original story in his life. Sure, today there are more original stories being created, and they're nominally the preference in our culture, but you're never going to completely get rid of a pattern that's been a part of human creative habits since the dawn of human memory.

Excellent point, there's only so many actual stories to tell, or so the story goes...but I'm not sure we're talking about the same thing.
It's the same way with musical theater as I recently found out while writing songs for a BMI workshop (which I didn't get into) - almost all musical theater is based on an existing story.
But there is a difference between a retelling of one of the stories humanity has always gathered 'round to hear, and a remake of one of those retellings.
The difference is that in the retelling, there is still some original & creative energy directing it. We could say that Luke Skywalker is a retelling of Arthur, and Obi-Wan is Merlin. And these types of stories go back to antiquity. But it's different to just keep remaking Luke Skywalker due to "brand recognition" than to find new characters, even if they are based on ancient ones.
Any snake will eventually shed its skin though.

`````Heinlein tried to pull the creative process's mask away again and again; in how many novels did he have some character say some variant of, "...so I filed the serial numbers off the plot, changed the title, and sold it. Then another switcheroo, and I sold it again. Always steal from the best." ?

 

[C_Miller]

I just had a cool idea for a reinvented version of TNG: Combine the characters of Tasha Yar and Ro Laren. Call her Ro, but blend her Bajoran-Occupation backstory with Tasha's story of a woman who grew up under hellish conditions and came to see Starfleet as her salvation from them. But have her be not as "domesticated" an officer as Tasha, more prone to defiance like Ro, which creates more inner conflict.

I actually really like this. The one problem is that I was going to have her hellish planet be somewhat inspired by the Maquis in that it was the result of a bad agreement in the Kitomer Accords and because of that she hates Klingons, making her relationship with Worf...

Klingon/Cardassian Treaty? I think so.

I this case I'm leaning more towards de Ravin. I think she can play an alien better.

Edit: Would "Yar Laren" be too cheesy of a name?

 

[C_Miller]

How about Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Troi?

That's another option. I don't think I've ever seen her in anything mature, which I feel is important for Troi to be taken seriously. She does have the looks though.

To be honest, Marina's filmography prior to TNG is spotty. She didn't have many roles where her character even had a name, so lack of prior form in main-cast drama isn't necessarily an obstacle. As for Mary, it sort of depends if you count being Lucy McClane in Die Hard 4 as mature or not.

Oh, I don't mean that she hasn't made a name for herself. Someone who's never been in anything before could be the perfect person for the job. I just haven't seen MEW in anything that makes her like the image I have of Troi in my head. I could be wrong, she might be perfect.

 

[Crewman Wunline]

Since JJ Abrams has managed to cast a "successful" (if that monstrosity of a film deserves said moniker) reboot of TOS, who would you have for TNG?

`````Okay, this question really got me interested! So here are my third, second, and first choices for roles. I was doing some SERIOUS outside-the-box thinking here, so please don't dismiss a choice automatically, just because it seems, on the surface, incongruous, okay? (In that far-off future, people won't generally be quite so hung up on issues of age, appearance, and gender.) So here goes:

PICARD: 3, Sean Connery.....2, Julie Andrews.....1, Philip Seymore Hoffman
RIKER: 3, Guy Pearce.....2, Jude Law.....1, Christopher Meloni
DEANNA: 3, Sandra Bullock.....2, Gywneth Paltrow.....1, Zoey Deschanel
DATA: 3, Fisher Stevens.....2, David Sedaris.....1, Joseph Gordon Levitt
BEVERLY: 3, Courteney Cox.....2, Christina Applegate.....1, Isabella Rossellini
WILL: 3, Jonathan Lipniki.....2, Mara Wilson.....1, Haley Joel Osment
GEORDI: 3, MichaelClarke Duncan...2, Temuera Morrison.....1, Liev Schreiber
WORF: 3, Patrick Warburton.....2, Dwayne Johnson.....1, Brendan Frazer
TASHA: 3, Linda Hamilton.....2, Drew Barrymore.....1, Jodi Foster
O'BRIEN: 3, Steve Zahn.....2, Johnny Galecki.....1, David Krumholz
KEIKO: 3, Bai Ling... 2, B. D. Wong... 1, Sandra Oh
Q: 3, David Ogden Stiers... 2, Dan Ackroyd... 1, Christopher Walken
LUOXANA: 3, Elizabeth Hurley.....2, Te'a Leoni.....1, Laurie Metcalf
MR. HOM: 3, James Whitmore.....2, Ben Kingsley.....1, John Lithgow
GUINAN: 3, Portia di Rossi.....2, Maura Tierney.....1, Lily Tomlin.

`````That's what I got--feel free to mix'n'match.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

Picard - Wenworth Miller
Riker - Brian Austin Green
Troi - Maggie Siff
Data - Alan Tudyk
Crusher - Gillian Anderson
LaForge - Michael Perrineau
Tasha - Katee Sackhoff
Worf - Christopher Judge