I built this cast with influences from the series and the 2009's Star Trek film. That cast was made-up of relatively unknowns including Chris Pine, Zoe Saldana and Zachary Quinto (who most people only knew from Heroes) with a sprinkling of comedic actors including Jon Cho and Simon Pegg.
In this fan cast, I did not include Katherine Pulaski, Miles O'Brien and his wife because I could not find a decent picture of them. If I could, I would have cast Susan Sarandon, Paddy Considine and Yunjin Kim in those roles.
Jean-Luc Picard - Ralph Fiennes
Jean-Luc Picard is the Captain of the USS Enterprise. He is a bold leader with a commanding voice and has earn much respect from Starfleet and allies throughout the galaxy.
Ralph Fiennes is a popular actor in the CBM community, usually being fan cast in villainous roles such as Red Skull of Lex Luthor. Casting Jean-Luc is no easy feat, it could be considered blasphemy to try and replace Patrick Stewart if not done right. So I picked someone who had a similar background with Stewart in stage performing, films and looks.
Looking at Ralph Fiennes' filmography, I realized there are a bunch of his movies I haven't seen that I want to, such as Schindler's List, Quiz Show, In Burges and The Reader. Damn!
Ralph Fiennes media I've seen: - The Avengers
- The Prince of Egypt (voice)
- The Chumscrubber
- Harry Potter and Order of the Phoenix
- The Hurt Locker
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
William Riker - Joe Manganiello Commander Riker is one of my favourite characters from TNG. He was untouchable and no matter who he fought or where he was, his hair stayed perfect all the time. He was also irresistible to the ladies and I never bought it for one moment that he wasn't hooking up with Deanna Troi for pre-mission booty calls. Sweet, sweet Deanna.
I was not aware for the longest time that he was Flash Thompson in the Spider-Man movies until after I saw him in True Blood. Now he goes around moping that he was almost Superman. It's like when John Stamos complains that he can't find the right girl. You just wanna knock him in the knee caps. Y'know what I'm sayin'? Subtle anger aside, I do enjoy him on True Blood and God knows my girlfriend does.
Joe is large in stature, has a commanding presence and voice to boot, which comes in handy when you're the 'Commanding Officer'. Not to mention, he can grow one hell of a beard!
Joe Manganiello media I've seen: - Spider-Man
- Spider-Man 3
- True Blood
Deanna Troi - Madeline Zima Deanna Troi was the Enterprises Counselor and sometimes love interest to William Riker.
Troi was the one who caught my interest in the beginning. She was just so hot in her skin tight, purple and grey leotards... yeah.
I thought to myself, who could match Troi's natural sexuality and Madeline Zima was the first to come to mind. If you haven't seen her, I would like to direct you to the first two seasons of Californication. I know she was on Heroes for a while, but I stopped watching that bullsh*t way before she showed up.
Madeline Zima media I've seen: - Mr. Nanny
- The Nanny
- Californication
Beverly Crusher - Heather Graham Beverly Crusher is Enterprise's Chief Medical Officer who has an infant son, Wesley, with a deceased Starfleet Lieutenant, Jack Crusher. Having worked alongside each other for years, she and Picard developed an on-again, off-again relationship, mostly due to professionalism and re-assignments.
I wanted to see a beautiful and experienced actress for Doctor Crusher. I haven't seen Heather Graham in much lately, aside from The Hangover and I think she'd be a perfect addition to an ensemble cast like this.
Let's be real, this is what I really wanna see.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoBoMvY0U10 Heather Graham media I've seen: - Swingers
- Boogie Nights
- Scream 2
- Lost In Space
- Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me
- Say It Isn't So
- From Hell
- Anger Management
- Arrested Development
- The Hangover
Geordi La Forge - Donald Glover Geordi La Forge is a helmsman and engineer on the Enterprise.
From watching Community, you can tell Glover is a LeVar Burton fan and I'm sure he would jump at the opportunity to play La Forge.
Donald Glover media I've seen: - 30 Rock
- Community
Data - Ben Foster Data is a sentient android, who is molded after its creator, Dr. Noonien Soon. Data spends his time on the ship, learning how to become more human which gets him into some funny conversations and situations.
Data is an expert fighter with super-human strength, who is constantly underestimated by enemy combatants.
The hardest character to cast is Data. Brent Spiner did such a great job, he's nearly irreplaceable. Only an extremely talented actor could pull off Data and I think Ben Foster would be the best candidate. Normally, Foster plays super intense and sometimes evil characters, so it would be interesting to see him shining as the sympathetic android. Also, he has great comedic timing, which allows him the ability to play the straight man.
Ben Foster media I've seen: - Freaks & Geeks
- The Punisher
- X-Men: The Last Stand
- 3:10 to Yuma
- My Name Is Earl
- 30 Days of Night
- The Messenger
Natasha Yar - Katee Sackhoff Natasha "Tasha" Yar is Chief of Security and Chief Tactical Officer aboard the Enterprise who is in charge of her own security team including Worf. She spent her childhood learning to defend herself from gangs.
Yar is eventually killed during a rescue attempt of Deanna Troi.
After watching her in Battlestar Galactica, I came to the conclusion that Katee Sackhoff is likely eighty times tougher than anyone I know and I only wish she was in more things.
Another casting choice I considered for this role was Maggie Grace from Lost.
Katee Sackhoff media I've seen: - Battlestar Galactica
- Battlestar Galactic: Razor
Worf - Michael Jai White I saved the best for last, Lieutenant Worf!
Worf is the first Klingon to ever appear on Star Trek and was the first Klingon to graduate from the Starfleet Academy. He is assigned to the Enterprise as a lieutenant junior, under Tasha Yar until her death. He is then promoted to her position, Chief of Security. Worf is an expert fighter in hand-to-hand combat and loves to sing along to Klingon opera.
Another popular guy among fan casts, Michael Jai White is an interesting character actor whom I (like many people) became familiar with in Spawn. He would be a great Worf with his deep voice, intimidating frame and much like Data, would be the butt of many jokes while having to play the straight man. He's a mixed martial artist and would bode well in choreographing fight scenes on the fly.
I would also like to see Michael Jai White take up the Nick Fury mantle when the time comes for Samuel L. Jackson to hang it up.
Michael Jai White media I've seen: - Universal Soldier
- Spawn
- Jerry Spinger's Ringmaster
- Soul Food
- Justice League (voice)
- Undisputed II: The Last Man Standing
- The Dark Knight
- Black Dynamite
- Mortal Kombat: Rebirth