A Star Trek: TNG Lead Nearly Turned Into Kirk 2.0 (It’s Not Riker)
In the early 1990s, Paramount Pictures and Paramount Television were considering a major shake-up for the popular television series, Star Trek: The Next Generation. With Captain Jean-Luc Picard’s (Patrick Stewart) leadership at the helm, the show had become a global phenomenon, but the network and producers were thinking about the future.
The planned changes revolved around reducing Picard’s on-screen presence, making him a more distant, enigmatic character, and introducing a new, more dynamic captain to lead the USS Enterprise. Who could fill the iconic role left by the inimitable Patrick Stewart? None other than John Shea, the talented British actor, was almost cast as the new captain, effectively turning Picard into a more Lieutenant Worf-like character.
Shea, best known for his role as James analogue, Ned Ryerson, in the 1989 film "Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure," was a strong contender for the role. However, ultimately, his differences with the producers led to a change of plans, and he declined the offer. This significant turn of events would have meant that the character of Picard would have evolved in a far more radical way than initially intended.
Riker, played by Jonathan Frakes, would not have been the obvious choice to take up the mantle of command. Frakes, a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, already played a significant role on the show as Commander William T. Riker, the Enterprise’s first officer. His youthful charm, charm, and charisma would not have been as poorly received as they would have been if he had been promoted to command.
Instead, with Shea on board as the new captain, Picard’s role would have taken a dramatic shift. This would have been a bold move, as it would have forced the writers to reimagine the character. It is exciting to hypothesize about how the show might have looked if this path had been taken. Picard, still an experienced captain, would have been relegated to a more mentorship role, his command style more distant, detached, and strategic.
This would have left room for a more Cagney & Lacey-like dynamic between Picard and his new, more youthful, impulsive, and perhaps even brash commander. The contrast would have created interesting conflicts, and added new layers to the characters’ relationships. The essence of Star Trek: The Next Generation would have changed, and it’s intriguing to consider how it would have impacted the broader themes and storylines.
In conclusion, while John Shea’s bold performance style and acting chops would have been an exciting addition to the show, ultimately, it wasn’t meant to be. Miracles have their own reasons, and the reasons behind this choice might be attributed to a combination of factors like creative differences, personality conflicts, or creative decisions about the direction they wanted to take the show. Regardless, we must acknowledge the challenge and innovation this change would have brought, changing the course of history for the USS Enterprise and its crew.
In retrospect, it is fortunate for Star Trek fans that Patrick Stewart held onto the role of Captain Jean-Luc Picard, allowing us to enjoy the iconic seven-season run and the beloved character as we know him.
