Who do you want to see take command in the new television series of Star Trek? Here are 50 picks that we think could do a great job in the captains chair.
CBS released a teaser trailer for their new Star Trek television series and it’s got fans of the classic sci-fi franchise excited about seeing Trek on TV for the first time in eleven years.
When a new Star Trek series is preparing to launch one question looms above everything else for fans… who will be the captain? With that in mind we’ve compiled a list of actors we think would be perfect to take a seat in the captains chair.
Here are our top 50 picks for the next Star Trek Captain:
Mandy Patinkin
We were absolutely hooked on the first season of Homeland, and one character more than any other inspired us; Saul Berenson. When he spoke we felt as though I could trust him, it was like he was wearing a combadge already dammit! We would follow his husky voice in to Romulan space any day! When nobody believed Claire Danes, and everyone else thought she was just a bit weird, Saul stood by her. He was dependable, smart, trustworthy and you knew he could get the job done.
Patinkin has a long list of credits including Inigo Montoya in The Princess Bride, Chicago Hope and Criminal Minds; and he had a successful stage career, winning a Tony Award for his performances as Che in Evita. Patinkin is also a trained singer, which is probably where he gets that tremendously husky voice from. Anyone for a captains concert reminiscent of the Doctor in Star Trek: Voyager?
We think he would make the perfect Star Trek captain as he possesses all of the qualities necessary to lead a group of explorers into uncharted space. He has the leadership skills to lead by example and would make the best decisions for the team. We would be extremely happy to hand over the keys to the Federation flagship to Mandy Patinkin and his excellent beard.
Next: David Tennant
David Tennant
David Tennant brought the fun back to Doctor Who. All Doctor Who fans have Doctors who they love and Doctors who they… love less. But nobody dislikes David Tennant. His charm and excitement for exploration as the Doctor would translate wonderfully onto the bridge of Star Trek’s next great ship.
Tennant is more than just a charming goofball – if you saw any of his work as investigator Alec Hardy on Broadchurch, you’ve seen some of the depth of his dramatic range. If you’re looking for a captain who can not only give a great performance but also excite the nerd world, David Tennant is your man.
After all – Star Trek captains always have a great catchphrase, and who doesn’t want to hear Captain David Tennant say “set course for Vulcan, warp 8, allons-y!”
Star Trek has had adventurous captains, it’s had more stoic and wise captains, but it hasn’t had a captain that captures the feeling of wonder at exploring the galaxy like we believe David Tennant would.
Next: Naveen Andrews
Naveen Andrews
We didn’t really understand the television series Lost; we got extremely lost whilst watching it. We think we missed an episode and then they suddenly went from survivors of a plane crash to battling mystical tribes with machine guns; it was all a bit too much for us. One actor who stood out amongst the group though was Naveen Andrews, and we really think he would make an excellent captain.
The Original Series of Star Trek was meant as a vision of the future and gave us hope that people of all nations could one day come together and work in harmony; without prejudice and without misconceptions. The Original Series had a Japanese helmsman, a Russian navigator, an African-American communications officer and a Scottish chief engineer at a time of divide amongst nations with the Cold War and civil liberties not yet fully realized. It was a simple idea that held a powerful message.
We’ve had characters from most backgrounds, but we are yet to see an actor of Indian origins on board. Naveen Andrews is an excellent actor and he has the acting skills, the life experiences, and the perfect demeanor to become an excellent Star Trek captain.
Katee Sackoff
Katee Sackoff is a nerd legend for her portrayal of Starbuck in the 2004-2009 Battlestar Galactica series reboot. Sackoff took a part that was filled by a male actor in the original Battlestar series and proved that she could not only handle the role, but that she could make the role her own and become the standard all future Starbucks will be measured to.
Star Trek has had a female captain before in Kathryn Janeway and we don’t want to take anything away from the job Kate Mulgrew did on Star Trek: Voyager. Janeway, however, was probably one of the most rigidly written Star Trek captains of all time. This limited Mulgrew’s ability to truly flourish in the role.
On Battlestar Galactica, Starbuck was brash, determined, and had a problem with authority, much like Captain James Kirk. If anyone could capture the magic of James Kirk on the bridge of the Enterprise, Katee Sackoff might be it.
Next: Mark Harmon
Mark Harmon
Fans of the first Star Trek series will fondly remember Captain Kirk’s knockout judo chop and his brash, sometimes over-the-top, charisma. We reckon Mark Harmon from NCIS could give us a similar style, but with a little more subtlety. When fans of the show talk about the new series, they usually want to take a step back from the ideas of JJ Abrams and go back to the roots of Trek and the messages of hope that it gave us. I think that having a witty, streetwise character in charge can give us just that.
We imagine Mark Harmon would portray a character in between Kirk and Picard. Many considered Picard too aristocratic and Kirk too brash; if we have a character that finds a middle ground between these captains, arguably the best ones, we might be onto a winner. We think that Mark Harmon could be the perfect man to do the job.
Harmon has the fighting skills to dispatch any intruder, the diplomatic skills to handle any fiery disputes and the leadership skills to lead a new cast on new adventures through the galaxy.
Next: Alan Tudyk
Alan Tudyk
It’s hard not to love Alan Tudyk. Whether he’s Wash or Steve the Pirate, now matter how wacky the character you can’t help but root for him. Tudyk isn’t going to fit the mold of being the captain of Starfleet’s flagship, but we could have a lot of fun watching him captain a smaller support vessel of sometime that just always seems to be in the right place at the right time. Perhaps he’s the captain of a small transport vessel that ends up playing a big role in a major Federation war? It would suit him and be an interesting change to not always be focused on the best of Starfleet. So much of Star Trek has been focused on the big ships of the line, but there could be some compelling and fun stories in a small vessel making its way through the galaxy.
And we can only hope Wash’s plastic dinosaurs make the trip to Tudyk’s Federation ship.
Next: Damien Lewis
Damian Lewis
Damien Lewis has a trophy cabinet full of acting awards for his various roles in major television shows. He was brilliant in Band of Brothers, and he was equally superb in Homeland. His performances have even led to calls by many for him to be crowned the next James Bond, although we are not entirely sure about a ginger James Bond. He may be currently one of the favorites to take over the tuxedo, Aston Martin and Walther PPK from Daniel Craig, but instead we think he should take command of a starship in the next television series of Star Trek.
We had to think about what kind of captain he would be, and we watched his performances in Band of Brothers one more time for research purposes (and because it was fantastic). We see Lewis as a diplomatic captain, with the skills and mental resources to tackle any political crisis. We don’t think he would be a fighter, but with a phaser by his side; he wouldn’t need to physically fight everyone.
Damian Lewis would be a strong captain, and he could inspire a new generation of fans to start following the show.
Next: Billy Dee Williams
Billy Dee Williams
Billy Dee Williams is of course always going to be best known as Lando Calrissian, smooth talking smuggler, gambler, and man about the galaxy in Star Wars. It’s downright criminal that Lando wasn’t included in the new Star Wars movies.
But perhaps Star Wars’ loss can be Star Trek’s gain. Who doesn’t want a smooth-talking, older gentleman pirate as the captain of the next Star Trek vessel?
At the beginning of the episode, Billy Dee might be faced with an angry Borg queen. By the end of the episode there’s no doubt that they’d be laughing about everything they have in common and drinking Courvoisier.
We see no reason that Star Trek shouldn’t get the benefit of Billy Dee Williams’ undeniable charm and wit. You can’t keep everything for yourselves, Star Wars fans!
If he can’t be a captain, then let’s at least make him a recurring character as the coolest admiral that Starfleet has ever seen.
Next: Dennis Haysbert
Dennis Haysbert
We loved 24 as a television show, even if in some ways it was deeply flawed. How on earth can he do all that in just 24 hours; it takes us about 3 hours just to crawl out of bed!
Dennis Haysbert played president David Palmer in the show, which means he has the credentials to lead a starship. He has a long list of credits in movies and television shows, usually portraying characters in positions of power.
Diplomacy is an important attribute for any Star Trek captain and all the incarnations so far have had bags of diplomatic experience and etiquette, except Kirk maybe, who just liked punching aliens. We think that Dennis Haysbert could be a fantastic captain who uses diplomacy to navigate disputes and difficult situations.
Haysbert has the skills to orchestrate a mission of exploration and handle any unexpected occurrences; he would also look super smart in a captain’s shirt.
Next: Karen Gillan
Karen Gillan
We’ve established that Star Trek has had a female captain before; however, Karen Gillan would be a much younger captain than Kate Mulgrew’s Kathryn Janeway. We don’t know yet where on the Star Trek timeline the new series will be set and we hope that gender equality issues have been sorted out this far in the future (see “dudes wearing dresses in season 1 of Star Trek: The Next Generation”).
However between Karen Gillan’s youth and gender there’s no doubt that those issues would not only have to be explored with some characters on the ship, but also with some alien races the crew would encounter.
One thing we saw in Gillan’s Amy Pond character on Doctor Who was that she didn’t care that she was young or the woman in the cast; she frequently took charge. This would be an interesting dynamic to explore on the bridge of a starship. Besides, a Star Trek captain with a Scottish accent would just be so much fun.
Next: Emily Mortimer
Emily Mortimer
Emily Mortimer has been involved in many different roles in her long acting career and performed in a wide range of productions. Her appearances in The Newsroom were especially memorable as she stared opposite Jeff Daniels in the award winning series. She has a very varied history of difficult parts to play and she has received critical acclaim for much of her work.
Being English, she would probably take tea, earl grey, hot like Captain Picard and she might be more of a thinker than some of the other suggestions on this list. We can’t see her getting involved in too much hand to hand combat, but with a strong team around her, she wouldn’t need to. She would be a thinking captain and a master diplomat, analyzing all the possible outcomes before diving straight in like some other captains.
Mortimer has an extremely interesting a petite look about her, but she can be deceptive and lure enemies into a false sense of security. The Borg and any other potential enemy would surely underestimate her at their peril.
Next: Arom Eisenberg
Aron Eisenberg as Nog
Aron Eisenberg played Nog, the first Ferengi in Starfleet, in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. We watched as Nog grew from a mischievous Ferengi who was a bad influence on Jake Sisko to an exemplary Starfleet ensign. In one of the possible futures laid out by Deep Space Nine we find out that Nog is captain of a starship. It’s been seventeen years since Nog was an ensign. Perhaps it’s time to pick up with his adventures as newly installed Captain Nog.
Nog would face many of the same dilemmas he did in DS9 weighing his Ferengi side against the Starfleet principles he has embraced. It could remind us of the same kind of fun we had watching Spock learn to balance his Vulcan and human sides.
Of course, if Nog is the captain of a Starfleet ship the ship would need to have a name that also parallels his Ferengi heritage; how does “Captain Nog of the USS Bounty” sound?
Next: Grace Park
Grace Park
Grace Park played Boomer in Battlestar Galactica and she was a really great character, even if she turned out to be a bad guy in the end; we think. We aren’t quite sure to be honest because BG got a bit strange when it turned out that they were all actually bad guys, they just didn’t know about it. Battlestar Galactica was a complicated show and we appreciate the feel of the program; and the special effects used were understated and realistic. We think the new series of Star Trek might benefit from borrowing some of these themes from Battlestar, as well as possibly a couple of the actors. Grace Park was one of the best actors on the show, and she could be an excellent captain if she had the chance.
She could easily handle herself; after kicking butt on Hawaii Five-0 for a few seasons a horde of Klingon warriors trying to board the ship would more than meet their match in Park. She is no stranger to space travel as well so it wouldn’t take her very long to find her ‘space legs’ and she could easily lead a crew of explorers through the galaxy.
If they don’t make Grace Park captain, they should at least give her another job on the ship, Chief Grace Park perhaps?
Next: Kal Penn
Kal Penn
Kal Penn has mastered the art of playing the lovable nerd. We’ve had stoic, commanding, and adventurous captains before, but we’ve never truly had a nerdy captain. Often the “nerd” character gets relegated to sickbay in the case of Voyager’s Doctor or Deep Space Nine’s Doctor Julian Bashir. Why not let the nerd take the captain’s chair for a change?
A Kal Penn-portrayed, lovable nerd captain’s biggest hurdle would be learning to deal with other people. Perhaps the character never meant to become a captain and with a truly blue shirt background must now learn to command on the job.
Kal Penn has been a regular on sitcoms like How I Met Your Mother and dramas like House. We know that he could bring both humor and depth to the role of captain. Having Kal Penn on board for the new Star Trek series would also mean that both Harold and Kumar were a part of Star Trek lore.
Next: Josh Holloway
Josh Holloway
Josh Holloway ticks all the boxes when it comes to choosing a new Star Trek captain and I think he could possibly do an awesome job in the role. He is a good looking chap with chiseled features, a great actor with a list of impressive credits and he can be an imposing figure.
A captain needs to be strong and capable of making decisions quickly and effectively. On first impression, Josh Holloway looks like somebody who could tick those boxes. He was deviously good as Sawyer in the award winning series Lost, despite the fact that we didn’t really understand what was going on half of the time.
When it comes to how we imagine his captaining style, we think he would be cool, calm and collective, keeping his head whilst round him are losing theirs. Josh Holloway would be a fine captain if he was given the opportunity.
Next: Janel Moloney
Janel Moloney
If you didn’t watch The West Wing, you may not know who Janel Moloney is at first glance (also, if you didn’t watch The West Wing, it’s on Netflix. Go. Watch. Enjoy). Moloney’s Donna Moss is the perfect example of a character having incredible growth over the course of a series. Donna starts off as deputy chief of staff Josh Lyman’s assistant. By the series finale, she is the Chief of Staff for the First Lady.
Moloney manages to be both endearing and inspiring, which is extremely difficult to do. As much as we love Captain Jean-Luc Picard, he’s a fantastic leader from the very beginning of Star Trek: The Next Generation and his character didn’t have much room to grow. We see Janel Moloney’s captain as a captain who makes mistakes and learns as she goes – a captain we can relate to.
Not only that, but The West Wing had an outstanding cast and we might be lucky enough to see some alumni of the show in guest star roles on the new Star Trek series.
Next: Mary McDonnell
Mary McDonnell
Although some of the Star Trek movies were nominated for Oscars, and they actually won an award in 2010, we don’t think we’ve ever had an Oscar nominated actress star in the television series. Mary McDonnell has been nominated for an Oscar on 2 separate occasions, getting recognized for her work in Dances with Wolves and Passion Fish in the early 1990’s.
She is certainly a fantastic actress with many great credits in good movies. She also has a taste for space after starring in Battlestar Galactica between 2004 and 2009. I first thought she might make a great captain after seeing her work on Battlestar Galactica as the president. She was a great leader although divisive at times, and wouldn’t back away from a fight, even when the odds were against her.
She would be the second female in a Star Trek television series and she would certainly be a similar figure to Kate Mulgrew. She would be strong, decisive and wouldn’t back down, although we have a feeling that she would be more elegant than Janeway was.
Next: Pedro Pascal
Pedro Pascal
If you say you don’t love Pedro Pascal, you’re a liar, a Lannister, or Pablo Escobar. Pascal is charming but also has a bit of a dangerous feel. His characters make you believe that you honestly don’t know what they’re going to do next or what they’re really capable of.
That kind of mystery and intensity is something Star Trek hasn’t seen in a captain since Benjamin Sisko. Unlike Sisko, Pedro Pascal also has the William Ryker “I’ll steal your girl and you’ll thank me afterwards” vibe to him. The ladies of the Orion Syndicate wouldn’t know what hit them if they had to deal with Pedro Pascal.
Pedro Pascal played Oberyn Martell on Game of Thrones whose brother Doran Martell was portrayed by none other than Alexander Sidding who you may remember as Doctor Julian Bashir from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Wouldn’t it be fun if Pascal was to play the long lost brother of Julian Bashir?
Next: Eriq La Salle
Eriq La Salle
ER was one of the first television shows we watched religiously and it was always full of highly charged emotions. We still remember many of the story lines and when Dr Greene died in season 8, we didn’t leave my room for 3 days. We think Eriq La Salle was our favourite actor in the series, playing Dr Peter Benton, the cocky young surgeon who grew as a person with the show.
Character development is extremely important in any television show that plans to stay on television for more than a season. A good director and a capable actor can create a character and a scene, but it takes a truly good actor to develop the character into someone who connects with the audience. After 171 episodes of ER, Dr Benton was a totally different person from when the show started. He was affected by the trials and tribulations that affected him as the show went on.
Eriq La Salle would make for a complex and intriguing captain.
Next: Max von Sydow
Max von Sydow
Max von Sydow has been called the greatest actor alive. You may not recognize the name immediately, but he’s one of those actors that’s been in everything. Dune, James Bond, Game of Thrones, and Star Wars: The Force Awakens are all on his resume. von Sydow even shows up in Skyrim as Esbern, the last of the Blades. His gravitas would naturally command the attention of his crew and of any aliens he might encounter.
von Sydow brings with him the same kind of breadth and depth of experience that Patrick Stewart brought to Captain Picard. Regardless of where and when the new Star Trek show is set it’s going to be reminiscent of Star Trek: The Next Generation as it brings the Star Trek franchise back to television after a long hiatus.
von Sydow would make the perfect cornerstone on which to build the new series. We don’t want to pigeonhole this fantastic actor, but Max von Sydow would also make an incredibly Vulcan captain of a starship.
Next: Vin Diesel
Vin Diesel
Vin Diesel gets a bad wrap and this one might seem a little far-fetched, given that Vin Diesel is pretty much a Hollywood A-Lister these days after his mesmerizing performances in the Fast and The Furious franchise, but hear us out. Diesel would certainly bring something different to the table. We think that when he finishes filming The Fastest and The Most Furious 23, Vin should come over to Toronto, don a Star Trek uniform and start exploring the universe.
Diesel has science fiction credibility after staring in Pitch Black and Chronicles of Riddick, so he is no stranger to space travel, and his husky voice would inspire confidence in his comrades. He is comfortable with having a scrap, having been involved in several movies where he needed to fight his way out of precarious situations.
He might not be known for romantic scenes, which there should be in a Star Trek series, but he can leave the romance to his officers and concentrate on exploring. We think he would do an awesome introduction to the show.
Next: Anthony Mackie
Anthony Mackie
If you saw any of the Captain America movies, then you know Anthony Mackie can play the loyal friend and second-in-command. Mackie’s Falcon has Captain America’s back in every situation. Maybe it’s his turn to take charge. We see Mackie as the type of captain that would insist on going on away missions, much like James Kirk. There’s no way he would be ok sitting on the bridge while someone else had all the fun.
Jean-Luc Picard was a fantastic captain but perhaps it’s time to step back from the intellectual and return to that sense of adventure. Benjamin Sisko certainly had some of these characteristics, but his Star Trek was never really about exploration. Anthony Mackie might be the perfect captain to lead the charge as we once again boldly go where no man has gone before.
Mackie’s appearances in the Captain America movies make him a recognizable name but not someone who could be perceived as someone picked just because he’s famous.
Next: Michael Dorn
Michael Dorn
#WeWantWorf is the hashtag used by fans of Michael Dorn’s Worf on social media to express their desire to see more of Star Trek‘s most famous Klingon.
Worf was originally introduced on Star Trek: The Next Generation, but then made the leap over to Star Trek: Deep Space Nine as well. Perhaps more than any other charecter in Star Trek we have seen Worf grow and deepen.
Originally Worf was the standard cross and grumpy Klingon, but by the end of his run in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine we saw the complicated man that was behind the stoic Klingon warrior. Some folks might think that we’ve seen enough of Worf, but we think there are still stories to tell. Worf is a lot like Spock in that he is a charecter with so much depth and potential that there will always be stories to tell no matter what Star Trek series he’s in. Michael Dorn has done an exceptional job bringing the son of Mogh to life and he has already said that he wants to revisit Worf.
The adventures of Captain Worf would certainly get the Star Trek fanbase talking.
Next: Robin Weigert
Robin Weigert
Robin Weigert was one of the standout stars of HBO’s Deadwood. Her portrayal of Calamity Jane was absolutely a masterpiece. She managed to make Jane a crude and rebellious screw up while also making her a character that you loved and rooted for. You knew Jane was going to constantly get in her own way and sabotage herself, yet you still found yourself hoping this would finally be the time she got it right. It’s not easy to play a character like that and still make the audience love you.
So many Star Trek captains are almost too perfect. It would be wonderful to have an actor playing a captain who could be more human and bring some depth and turmoil to the role.
WARNING: Calamity Jane uses some rough language in this clip.
Captains are constantly faced with difficult choices between lives and the Prime Directive. Weigert struggling with that classic Star Trek captain conundrum would make for great TV.
Dexter Fletcher
Dexter Fletcher has a long and successful acting career and has been involved in production since the late seventies. He has worked alongside some of the best actors in the business and has a big reputation as a reliable, dependable and versatile actor; all attributes needed by a Starfleet captain.
He was seriously good in the award winning Band of Brothers, showing yet another side of his brilliant acting. He does make several movies every year and whilst they might not all get the awards they deserve, they do show his reputation as a versatile actor is well deserved.
His first outing as a director recently hit the big screens, with Eddie the Eagle receiving a fairly good from the critics. He isn’t totally reserved to directing these days and is still scheduled for television and movie acting; maybe he would fancy a go in the captain’s chair, leading a ship into the unknown.
Next: Charles Dance
Charles Dance
Is there a more commanding presence on television today than Charles Dance? His Tywin Lannister on HBO’s Game of Thrones was the character you most loved to hate. And yet you couldn’t help but have respect for the way he played the game and bent everyone else to his will. Dance would make a Star Trek captain that you would not want to cross.
Jean-Luc Picard was a commanding presence, and the Klingons didn’t have a word for surrender until they met James T. Kirk, but no Star Trek captain has ever had the intimidating demeanor that Charles Dance would have. We can just see the Borg claiming that resistance is futile while Charles Dance sets his chaw and responds that we’ll just see about that.
The interactions between a stern, by-the-book Charles Dance and younger, more flexible crew members would make for some fun storylines as their differing viewpoints clashed.
Next: Tony Sirico
Tony Sirico
Although he might be getting on a bit, nobody is gonna ‘mess’ with the ship that has Paulie Walnuts at the helm. Romulan’s? Klingon’s? Fuggedaboudit! We can imagine a few aliens getting ‘whacked’ if they step out of line. Tony Sirico was brilliant in the Soprano’s and he was instrumental to the success of the show. They won many awards and Paulie Walnuts became a household name. Whilst he does have the tough guy image, we think he can do something more and it would be awesome to have him in the show.
Tony Sirico lead a life of crime and spent time in prison before finding his true calling in life when he discovered acting. His tough-guy image and strong Italian-American accent led him to be cast in many gangster roles. Some would say that he has been typecast over the years and whilst that may be true, he has performed well as an actor when given roles that didn’t involve ‘whacking’ people.
If he doesn’t get the role of captain, they should at least make him an admiral in Starfleet. He should at the very least get a position as a teacher in Starfleet Academy “Listen up kids; space is a very dangerous place, accidents happen.”
Next: Next Star Trek captain - option 15
Rome HBO DVD Polly Walker Kerry Condon Kevin McKidd Ray Stevenson James Purefoy
Kerry Condon
You might best know Kerry Condon as Octavian from the HBO series Rome, but you’ve also seen or at least heard her in the newest Avengers movie where she provided the voice for Tony Stark’s computer system F.R.I.D.A.Y. Condon also has a deep and extensive background on the stage.
On Rome, her character went from a lovestruck young woman to a cynical and somewhat bitter society player. Condon would break the mold for the usual age of Star Trek captains which could make for great drama, particularly if some of her officers were older than her and uncomfortable with her authority. Her Irish accent would also be a fun new turn in Star Trek’s tradition of diverse casting.
We obviously don’t want to make too many connections to other Star Trek series, but we don’t think Miles O’Brien ever admitted to having a sister. Perhaps the O’Brien family engineering tradition lives on and Condon’s ship could be an engineering vessel solving problems across the galaxy.
Next: Julie Bowen
Julie Bowen
Julie Bowen plays the wife of Phil Dunphy, mother of their children and CEO of a closet conglomerate in Modern Family. She balances being a leader at work with family life extremely well which first made us think about her for the role of Star Trek captain. She looks after her chaotic family and takes care of all their issues, as well as managing a business she took over from her father, and she makes it all look easy.
We can imagine her in the captain’s chair, barking orders at underperforming ensigns and micro managing her staff. She might cause a bit of friction between the team, but in the end she would earn the respect of those around her.
If the producers of the new series choose Julie Bowen, she will become the second female captain after Kate Mulgrew, who played Kathryn Janeway in Star Trek: Voyager. Julie Bowen would bring something very different from Janeway, and a lot more fun we think. Janeway was always so serious about everything and refused to ever break the rules, even when lost, trillions of miles from home. In that situation, we think that Julie Bowen as captain would perhaps bend the rules to get what she wanted.
Next: Ian McShane
Ian McShane
Ian McShane has been in everything. His most iconic role was as Swearengen on HBO’s Deadwood. On Deadwood, his character was a conniving criminal mastermind who used deceit and murder to get his way. Now he’s set to play a yet to be named character on HBO’s Game of Thrones. McShane’s Star Trek captain would obviously have to be very different than others we’ve seen, but his trademark intensity and with would still be able to shine through.
WARNING: NSFW LANGUAGE IN THIS CLIP
If the Star Trek series decides to go with a more gritty tone than in previous incarnations, Ian McShane could be the perfect captain. While we still hope that the Star Trek series will focus on a brighter future for humanity, the darker side of science fiction is extremely popular right now. Perhaps the series will want to visit a darker part of the Federation’s history with Ian McShane’s captain in command.
Next: Ty Burrell
Ty Burrell
If we could prize Ty Burrell away from Modern Family, he would surely make a brilliant captain and he would certainly entertain all of his officers with witty remarks and comedic timing. We wouldn’t want Star Trek to become a comedy show, but a little dry humor might go a long way in the galaxy. Ty is one of the funniest and wittiest characters on television and I think that he could bring his charisma to Star Trek.
Ty currently plays the role of Phil Dunphy in Modern Family, the ‘cool dad’ who works in real estate and tries to raise his teenage children as best he can in a chaotic household. Having been involved in the show for 7 years, he might be looking for a new challenge and managing the crew of a starship might be right up his street. He could definitely bring a new dimension the role of captain, as they have all been extremely serious in the past.
Burrell has been in some serious roles before, including the popular movies Black Mass and Black Hawk Down, meaning that when it comes down to business and kicking alien behind, he is no stranger to the rough stuff, despite claiming to know all of the High School Musical dances.
Next: Dulé Hilll
Dulé Hill
Dulé Hilll makes everything he’s in incredibly fun without detracting from the depth and drama of the serious moments every series faces. As Gus on Psych, Hill’s witty repartee with James Roday was fantastic. The original Star Trek series was best when Kirk, Bones, and Spock got to have adventures and play off of each other. It made you feel like you were part of a group of friends that was also exploring the galaxy. Given the right supporting cast, Dulé Hill would make the perfect captain to recapture this magic.
On The West Wing, Hill’s Charlie Young was a character that brought humor to the show while also often being used to tie together many of the show’s secondary storylines. It demonstrates Hill’s ability to fit into a large ensemble cast without losing any of his charm. A big part of this new Star Trek show’s success will be based on its ability to not only capture the magic of the past but also on its ability to make Star Trek fun again for a new generation. Dulé Hill as captain would be perfect for this.
Next: Catherine Dent
Catherine Dent
The Shield was an epic cop drama set in downtown LA. Catherine Dent will always be best known for her appearances in The Shield from 2002 until 2008. She played Officer Danni Sofer, a young officer who had to cope in a very dangerous world. She thrived under the pressure of such a role and was an extremely important factor in the success of the show.
The Shield went on to won 2 Golden Globes and will be fondly remembered as a classic television series before the age of Netflix. Catherine Dent would make a fine Star Trek captain and having spent years dealing with the most dangerous criminals of Los Angeles, wouldn’t be scared of taking on any rowdy Romulans. She would be a tough captain, capable of making big decisions when the time called for it.
Dent is receiving attention at the moment for her work as a writer and producer, although the opportunity to become a captain on the new Star Trek series might be too much to turn down.
Next: Felicia Day
Felicia Day
Felicia Day played Vi on the TV series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, she was doctor Holly Marten in Eureka!, she was Charlie in Supernatural, and she was June in Doctor Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog. On top of all of this, Day’s YouTube channel Geek & Sundry has played an instrumental role in the recent rise of nerd culture. She’s also set to be a part of the new MST-3000 series.
Felicia Day’s nerd credentials are unparalleled and unquestionable. Not only is she fun and a talented actress, but she would bring attention and excitement from her very large fanbase to the new Star Trek series.
Day’s quirky and fun personality would make for a new and exciting style of captain. If the new show is looking to inject more modern humor, Day would be an excellent choice in the captain’s chair. Her friendship with Wil Wheaton might also lead to a fun Wesley Crusher return or cameo.
Next: Stark Sands
Stark Sands
If we made Stark Sands the next Star Trek captain, he would surely have the coolest name of any captain so far. Apart from having a really awesome name, Stark Sands is a really quality actor who has been involved in theatre, television and movies for quite some time. His work on stage has led him to be nominated for 2 Tony awards and he is widely respected in the business.
Generation Kill was the show where I saw Stark Sands display the leadership qualities that could be worthy of the Star Trek captain’s chair. He was an officer in the army during the invasion of Iraq and he was surrounded by a mixture of incompetent, gun-hoe and lethargic soldiers who had to be led effectively. He did a brilliant job of showing discipline and fairness to the men under his command; something a Starfleet captain would do well to remember.
Next: Thomas Brodie-Sangster
Thomas Brodie-Sangster as a young Data
You probably know Thomas Brodie-Sangster best as Jojen Reed from HBO’s Game of Thrones. While it will probably ruffle some feathers to see anyone but Brent Spiner play Data, Brent Spiner has aged and Data can not because he’s an android, and continuing Data’s story would be impossible because he was destroyed in Star Trek: Nemesis.
There’s no reason that Data’s character can’t be revisited at a time before he was on the Enterprise. We’ve never found out the story behind how an android entered Starfleet or how he rose through the ranks. Obviously Data was never a captain of his own vessel in the current Star Trek timeline, but rewriting timelines has never been an issue for Star Trek. Perhaps in this timeline, Data ends up commanding a smaller vessel before joining the crew of the Enterprise? We think there are still a lot of fun stories that could be centered around data and Thomas Brodie-Sangster would be the perfect actor to fill the role.
Next: John Slattery
John Slattery
A Star Trek captain has to look the part and I think John Slattery has an extremely interesting look. It can’t really be said that there is an official recipe to the perfect Star Trek captain because we all like captains from the past for different reasons. We think John Slattery fits the bill as he is an extremely talented actor, an experienced guy and he looks the part. Depending on the story lines, the rest of the cast and the look of the show, having John Slattery as captain could make the show a big success.
He doesn’t have a lot of experience in sci-fi shows, but he does have a lot of superhero movies under his belt after starring in Ant-Man and Iron Man. Maybe he would be interested in moving from fantasy to science fiction.
We imagine Slattery to be in the same mold as Jean Luc Picard, except a little more abrasive and unafraid to offend people. He would be headstrong and smart, knowing exactly how to defeat his enemy without worrying about it too much.
Next: Aisha Tyler
Aisha Tyler
Aisha Tyler has been in everything from dramas to cartoons to talk shows. Tyler’s range would serve her well as the captain in a new Star Trek series. No matter what part she’s playing, it’s hard not to like her. As Lana Kane on Archer, Aisha Tyler is the one sane voice in a show filled with insanity. No matter what horrible things the rest of the Archer cast manages to do with other people, they know better than to push it with Lana. Lana isn’t taking any of your crap, and they all know it.
NSFW warning, this clip is from Archer after all.
We could see Tyler as a similarly no-nonsense captain in the new Star Trek series. Tyler’s captain could be as firm in her convictions as Sisko or Picard while also being a little lighter and more laid back in dealings with the crew members. Aisha Tyler’s quick wit would also make for fun interactions with her crew.
Next: Rhys Darby
Rhys Darby
Flight of the Conchords is one of the funniest shows I have ever seen in my life. It revolves around 2 New Zealanders who find themselves living in New York and trying to make a name for themselves as musicians. Their agent, Murray Hewitt, played by Rhys Darby, holds weekly meetings to discuss their progress, or lack of progress in truth. If you haven’t seen the show, it’s definitely one to download, if you can get your head around the silliness of it.
We don’t want Star Trek to turn into a comedy because that definitely would alienate a lot of the core fans, but we think Rhys Darby could play a seriously good captain and keep a sense of his comedic brilliance. We haven’t seen any New Zealanders in the Star Trek television series yet and we think Rhys Darby would make an unpredictable captain, full of interesting surprises and funny moments.
Next: Asa Butterfield
Asa Butterfield
The idea of another Wesley Crusher type character is probably not something most Star Trek fans would be quick to warm to; however if the new show were to go in the direction of a Doogie Howser in space, the obvious choice for captain would be Asa Butterfield. Butterfield managed to portray a boy genius as Ender Wiggin in Ender’s Game without being insufferable or making you hate him. That’s something that’s not easy to do (cough Wesley Crusher cough).
Star Trek has never been afraid to experiment with new and diverse ideas for crew members. A young, high-IQ captain would give the new series a fresh feel and a different perspective. Interactions between this captain and his crew would create drama within the ship as the crew members came to terms with their young and inexperienced captain. Perhaps revisiting the idea of genetic modification within the boy genius a la Julian Bashir could also be an intriguing storyline.
Next: Charlie Hunnam
Charlie Hunnam
Sons of Anarchy was a hit show about a motorcycle gang that proved to be extremely popular, especially when Charlie Hunnam lost his shirt.
Originally born in England, Hunnam starred in several low budget movies before gaining notoriety in a few great productions. It was his performance opposite Elijah Wood in Green Street that caught the eye of big producers and he was given the lead role in the motorcycle gang. As the show went on, the producers did not regret their decision as it became their most popular show of all time.
Charlie Hunnam would play a younger captain, possibly not unlike William Shatner and Chris Pine. I think Charlie Hunnam would make an excellent action hero captain with all the panache of old captain Kirk. He would also, like Shatner in The Original Series, be a hit with alien females and away missions might take longer than expected.
Next: Lyndsey Marshal
Lyndsey Marshal
Lyndsey Marshal is best known for portraying the legendary Cleopatra on HBO’s Rome. As Cleopatra, Marshall used guile and seduction to go from a prisoner to the ruler of Egypt. It would have been easy to portray Cleopatra more one-dimensionally but Marshal manages to bring the character to life and really explore the motivations for her actions. The depth Marshal brings to her characters would make her a fantastic choice for the next captain.
One of the complaints many Star Trek fans had about Kathryn Janeway was that her motives weren’t always clear. Some of that was of course due to the writing on Star Trek: Voyager, but we think that Marshal’s captain would have the complexity to avoid that type of pitfall. We could see Marshal’s captain being reminiscent of Jadzia Dax from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Dax, of course, got to command the Defiant for a short time during DS9’s run. We always wished we could’ve seen more of her in the captain’s chair and we think that Marshall could recapture some of the fun of having a complex female character as the captain.
Next: John C. McGinley
John C. McGinley
Without wanting to turn Star Trek into a comedy show, I would absolutely love to see a Dr. Cox style rant in space! I can see it now; a young ensign inputs the wrong coordinates or translates a line of Klingon incorrectly which sends the captain into a full-blown tirade of futuristic nastiness. Having this kind of character, which McGinley played incredibly well in Scrubs, would add a sense of humanity to Star Trek that has possibly been lacking, and hopefully win over a whole new legion of fans. Apart from the monumental rants, McGinley had some of the more emotional scenes in Scrubs and portrayed an intense character full of flaws, self-loathing and good intentions.
If he could bring this to Star Trek, we would certainly be entertained by McGinley and we might even learn a thing or two. In Scrubs, he always played a very intense character but he was extremely passionate about his job. He was dedicated to his role and performed his duties with pride. I think those are the perfect ingredients for a Star Trek captain.
Next: Amber Nash
Amber Nash
Amber Nash is best known as the voice of Pam on Archer and you might think that there’s nothing farther from a Star Trek captain than Pam Poovey. But when you stop and think about it, that may not be true. The Pam character is enthusiastic about everything, never backs down from a challenge, has an overactive sex drive, and is full of zingy one liners. Sound like anybody we know? That’s right! James T. Kirk and Pam Poovey have a lot in common. Maybe it has something to do with being from the upper midwest?
If you ever watch any of the Archer behind the scenes videos that include Amber Nash, you’ll quickly learn that the actress behind the character is just as lively and charming as Pam. Nash’s extensive experience with improv might also lead to fun interactions between a captain and her crew. Kathryn Janeway was a serious captain. Perhaps it’s time for a more lighthearted fun take on a female captain.
Next: Steven Michael Quezada
Steven Michael Quezada
Steven Michael Quezada looks like an intimidating character and he would certainly run a tight ship if he was put in charge. He would have no qualms in bossing around the ensigns, and reprimanding underperforming members of the crew. He is probably best known for his role as Steven Gomez in Breaking Bad but he does have a rising reputation in the film industry.
He is a well-known figure in the Mexican film industry and he is well respected for a wide range of roles that he has excelled in. If they gave the job to Steven Michael Quezada, I think he would bring something different to the bridge. He would be a darker character and they could bring some back story into his character to make it more gripping and full of suspense. Would he go for it? He does have movie commitments, but Star Trek is a once in a lifetime opportunity.
Next: Bradley Whitford
Bradley Whitford
Bradley Whitford is probably best known as Josh Lyman from The West Wing. On The West Wing, deputy chief of staff Josh Lyman is constantly finding ways to get into trouble but always manages to find a way out. Much of the time, the trouble is caused by Josh diving headfirst into a problem before he has properly assessed the situation. It may sound a bit reckless, but combined with Josh’s witty and fun personality it makes for excellent television. A Star Trek captain with the same attitude and occasional disregard for authority would be a lot of fun.
Bradley Whitford’s captain would be less brash and cocky than James Kirk. He would definitely make the type of captain that you’d want to follow on an adventure and then sit down with for a beer after. However, a Josh Lyman goes to Starfleet captain would need a reliable Donna Moss type second in command to anticipate the trouble he’s about to get in and be ready to help him out.
Next: Robin Wright
Robin Wright
Robin wright is an extremely talented actress with a huge reputation and a massive list of credits to her name. She recently stared in the gripping political thriller, House of Cards alongside Kevin Spacey. The show has won 2 Golden Globes and been labeled as one of the best shows on television.
Robin plays Spacey’s conniving wife and the pair try to bring down the people who betrayed them in devious ways. She is elegantly flawless in the production and if she could bring that to Canada as Star Trek starts to film, we will be in for one incredible show.
Interestingly, she plays Jenny in Forrest Gump which is one of my favorite films of all time.
It is difficult to imagine what kind of captain she would play, given that she has been in such a wide range of productions. Going from House of Cards, I imagine she would play a cool, calm and collective captain, full of elegance and always having the upper hand over anyone trying to pull the wool over her eyes.
Next: Patton Oswalt
Patton Oswalt
Patton Oswalt is a nerd legend, a stand up comedian, and an actor. Oswalt has always described himself as a Star Wars fan, but we don’t think he would turn down the chance to boldly go as a Star Trek captain. He would certainly not be the commanding captain of a Federation flagship, but would shine as the quirky commander of a smaller Federation vessel. Oswalt’s nerdy humor would definitely bring something new to the captain’s chair.
All of the Star Trek captains so far have been very impressive individuals. Maybe it’s time for an everyman’s Star Trek captain. Star Trek captains are certainly supposed to be inspiring, but what could be more inspiring than seeing someone you really identify with as the commander of a starship?
Just watch this video of Patton Oswalt on Parks and Recreation. As you listen to his extensive knowledge of Star Wars and Marvel, it’s hard not to imagine him as an excited fan in the captain’s chair.
We want to see a Star Trek rant now too!
Next: Andrew Scott
Andrew Scott
Andrew Scott is an Irish actor with a growing reputation in the movie industry. Although he’s stared in many films, most of which we actually really like, our favorite performance of his was in Sherlock. He played Benedict Cumberbatch’s nemesis, Moriarty, and always seemed to have the upper hand over him until the infamous faked death scene. We honestly spent days wondering how he survived and watching the scene over and over again in slow motion.
Moriarty was deviously good as the bad guy in the Sherlock, but we believe this massively talented actor could easily play a good guy as well. What sort of captain would he be? We don’t believe he would be into judo chops and hand-to-hand combat, but I don’t think he would shy away from a firefight. He would be a wise captain who would form personal bonds with his crew and look after them in times of need.
Next: David Mitchell
David Mitchell
British comedian David Mitchell is best known for Peep Show and his multiple appearances on British panel talk shows. Mitchell’s humor can best be described as snooty, uppercrust, and with a touch of melancholy. He wouldn’t be a big name draw as the next Star Trek captain but his intelligent brand of wit and humor would lend itself well into a series which prides itself on being smart.
Mitchell also admitted in an interview on The Jonathan Ross Show that he spent much of his childhood casting himself as part of the crew of the Enterprise. He described his role as “Captain Kirk’s boss.”
Next: 10 Reasons Picard Was The Best Star Trek Captain
What do you think about our list of possible new Star Trek captains? Who would you cast as the newest Star Trek captain? Let us know on Facebook or in the comments below.