Who do you want to see become the captain of Star Trek Discovery? Here are our top 10 picks for the captain’s chair.
ICYMI: Star Trek Discovery showrunner Bryan Fuller tweets a picture of the new ship’s captain’s chair.
We now know that CBS’ new Star Trek series will be called Star Trek Discovery, now we just need to know who will be stepping onto the bridge and taking a seat in Discovery’s captain’s chair.
Here are our top 10 picks to become the new captain for the Discovery:
Nathan Fillion
Nathan Fillion is clearly the fan favorite to take over as captain of Star Trek Discovery. Fillion has so much fan support that some fans started a grass roots campaign to get him the job. Fillion is of course best know for playing Malcolm Reynolds on Firefly and Richard Castle on Castle.
Fillion would be a brash captain, perhaps in the vein of Captain Kirk, but of his captain was anything like Malcolm Richards he would also have an endearing awkwardness to him. Who wouldn’t want a captain who’s aiming to misbehave?
Next: Katee Sackoff
Katee Sackoff
Katee Sackoff is a nerd legend for her portrayal of Starbuck in the 2004-2009Battlestar 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. Katee Sackoff would certainly have more freedom on Star Trek Discovery.
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.
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 for Star Trek Discovery.
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. Star Trek Discovery could use a take no crap captain in the form of Aisha Tyler.
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 ofVoyager’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. Discovery is a scientific sounding name after all…
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 Star Trek Discovery.
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 jaw and responds that we’ll just see about that.
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 the captain for Star Trek Discovery who could be more human and bring some depth and turmoil to the role.
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 the Discovery.
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!”
Next: Secret Celebrity Trekkies
Who do you want to see become the captain for Star Trek Discovery? Let us know on Facebook or in the comments below.