Fantasy casting gone wrong for Star Trek: ENT reboot

There isn’t a Star Trek: Enterprise reboot in development

Star Trek: Enterprise was and has been one of the most underappreciated series in the Star Trek franchise. Though it ran for four seasons from 2001-2005, it wasn’t given much of a chance, and  by the time season three ended, the network moved it to the dreaded Friday night slot. Since it ended, fans have wanted a movie or a continuation of the series, but if that couldn’t happen, would a reboot work? And if so, who would play the roles, replacing the actors who defined the characters we grew to love?

WhatCulture came up with a list of potential replacements with the idea that money is no object, and while some of them might work, at least three of the suggestions, to me, wouldn’t.

Eric Stonestreet as Dr. Phlox

John Billingsley didn’t create the character of Dr. Phlox, but he certainly created the personality, and while Eric Stonestreet is as funny as they come and is a wonderful actor, he isn’t the perfect person to portray the Denobulan doctor. Why? Because John Billingsley would still be fully capable of returning to the role. Denobulans live a long time so there’s no reason for him to be replaced.

Nick Robinson as Charles “Trip” Tucker, III

Nick Robinson, the young actor who starred in Melissa & Joey, is 26 years old. Most younger actors on a Star Trek series are either ensigns or lieutenant junior grade. They certainly aren’t the chief engineer for a starship. Connor Trinneer was 32 when he originated the role, and those extra few years made it seem more credible that he could be a chief engineer.

Anya Chalotra as T’Pol

Anya Chalotra is known for playing Yennefer on Netflix’s The Witcher, and while she has proved her acting capabilities in that role, playing a Vulcan isn’t a role just anyone can step into. Bottling emotions while still managing to create a character fans will cheer for is tough. It even took Jolene Blalock some time to grow accustomed to the role. And not everyone can do it. To me, Chalotra is much too expressive, and it would be too difficult for the audience to accept her as a sixty-plus-year-old Vulcan.

It’s entirely possible that I’m wrong, and each of these actors could make the characters their own, but were this casting to really happen, I know I wouldn’t be tuning in. Well, maybe. On the other hand, though, the choices for Captain Jonathan Archer (Justin Hartley) and Admiral Forrest (Liam Neeson) might make me change my mind.