Anson Mount getting the first Star Trek role he tried out for would've ruined the franchise

Anson Mount is a great hire for Star Trek. He plays a conflicted, yet optimistic Christopher Pike to perfection. He's owned the role the same way that people like Leonard Nimoy, Patrick Stewart, Avery Brooks, and others have owned theirs. He's been the best part of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds since the show began (and was the best part of Star Trek: Discovery while he was on it).

He truly has found the role of a lifetime. The role of Christopher Pike will forever be synonymous with Mount, even though he wasn't the first person to play the role. However, things almost went against him and us as fans. Apparently, Mount wasn't just up for the role of Pike in season two of Star Trek: Discovery. He was apparently trying to land the role of Gabriel Lorca in season one.

Lorca of course went to famed actor Jason Issacs, who's pretty well known for playing villains (The Patriot, Harry Potter). So since Lorca ended up being a diabolical villain, he made perfect sense. Something Mount himself once said when he found out who he lost the role to.

Still, while he may have wanted to be Lorca, had he gotten the role, then it's fair to say the turnaround Star Trek has had with their Nu Trek Era, wouldn't have happened. That likely would've delayed things or worse, ruined this era of Star Trek.

Mount's debut on Discovery gave the show some hype, and his attachment to Strange New Worlds had everyone excited. That excitement has carried over to new shows, new seasons of past shows, and a general uplifting of the franchise as a whole.

It's something that may not have happened had he gotten Lorca and someone else landed the role of Pike. Mount's ability to embrace compassion, while remaining optimistic is exactly the combo needed for the new era of Trek that we landed in. With so many shows and characters being dark and edgy, Mount brought light to the franchise that had been lacking.

Sure, someone else could've done that. No one actor can only play a part, but the odds of finding someone who could do it as well as Mount isn't high. That's a tight window to fit through the first time, let alone trying it again with a second option.

Mount not getting the role of Lorca turned around the franchise and we're very thankful for that.