The wildly diverse worlds of Star Trek and Quentin Tarantino’s arguably best film, Pulp Fiction, overlapped during the run of Star Trek: Picard. That’s when Amanda Plummer, who played Honey Bunny in Pulp Fiction, portrayed Picard’s season 3’s main antagonist, Vadic. Plummer, the daughter of Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country co-star Christopher Plummer, appeared in six episodes as the changeling captain of the Shrike.
But a look at a casting memo written by Tarantino in advance of production on Pulp Fiction reveals that several future and past Star Trek figures were at least considered for roles in the writer-director’s film. Tim Roth ultimately starred as Pumpkin, but among those on Tarantino’s list of potential actors for the role was Christian Slater. A massive Star Trek fan and the son of Star Trek VI casting director Mary Jo Slater, Christian cameoed in VI as a night-duty officer aboard Captain Sulu’s U.S.S. Excelsior. Slater was also under consideration for the role of Lance, ultimately played by Eric Stoltz.
Uma Thurman, who was not even on Tarantino’s list, eventually landed the role of Mia, who famously danced with John Travolta’s character, Vincent Vega. Among the Trek names on his list? Virginia Madsen and Alfre Woodard. Future Oscar nominee Madsen guest starred as Kellin in the Star Trek: Voyager episode “Unforgettable,” while fellow Oscar nominee Woodard co-starred as Lily Sloane in Star Trek: First Contact and reprised her role (or an alternate reality iteration of it) decades later for the Star Trek: Lower Decks episode “Fissure Quest.”
Ving Rhames terrified audiences as Marcellus Wallace in Pulp Fiction, but Tarantino contemplated several Star Trek figures, including Sid Haig, Tony Todd, and Bernie Casey. Haig, a veteran character actor who died in 2019, appeared as the First Lawgiver in the Star Trek: The Original Series episode “The Return of the Archons.” He later appeared in Tarantino’s Jackie Brown and Kill Bill: Volume 2. Todd, who died in 2024, was known for his roles in the Candyman and Final Destination film franchises, but he played several Trek roles, most notably Kurn, Worf’s brother, in both The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine. Finally, Casey, who passed away in 2017, guest-starred in the DS9 episodes “The Maquis, Part I” and “The Maquis, Part II.”
There are other, far less direct Star Trek/Pulp Fiction casting connections. For example, Tarantino considered Dennis Quaid for the role of Vincent. Quaid is the father of Jack Quaid, who voiced Boimler on Lower Decks. Robert Carradine was also considered to play Vincent. He’s the brother of Enterprise guest star Keith Carradine. Annette O’Toole, who was on the list as an option for Mia, is married to Voyager guest star Michael McKean. The director included William Devane among his potential actors to play Captain Koons, a role later taken by Christopher Walken. Devane was once on the TNG casting consideration list to play Picard.
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