In 2009, J.J. Abrams brought the alternate Star Trek Kelvin timeline to theaters, rewriting the sci-fi history fans knew and cherished. These weren't the only changes, as James T. Kirk, Leonard McCoy, and the rest of the crew got a fresh start with a bold recasting of legacy characters, right down to Pavel Chekov.
If you talk to a few dozen Star Trek fans and ask their opinion of Pavel Chekov, they'll probably ask, "Which one?" This goes to show that, as a character, the universe he's operating in matters. Beyond that, Walter Koenig and Anton Yelchin's fans who enjoy their work outside Star Trek may tip the scales, but just how differently did each portray Mr. Chekov? Let's take a deeper look into the character's creation and compare how each actor will forever carry his legacy.
Cheer up, sleepy Gene! (Roddenberry)
When Star Trek: The Original Series ended its first season, series creator Gene Roddenberry realized that to increase viewership, they needed to draw in more young people, especially teenage girls. NBC, which aired the show, had a hit with The Monkees, a musical comedy that starred the super-cute Davy Jones, complete with a dreamy British accent and a Beatles haircut.
Roddenberry noticed that Jones got plenty of attention from girls, and turned that idea into bringing a young character to the bridge. By season 2, Pavel Chekov was in the navigator's position, and Walter Koenig would eventually become Star Trek royalty! (Continued...)