Star Trek: Discovery actor is finally a captain, just in a non-Star Trek show

Jules Verne is arguably the father of science fiction with his 1870 classic novel 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, with the enigmatic anti-hero Captain Nemo, and his fantastical submarine the Nautilus. This sweeping tale of advanced technology, revenge, and political intrigue is set in the late 19th Century. It tackles the maritime conflict between man, nature, and how the ocean's resources could be overexploited.

AMC+ has adapted this seafaring novel into a mini-series called Nautilus (2024), which stars Shazad Latif as its helmsman, Captain Nemo. In the AMC+ series, Shazad portrays an Indian prince (Prince Dakkar), under British colonialism is enslaved (among others, into building the Nautilus for the East Indian Mercantile Company (EIMC). Unlike the Jules Verne version, Nemo and a few of his loyalists pull off a daring coup and steal the Nautilus, while taking on some unwanted crew, and set out into the open sea.

Nemo, which is Latin for “no one”, as he seeks to remain nameless in his relentless quest for justice and revenge against colonialism and the increased demand for forced labor, as the colonialists' greed for wealth in expanding trade routes throughout Europe, Asia, and China. And of course, a modern-day submersible (the Nautilus) is a perfect vessel as a means to an end to accomplish that goal; however, Captain Nemo has plans to stop the EIMC.

If you recognize Shazad as a Star Trek fan, then you know him as Ash Tyler in Star Trek: Discovery from seasons 1 and 2. Lt. Tyler is a security officer aboard the USS Discovery, who has a mysterious background as a former POW of the Klingons. He had a brief romantic tryst with Commander Burnham; however, his most daring storyline involved him undergoing surgical alterations and being mentally conditioned into believing he was Voq – a Klingon warrior.

This Ash/Voq sleeper cell tactic was done during the Federation/Klingon war to give Klingons insight into Starfleet's tactics and strategies. Ash was always in conflict when the Klingons triggered him as a sleeper cell, and Shazad's portrayal of his love for Burnham, in contrast to his allegiance to the Klingon Empire and his humanity, was a masterclass with a brilliant, emotional, subtle performance with depth that was quite convincing on screen.

I suspect that Shazad's starring role as Captain Nemo, in Nautilus, is one of many to come as he represents a long line of fellow Star Trek actors who have warped their way into stardom.

Success after Star Trek

Star Trek's roster of incredible actors who go on to bigger and better roles and projects is vast, and Shazad with his leading role as Captain Nemo is just one example. Of course, the iconic William Shatner (Captain Kirk) comes to mind, who became an international star from his TOS role as Captain Kirk and subsequent starring role in Star Trek TOS movies. Shatner was an early pioneering of television actors who went on to success in movies, but he also had television successful after TOS in his hit TV series in the title role in the police drama T.J. Hooker (1982-1986).

Shatner’s acting talents were rewarded when he won an Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actor with his 2004 appearance in the series The Practice as Denny Crane. The following year, he won another Emmy for outstanding supporting actor in the series Boston Legal, for the same role. With his distinctive voice, Shatner is often tapped for voiceover and narration opportunities; however, recently he teamed up with the world's most famous astrophysicist (Neil deGrasse Tyson) in an event called "Rocking the Universe is Absurd!". These two pop-culture juggernauts traded wits in an all-things intergalactic, "fact or fiction" science dialogue of the ages. Shatner is certainly not the only Star Trek alum who has launched his career in the stars and moved on to acclaim beyond the Starfleet uniform.

Patrick Stewart as Captain Jean-Luc Picard of the 24th Century USS Enterprise is Starfleet's consummate diplomat and arguably their most effective captain.  After Stewart’s stint in TNG, he went on to reprise his role in several TNG Movies, as well as his spin-off series Star Trek: Picard (2020-2023). However, Stewart is likely best known for his post-Star Trek role as the world's most dangerous mutant - Professor Charles Xavier of the X-Men non-MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe) franchise movies. Stewart has starred as Professor X in seven X-Men and Wolverine films, including the MCU film Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

Additionally, with the X-Men joining the MCU in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday, Stewart will once again be donning his Cerebro helm as Professor X, leader, protector, and benefactor of the X-Men. Also, Sir Patrick Stewart’s supreme honor of being knighted for his service in the dramatic arts by Queen Elizabeth II is certainly a hallmark of his career and his craft.

There have been several Star Trek actors who have gone on to successful solo careers in film and television, and just to name a few, such as Ricardo Montalban, who portrayed Khan Noonien Singh in TOS (S1, E22 “Space Speed”), which aired in 1967. Montalban later reprised his role as Khan in the movie Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, and he went on to star as the lead role as the mysterious Mr. Roarke in the series Fantasy Island.

Kirstie Alley, who starred in The Wrath of Khan as the Vulcan, Saavik, became a 2-time Emmy winner for her performance in the comedy series Cheers.

Tom Hardy, who starred as Shinzon, a clone of Picard, in Star Trek: Nemesis, went on to star in his Oscar-nominated role in The Revenant and most recently as Eddie Brock (Venom) in the Venom movie franchise. Hardy has portrayed some intense antagonists on the big screen as he has starred as the villain Ban in The Dark Knight Rises, Max Rockatansky in Mad Max: Fury Road, and in the upcoming Mad Max: The Wasteland.

Kristen Dunst, who starred as Hedril in a 1993 episode of TNG. Then in 1994, she co-starred as Claudia with Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt in the Anne Rice adaptation of Interview with the Vampire. In 2004, she co-starred as Mary with Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet in the Oscar-winning film Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. And she shot to superstardom as MJ in the Tobey Maguire Spider-Man franchise, starting in 2002. Most recently, Dunst starred in her Oscar-nominated role in The Power of the Dog. As of late, Kristen is busy making several independent films, such as the upcoming comedy The Entertainment System is Down with co-star Keanu Reeves.

Vanessa Williams, who starred as Arandis in a 1996 episode of DS9 called "Let He Who Is without Sin," and later went on to earn 11 Grammy nominations for her recordings and 3 Emmy nominations for her role as Wilhelmina Slater in the series Ugly Betty. The former Ms. America has even earned success on Broadway with her roles in Aurora/Spider Woman in the musical Kiss of the Spider Woman, and as The Witch in the musical Into the Woods. Williams has also lent her voice as Emma Frost in the podcast series Marvel Wastelanders: Old Man Star-Lord.

Famke Janssen, who ironically portrayed a mutant with the powers to swoon men in a 1992 episode of TNG called "The Perfect Mate". Later, starting in 2000, Famke went on to take on the role of Jean Grey, a mutant with Omega-level telepathic and telekinetic abilities in the non-MCU X-Men franchise. Additionally, with the X-Men joining the MCU, Famke will be reprising her role as Jean Grey in the upcoming MCU Avengers: Doomsday.

Of course, several other Star Trek alums have gone on to notable, successful solo acting careers or otherwise; however, arguably the most successful Star Trek alum is Michelle Yeoh. Michelle was a successful actress before her role on Star Trek: Discovery as Philippa Georgiou, with her roles in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000), Memoirs of a Geisha, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, and Crazy Rich Asians.

However, it was her Oscar-winning Best Actress performance in Everything Everywhere All at Once that rocketed her to an in-demand A-list star. Yeoh has parleyed her Oscar win into her own Star Trek movie, reprising her role as Philippa Georgiou in Star Trek: Section 31 and a starring role in the much anticipated Wicked (2024) as Madame Morrible. Yeoh is a busy actress with upcoming roles in Wicked: For Good, a Blade Runner series called Blade Runner 2099, and roles in the upcoming Avatar 4 and Avatar 5.

From Shazad Latif to Michelle Yeoh and beyond, Star Trek films and series appear to be the perfect acting training ground for future stars and artists in all genres of entertainment. And as new Star Trek projects are added to canon, I'm encouraged that more Star Trek actors may become household names.

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