Star Trek: DS9 Guest Star Was Almost TNG's Captain Picard

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

Summary

It ’s hard to reckon anyone else besides Sir Patrick Stewart in the purpose of Captain Jean - Luc Picard onStar Trek : The Next Generation , but aStar Trek : Deep Space Nineguest champion was almost cast as the Captain of the USS Enterprise - D , according toDS9 ’s Quark actor Armin Shimerman . As a hub of natural process near the Bajoran wormhole to the Gamma Quadrant , the Deep Space Nine station was innkeeper to many Bajorans , Starfleet officers , and colourful visitors , so it ’s not surprising thatcasting directors might turn to actors who had antecedently try out forStar Trekrolesto portrayStar Trek : Deep Space Nine ’s recurring charactersand Edgar Albert Guest star .

As the theater director ofStar Trek : The Next Generationseason 1 , episode 1 , " Encounter at Farpoint " , Corey Allen was able to offer input signal regarding the casting process forTNG . Allen went on to direct 4 more episodes ofTNGand 4 sequence ofStar Trek : Deep Space Nine , includingDS9season 2 , episode 2 , " The Circle " . When it come time to hurl actors for the client roles in " The Circle",it ’s potential thatStar Trekdirector Corey Allen referred back to the shortlist of actors considered for Captain Jean - Luc Picard , and recommend a memorable standout to depict a role onDS9that ask a similar sense of leaders .

Anyone but Jonathan Frakes playing Commander William Riker is unimaginable , but Star Trek : TNG originally regorge someone else for the role .

Stephen Macht Was Second Choice for Star Trek: TNG’s Captain Picard

Patrick Stewart famously won the role of Picard

During a give-and-take ofStar Trek : Deep Space Nineseason 2 , instalment 2 , " The Circle " onThe Delta Flyerspodcast , Armin Shimerman unwrap thatStar Trek : DS9guest starStephen Macht , who played Bajoran Over - General Krim , was in the run to play Captain Jean - Luc Picard onStar Trek : The Next propagation . Macht really got far enough in the audition process forTNGto be the second pick for Picard , but of course , Patrick Stewart at long last win the role . Read Shimerman ’s quote below and listen toThe Delta Flyers , start at the 10:20 timestamp .

Armin Shimerman : " Stephen and I have turn together many time , doing theater together , so I know this for a fact : Stephen Macht was the second option for Picard . It is interesting to me … that here ’s Corey Allen , who directed the pilot [ of Star Trek : The Next coevals ] and had a pick in who was go to play Picard . Was it Corey who read we ’re go to get Stephen Macht to play this part ? "

Stephen Macht is Bajoran General Krim in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Season 2

Krim only made one appearance on DS9

Stephen Macht played Bajoran Over - General Krim inStar Trek : Deep Space Nineseason 2 , installment 2 & 3 , " The Circle " and " The Siege " . As the highest - ranking officer in the Bajoran reserves , Krim led Bajor ’s coup to take DS9 from Starfleet , believing the move was in Bajor ’s proficient interests , or else of being design by the Bajoran extremist mathematical group , The Circle . Krim made an interesting antagonist to Commander Benjamin Sisko ( Avery Brooks ) , and esteem Sisko as a military peer . InThe Delta Flyers , Armin Shimerman points out script banker’s bill in " The Circle " suggesting Krim could have returned , but Stephen Macht ’s Krim was never seen again afterDS9season 2 ’s 3 - part opener .

As Bajoran Over - General Krim , Stephen Macht was n’t among theStar Trek : Deep Space Nineguest wizard who was hidden beneath dense prosthetic makeup , sogenre buff may recognize Macht from his other guest star appearances on 1990s sci - fi TV . Macht seem in guest purpose in FOX’sMillenniumandSliders , and another acclaimed space station show , Babylon 5.Earlier in his career , Stephen Macht star in eighties filmsThe Mountain MenandThe Monster Squad . Although Stephen Macht at last lost the role of Captain Jean - Luc Picard onStar Trek : The Next Generationto Patrick Stewart , Macht portrayed Over - General Krim inStar Trek : Deep Space Ninewith alike diplomatical honour .

germ : The Delta Flyersseason 10 , sequence 2 , " The Circle "