Star Trek: The Next Generation Casting Memo

Magic Eight Ball

Transcript:

TO: JOHN PIKE
DATE: APRIL 13, 1987
FROM: JOHN FERRARO
SUBJECT: STAR TREK/Casting

Per your request, following is a list of actors who are being considered for their respective roles in STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION.

Picard

Patrick Stewart
Mitch Ryan
Roy Thinnes
Yaphet Kotto
Patrick Bauchau

Tasha

Lianne Langland
Julia Nickson
Rosalind Chao
Leah Ayers
Bunty Bailey

Data

Mark Lindsay Chapman
Eric Menyuk
Kevin Peter Hall (also for Geordi)
Kelvin Han Yee

Ryker

Michael O’Gorman
Gregg Marx
Jonathan Frakes
Ben Murphy

Geordi

LeVar Burton
Reggie Jackson
Tim Russ
Wesley Snipes
Victor Love
Chip McCallister
Clarence Gilyard Jr.
Kevin Peter Hall

Beverly

Anne Twomey
Jenny Augutter
Cheryl McFadden

Troi

Denise Crosby

Wesley

J.D. Roth

The above actors will be brought in to read for Gene Roddenberry starting next week. However, Patrick Bauchau did come in to read for Gene today for the role of “Picard.” His reading was well received; he and Patrick Stewart seem to be the favorites for the role of “Picard.”

For the role of “Ryker,” Michael O’Gorman seems to be a favorite. He’s sort of an atypical choice for the role, however, a good one.

Denise Crosby seems to be the only possibility for the role of “Troi” at this point; the same for J.D. Roth for the role of “Wesley.”

There are several contenders for “Tasha,” “Geordi,” and “Data.” However, Rosalind Chao seems to be a favorite for “Tasha”; Reggie Jackson for “Geordi”; and Mark Lindsay Chapman for “Data.”

For the role of “Beverly,” Cheryl McFadden is the favorite. However, her schedule may pose a problem. She’s currently performing in a play in San Diego.

General reading sessions are continuing; our next one is on April 14.

cc: Jeff Hayes

Interesting stuff.. should make for some interesting discussion.

crazyderk

Wow that is AMAZING!!!!!!
I'd love to know what happened after this?
Wesley Snipes for Geordi holy ****!!!!!
Reggie Jackson was the favourite?
How did Denise Crosby go from the character Troi to Yar?
Wheres Marina Sirtis, Brent Spiner, Michael Dorn (Wheres Worfs character?) Gates Mcfadden, Will Wheaton? like is that not half the cast right there?

Johnny Storm

Also interesting that Tuvok and O'Brien's missus (Keiko?) were in the running to be Geordi and Tasha

Niska

crazyderk wrote: »

Wheres Marina Sirtis, Brent Spiner, Michael Dorn (Wheres Worfs character?) Gates Mcfadden, Will Wheaton? like is that not half the cast right there?

For those wondering, Gates McFadden birth-name is Cheryl Gates McFadden. All her roles prior to ST:TNG have her billed just as Cheryl McFadden.

helimachoptor

Very interesting, would love to know the process of casting for the TNG, DS9, VOY and ENT!

cyrusdvirus

crazyderk wrote: »

Wow that is AMAZING!!!!!!
Wesley Snipes for Geordi holy ****!!!!!

I thought that too!!

Was before he made any big inroads into acting according to IMDB

Jessibelle

I think I read/heard somewhere before that Brent Spiner originally auditioned for the role of Riker, and Matt Frewer was the original choice for Data?

Magic Eight Ball

Marina Sirtis was originally considered for the Security Officer role that became Tasha Yar. Eventually they swapped parts.

norrie rugger

Jessibelle wrote: »

Matt Frewer was the original choice for Data?

Looks the part anyway, love him in Eureka

PeterIanStaker

Didn't they want Patrick Stewart as Data at one stage?

also interesting that Rosalind Chao is mentioned

Jessibelle

PeterIanStaker wrote: »

Didn't they want Patrick Stewart as Data at one stage?

Aye, Brent Spiner nearly refused the part because he didn't want to shave his head. Although given Data's 'bob' in the first few seasons, one could question why

somuj

Jessibelle wrote: »

Aye, Brent Spiner nearly refused the part because he didn't want to shave his head. Although given Data's 'bob' in the first few seasons, one could question why

he wears a rug tho

Jessibelle

somuj wrote: »

he wears a rug tho

As much as I admire the man, I've decided not to question many of his idiosyncrasies over the years . Rumour has it he was the only member of the TNG cast that wouldn't wear the "special" underwear (it was designed to be seam free while simultaneously supportive )under the costumes also, so who knows...:P