Performers considered for DIS roles

This is a list of performers who were considered for roles, but who ultimately did not appear in the final version of the series. Performers listed here have been verified as having been considered by Star Trek personnel for a particular role in which they ultimately did not appear.
== Bryan Adams ==
Canadian singer and songwriter , according to himself, was approached for a role in Discovery in late-.
During a television appearance on the BBC with Jason Isaacs and Sonequa Martin-Green in early November 2017, Adams claimed that he had received a call about a month earlier whether he would come to Toronto, the series' shooting location, but "then it went away". Adams joked he looked "like a Klingon anyway." 
== Gillian Anderson ==
 was considered for the role of a Starfleet captain by Bryan Fuller during the early development of the series. (The D-Con Chamber podcast episode 25)
== Richard Armitage ==
British actor was Bryan Fuller's original choice for the role of Sarek before the role went to James Frain. (The D-Con Chamber podcast episode 25)
== Angela Bassett ==
 was a casting favorite, but stated that she was too busy filming another project.
Prior to his past involvement with creating the series, former showrunner Bryan Fuller imagined ideally that "I want Angela Bassett to be the captain, that's who I would love to have, you know Captain Angela Bassett and First Officer ." He added, "I would love to do that version of the show [...] but that's in the future to be told." Regarding his interest in Bassett for the fledgling series, she responded, "That's thrilling, that's very nice, but how am I going to do that and ? How is that going to work? ... Oh my gosh, and raise twins?" 
== Michael Dorn ==
:Main article: Michael Dorn
Michael Dorn played Worf in some of the previous films and television series (as well as in ), and had "a couple of conversations with producers" over the course of a couple weeks in the summer of for a possible role on Discovery. The discussions were eventually unfruitful, and, as of , there were "no plans for him to appear at this time" in the series. During a Q&A with the audience following an interview with Jim Helsinger, the Artistic Director for Florida's Orlando Shakespeare Theater, Dorn stated that he would appear as another Worf ancestor in a guest role in "the first episodes of the new series [that would] center around the Klingons." Rumors indicate that he ultimately turned down the role because he would have received low pay for his appearance. 
== Anson Mount ==
:Main article: Anson Mount
Anson Mount revealed in a post on X that he had auditioned for the role of Gabriel Lorca, before the role went to Jason Isaacs. 
== Jewel Staite ==
 is a Canadian actress who was asked to send in a tape for an unspecified role in Discovery when the series was in development. (Personal question at FedCon XXIX, 24 October 2021)
Staite is well known for her roles as Kaylee Frye in (2002-2003, with Ron Glass) and (2005) and Dr. Jennifer Keller in (2005-2009, with Paul McGillion and Robert Picardo).
Staite also starred in (1996, with George Takei), Honey, I Shrunk the Kids: The TV Show (1997-1999, with Barbara Alyn Woods and Thomas Dekker), Da Vinci's Inquest (1998-2001), The Killing (2013-2014, with Billy Campbell), and (2021-2022, with Victor Garber) and had guest roles in episodes of (1995, with Tracey Ellis, directed by Kim Manners), Seven Days (2001, with Alan Scarfe and Norman Lloyd), (2003), (2010, with Saul Rubinek and Conrad Coates), (2011, with Jim Beaver and Benito Martinez), Legends of Tomorrow (2016, with Victor Garber), (2016), The Good Doctor (2018), The Magicians (2019-2020), and Blindspot (2017 and 2020, with Michelle Hurd).
== Tony Todd ==
:Main article: Tony Todd
Tony Todd, who appeared as Kurn, an adult Jake Sisko, and an Alpha Hirogen, expressed interest about working on the new series and even confirmed he was on a casting list of the studio. 
Category:Production lists
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