Performers considered for film roles

This is a list of performers who were considered for Star Trek films roles, but ultimately did not appear in the role in the film. Performers listed here have been verified as having been considered by Star Trek production staff for a particular film role in which they ultimately did not appear.
== Star Trek: The Motion Picture ==
=== Jordan Clarke ===
 auditioned for the role of Will Decker in . He was interviewed by the film's director, Robert Wise, and his audition was scheduled for 11:20 am on . (The Making of Star Trek: The Motion Picture, p. 104)
=== Frederic Forrest ===
 auditioned for the role of Will Decker in The Motion Picture. His audition, held by Robert Wise, was scheduled for 2:00 pm on . (The Making of Star Trek: The Motion Picture, p. 105)
=== Lance Henriksen ===
 auditioned for the role of Will Decker in The Motion Picture. His audition, held by Robert Wise, was scheduled for 11:40 am on 25 July 1978. (The Making of Star Trek: The Motion Picture, p. 105) Henriksen is well-known for his work in numerous science fiction and horror films, including (1984, starring Linda Hamilton, with Earl Boen, Paul Winfield, Brian Thompson, Dick Miller), (1986, with Jenette Goldstein, Mark Rolston, and a score by James Horner), (1987, with Roger Aaron Brown), (1992), and (2004). He starred alongside Megan Gallagher and Terry O'Quinn in (1996-99, featuring Bill Smitrovich).
=== Arthur Hindle ===
 auditioned for the role of Will Decker in The Motion Picture His audition, held by Robert Wise, was scheduled for sometime between 12:00 pm and 2:00 pm on 25 July 1978. (The Making of Star Trek: The Motion Picture, p. 105). Hindle had previously appeared in the 1978 remake of Invasion of the Body Snatchers. That film was directed by , and Leonard Nimoy had a prominent role.
=== Richard Kelton ===
 auditioned for the role of Will Decker in The Motion Picture. His audition, held by Robert Wise, was scheduled for 11:30 am on 25 July 1978. (The Making of Star Trek: The Motion Picture, p. 105) Kelton also played Ficus Pandorata on NBC's , which included numerous references to Star Trek throughout its short run. (For more information, see the series' entry at Star Trek parodies and pop culture references.) He died only four months after his Star Trek audition, due to accidental carbon monoxide poisoning while filming the miniseries Centennial.
=== Stephen Macht ===
:Main article: Stephen Macht
Stephen Macht auditioned for the role of Will Decker in The Motion Picture. In common with Arthur Hindle, Macht's audition, held by Robert Wise, was scheduled for sometime between 12:00 pm and 2:00 pm on 25 July 1978. (The Making of Star Trek: The Motion Picture, p. 105) He also auditioned for both the roles of Jean-Luc Picard and William T. Riker in . (The Fifty-Year Mission: The Next 25 Years) Years later, Macht played General in and .
=== Andrew Robinson ===
:Main article: Andrew J. Robinson
Andrew Robinson auditioned for the role of Will Decker in The Motion Picture. His audition, held by Robert Wise, was scheduled for 11:10 am on , only ten minutes after Stephen Collins, who was ultimately cast in the part. (The Making of Star Trek: The Motion Picture, p. 104) Years later, Robinson played the recurring character Elim Garak on .
=== Tim Thomerson ===
 auditioned for the role of Will Decker in The Motion Picture. His audition, held by Robert Wise, was scheduled for 11:50 am on 25 July 1978. (The Making of Star Trek: The Motion Picture, p. 105) As with Richard Kelton, Thomerson also appeared on the television series Quark.
== Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan ==
=== Kim Cattrall ===
=== Madlyn Rhue ===
:Main article: Madlyn Rhue
Madlyn Rhue was originally planned to reprise her role as Lieutenant Marla McGivers in the film, having established that part in . Harve Bennett ended up writing the character out of the film's story, after learning that Rhue suffered from multiple sclerosis which bound her to a wheelchair. Bennett felt it would be unfair to recast the role.
== Star Trek III: The Search for Spock ==
=== Kirstie Alley ===
:Main article: Kirstie Alley
Kirsty Alley was offered the chance to reprise the role of Saavik in , but according to Alley, she was offered less money for that film than she was paid for Star Trek II and thus declined to return. According to Leonard Nimoy, Alley's talent agent demanded a salary that was higher than DeForest Kelley's after learning that Saavik was to have a large role in the film. It was also reported that "Just before production began, negotiations with Kirstie Alley broke down. […] The Los Angeles Times indicated the problem concerned money with Alley asking 10 times the salary she earned on Star Trek II. […] Alley's representative, Michael Levine, agreed that the problem was financial, but refused further details." ( #77, , p. 15) 
After an intensive casting search, Nimoy opted instead to recast the role of Saavik, which was ultimately given to Robin Curtis.
In a later interview, Alley reported wanted to reprise the role, but Paramount wasn't willing to pay what she was asking, which according to Alley was "less money then they did for Star Trek II, so I figured they weren't very interested in me for Saavik." This, combined with the commitment of a co-starring role in the TV pilot Masquerade for ABC, forced Alley to bow out of the role. ( #102, , p. 43)
Upon viewing The Search for Spock, Alley found the film an enjoyable but unnerving experience, as she came to the realization that of Curtis' as Saavik, "She wasn't me". Sympathizing with Curtis, however, Alley revealed that "I thought she was at a real disadvantage playing the role someone else established, especially with Star Trek, which has an enormous following. I think she did a fine job. I have no problem with what she was doing except that, when I saw the film, I said, 'She isn't Saavik. I am." (Starlog #102, January 1986, p, 43)
=== Edward James Olmos ===
== Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home ==
=== Mariette Hartley ===
:Main article: Mariette Hartley
Mariette Hartley was one of "several other actresses [who] were considered for the role of Dr. Taylor […] but Hicks fought through four auditions to land the part." (, , p. 39)
=== Robert Hooks ===
:Main article: Robert Hooks
Robert Hooks was due to reprise his role as Morrow in the film, but became unavailable for unknown reasons, and the character was replaced by Cartwright (played by Brock Peters). The revised final draft script specifies that Morrow was changed to Cartwright. 
=== Eddie Murphy ===
, a popular actor and comedian who rose to stardom as a regular on Saturday Night Live (frequently appearing in tandem with Joe Piscopo – Charles Rocket was also in the cast his first season) and as the star of Paramount Pictures' (1982) and (1984), was initially rumored to appear in either as himself or as a Murphy-like character.
This was initially explored in an interview with Leonard Nimoy in the issue of #100 (p. 55-56):
Another casting controversy sparked by press speculation concerned a possible starring (or cameo) role for comedian Eddie Murphy in Star Trek IV. "It's too premature to discuss that," Nimoy maintainrf. "There has been much conjecture about Murphy since Beverly Hills Cop. The press has been very curious about what he will do next. They know he has a multi-picture deal with Paramount. They know he is a big Star Trek fan. They know Trek IV is in preparation at Paramount. So, it isn't surprising that rumor would pop up. And when I started talking about the film being lighter in tone, some people put two and two together." 
Although unwilling to substantiate the speculation, Nimoy still refuses to publicly dismiss the notion of incorporating the unorthodox antics of the madcap Murphy into the sedate atmosphere of the Star Trek environment. "Why should I?," he asks, not entirely rhetorically. "What would be gained? Why should I try to reassure the fans who are worried about it? That would mean I was letting them dictate to me." […] "I've been through this before." […] "In other words, we are professional people doing a professional job. If we decide that Eddie Murphy should be in Trek IV, then the fans will have to trust us. Let us do our work."
Shortly before the release of the film, it was noted that "at the other end of the soundstage from Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home is a large, sewer set from The Golden Child, Eddie Murphy's new fantasy adventure. Murphy's proximity is a reminder that he was once rumored to have a role in the new Trek film. It was, however, only a small part with Murphy unrecognizably made up as a Klingon official–a role that was instead filled by character actor John Schuck." (Starlog #111, , p. 40; Starlog #138, p. 30)
Years later, it was confirmed that Murphy had expressed interest in the part and early scripts were written with Murphy in mind for the role of a major character, an eccentric professor who believed that aliens exist, who ultimately became Gillian Taylor. Ultimately a negative writing campaign coupled with story issues prompted the writers to drop the idea, and Murphy moved on to other projects. "I'm a Trekkie. I've always loved Star Trek and have wanted to do one of the films," says Murphy. "The script was developed, but we eventually dropped the idea. [The] Golden Child came along and I decided to do that film instead … In retrospect, I might have been better off doing Star Trek IV." The character was ultimately rewritten as a woman and the part went to Catherine Hicks. (Starlog, , p. 8; The Trek 25th Anniversary Celebration; Trekworld, June )
Since then, Murphy has continued a successful career in film, starring in such hits as Coming to America, (1996), (1998), Daddy Day Care, and the Shrek films. In 2006 he received his first Academy Award nomination for his supporting role in Dreamgirls.
=== Susan Sarandon ===
 was one of "several other actresses [who] were considered for the role of Dr. Taylor […] but Hicks fought through four auditions to land the part." At the time she was known for her work in the Rocky Horror Picture Show. (, , p. 39)
== Star Trek V: The Final Frontier ==
=== Kim Cattrall ===
=== Sean Connery ===
=== Rachel McLish ===
 was one of the final thirteen women who auditioned for the role of Vixis in , but the role went to Spice Williams. (Source: Spice Williams)
McLish is a famous female bodybuilder and former Ms. Olympia who retired in 1984. She has acted in several movies such as Getting Physical (1984) alongside Spice Williams-Crosby and TNG guest actor Earl Boen and Raven Hawk (1996) with John de Lancie, Michael Champion, Ed Lauter, John Fleck, and Nicholas Guest, and published several books as well as many fitness instruction videos.
=== Max von Sydow ===
 was a well-known Swedish actor who was considered for the role of Sybok when Sean Connery proved unavailable. According to William Shatner, the idea of using von Sydow "quickly flew out the window" when he discovered how high his expected salary was compared to the remaining production budget. (Captain's Log: William Shatner's Personal Account of the Making of Star Trek V: The Final Frontier; Charting the Undiscovered Country: The Making of Trek VI)
Max von Sydow is known for his many collaborations with famed writer/director during his early career, which included (1957), (1957), The Magician (1958), The Virgin Spring (1960), and Through a Glass Darkly (1961). Perhaps von Sydow's best-known American film role is that of Father Merrin in (1973). He was received Golden Globe nominations for his work on both The Exorcist and (1966), and was nominated for an Academy Award for his performance in the 1987 Danish film Pelle the Conqueror.
By , when he was being considered for a role in Star Trek V, von Sydow was no stranger to science fiction, having played Ming the Merciless in the 1980 film Flash Gordon. He also co-starred with Christopher Plummer in (1984) and appeared as Dr. Kynes in (1984, featuring Brad Dourif, Virginia Madsen, Dean Stockwell, and Patrick Stewart). Von Sydow later appeared in (1995), (2002) and appeared as Lor San Tekka in J.J. Abrams' (2015). He also ventured into the fantasy genre, including the role of King Osric in 1982's Conan the Barbarian.
His many other, non-genre film credits include (1975), (1986), (1990), (1993), and (1999). Later credits include Rush Hour 3 (2007) and The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (2007).
== Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country ==
=== Kirstie Alley ===
:Main article: Kirstie Alley
Kirstie Alley was originally asked by director Nicholas Meyer to reprise her role as Saavik in the film, but her price was deemed to be too high. Other sources (most notably Meyer himself) say that she refused Meyer's requests because of weight problems, feeling she would look fat in a tight-fitting uniform. Finally Kim Cattrall was cast in the role, which was eventually reworked into the character of Valeris. ( DVD audio commentary)
Most ironically, Cattrall was not available for the original part in Wrath of Khan, whereas it was Alley, who turned out to be unavailable for The Undiscovered Country. Alley's unavailability, was the reason why the character of Saavik was changed into that of Valeris, as Robin Curtis, who had also played the part of Saavik, had never been considered to reprise the role. (Cinefantastique, Vol. 22, No. 5, p. 31)
=== Whoopi Goldberg ===
:Main article: Whoopi Goldberg
Whoopi Goldberg, eager to make a cameo appearance in the film, met with Nick Meyer to discuss the possibility of her appearing as a "Klingon princess" in Star Trek VI. This idea was vetoed by Leonard Nimoy, who feared that too many well known performers in the film's supporting cast might detract from the movie being the last to feature the regular cast. Goldberg was also making recurring appearances as Guinan in . (The View from the Bridge, hardcover ed., p. 211)
=== Jack Palance ===
:Main article: Jack Palance
 was an American actor, originally approached to play Gorkon in . He was scheduled to appear in the film City Slickers, which earned him an Academy Award, and David Warner was cast in the role instead. Palance appeared in many classic Hollywood films, including (1953, with Elisha Cook). Other films of Palance include (1960, with Orson Welles), (1963), (1972), (1989, with Tracey Walter), and (1989, with Teri Hatcher, Marc Alaimo, and Michael J. Pollard).
== Star Trek Generations ==
=== Marlon Brando ===
Two-times Academy Award-winning actor was interested in playing Tolian Soran, and his representative contacted producer Rick Berman about the role. Berman was enthusiastic about having Brando on board, and contacted Paramount CEO Sherry Lansing about the possibility. However, Brando was asking for a very high salary, which Lansing was not ready to pay.
According to Berman, "It was numerous millions of dollars, much more than she had any interest in paying. This was also at a point when he was quite overweight, and it was an action-hero type of role. My feeling was, 'we're talking about Marlon Brando here!' But Sherry had remarkable experience in the motion picture business and said 'Brando's presence is not going to justify the expenditure". 
Considered to be among the greatest actors of the 20th century, Brando rose to fame with his roles in films such as A Streetcar Named Desire (1951), (1952, with Arnold Moss), (1953, with Carey Loftin, Sam Gilman, and K.L. Smith), and (1954, with Nehemiah Persoff). His career continued with projects like The Fugitive Kind (1960), his directorial debut (1961, with Elisha Cook), and (1962, with Antoinette Bower, Mike Dugan, Torin Thatcher, and Paul Baxley).
In 1972, Brando played the iconic role of mafia boss Don Vito Corleone in . Joe Lombardi served as special effects supervisor, and Paul Baxley as second unit director for the film. In his later career, Brando appeared as Jor-El in (1978, edited by Stuart Baird), as Colonel Kurtz in (1979, co-starring Martin Sheen), and as the titular character in The Island of Dr. Moreau (1996, with Ron Perlman and Frank Welker).
=== DeForest Kelley ===
:Main article: DeForest Kelley
DeForest Kelley was approached to appear as Leonard McCoy in the prologue sequence of Generations. He felt the part was rather just a cameo, and that the original characters made their exit well in . The script was re-written to feature Pavel Chekov (Walter Koenig) instead.
=== Leonard Nimoy ===
:Main article: Leonard Nimoy
Leonard Nimoy was approached to appear as Spock in the prologue sequence of and direct the film, but declined the offer. As Nimoy explained, "There were five or six lines attributed to Spock […] but it had nothing to do with Spock. They were not Spock-like in any way. I said to Rick Berman, 'You could distribute these lines to any one of the other characters and it wouldn't make any difference.' And that is exactly what he did. There was no Spock function in the script. I have always tried to make a contribution to these movies. There was no contribution to be made in that movie. It was just sort of 'let's get Nimoy in here too.' I said there is nothing here I can do so I said 'thanks, but I'll pass'." He was replaced by Montgomery Scott (James Doohan) in the scene.
== Star Trek: First Contact ==
=== Avery Brooks ===
:Main article: Avery Brooks
Avery Brooks was planned to have a cameo appearance as Benjamin Sisko in the film while it was still titled Star Trek: Destinies, but it didn't come to fruition. ()
=== Tom Hanks ===
 is the two-time Academy Award–winning American actor, who was originally approached to play Zefram Cochrane in . Hanks, a self-admitted Trekkie, had to turn down the offer, as he was busy working on his directorial debut, (featuring Clint Howard and Robert Wisdom).
Hanks built a long and successful career in film, working as an actor, producer, writer, and director. He started out in comedies, such as (1984, with Charles Macaulay, Clint Howard, Bill Smitrovich and cinematography by Don Peterman), (1986, with Tzi Ma), and (1988, with Josh Clark), and also starred in Trek director Nicholas Meyer's (1985, with Clyde Kusatsu and music by James Horner). He turned to more serious roles in the early 1990s with such films as (1990, with Kim Cattrall, Saul Rubinek, Kirsten Dunst, Jon Rashad Kamal, F. Murray Abraham, and Terry Farrell) and (1993).
His big break came with two roles which won him the Academy Award for Best Actor in (1993, with Charles Napier) and (1994, with Haley Joel Osment). Since then, Hanks appeared in a variety of well-received movies, including (1995, with Clint Howard, Max Grodénchik, Steve Rankin, and John Wheeler, and music by James Horner), (1998, with Leland Orser and John de Lancie), (1998), (1999, with James Cromwell and William Sadler), (2000, with Jenifer Lewis, Michael Forest and Nan Martin), (2002), (2002, starring Martin Sheen, with Thomas Kopache and Malachi Throne), (2004, with Zoë Saldana), The Da Vinci Code (2006), and (2007). He also lent his voice to a number of animated productions, including (1995) and its two sequels (which also featured Wallace Shawn and Kelsey Grammer), The Polar Express (2004), and (2006, with Paul Dooley).
=== Yaphet Kotto ===
=== Adam Scott ===
:Main article: Adam Scott
Adam Scott auditioned for the role of Lieutenant . Though he lost out to Neal McDonough for the role, he was given the role of the unnamed helm officer of the .
=== Christopher Walken ===
Academy Award-winning actor was considered for a part in the film (most probably Zefram Cochrane), while it was still titled Star Trek: Destinies. ()
Walken is a highly accomplished actor, known for such films as (1977, with Mark Lenard and John Glover), (co-starring John Savage), David Cronenberg's (1983, with Martin Sheen and Anthony Zerbe), (1985, with Walter Gotell), (1992, with Vincent Schiavelli, Biff Yeager, Felix Silla and Anthony De Longis), (1993, with Christian Slater and Saul Rubinek), Quentin Tarantino's (1994), and (2002, starring Tom Hanks and Martin Sheen, with Thomas Kopache, Jimmie F. Skaggs, J. Patrick McCormack, and Malachi Throne).
== Star Trek Nemesis ==
=== Jude Law ===
 was rumored for the role of Shinzon in . 
=== James Marsters ===
 auditioned for the role of Shinzon in , but the role ultimately went to Tom Hardy. Actress Marina Sirtis believes Marsters would have been more suitable in the role. 
Marsters is best known for playing Spike on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel and Captain John Hart on . He co-starred with actress Jolene Blalock and Tony Todd in the film Shadow Puppets and had a supporting role in (2007). In 2001, he played Charlemagne Bolivar in an episode of Gene Roddenberry's . He also had a recurring role as Professor Fine/Brainiac in and also played the villain Piccolo in (2011).
===Craig T. Nelson===
 was rumored for the role of the Reman Viceroy in . 
===Alan Rickman===
 was rumored for the role of the Reman Viceroy in , succeeding the rumor of Nelson filling the role. Rickman had already played the Nimoy/Spock-inspired Alexander Dane/Dr. Lazarus (alien) primary character in Galaxy Quest, (1999, with Rainn Wilson and Missi Pyle).
===Michael Shanks===
 auditioned for the role of Shinzon in , but the role ultimately went to Tom Hardy.
Shanks is best known for playing Dr. Daniel Jackson on Stargate SG-1, its direct-to-video spinoff films and television spin-off series. Shanks has also appeared on such shows as , , and Burn Notice. 
== Star Trek (2009) ==
===AKB48===
J.J. Abrams briefly considered adding a member of this Japanese band to the cast of the '09 movie after seeing them perform live. It never materialized. 
=== Adrien Brody ===
Academy Award-winning actor was in talks to play in , the eleventh Trek film released in . At first, his connection to the project was merely a rumor, but Brody himself later confirmed that he had discussed playing Spock with the film's director, J.J. Abrams. The role of Spock ultimately went to Zachary Quinto.
Brody had supporting roles in several popular films throughout the 1990s, including (1993), (1994, with Christopher Lloyd and Neal McDonough), (1998), and (1998, with Bebe Neuwirth and Mike Starr). He also played the leads in a number of smaller films, including 1998's Restaurant, (1999), and 2002's Dummy. 
Brody won the 2002 Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role for his portrayal of Polish Jewish musician Wladyslaw Szpilman in (2002). He has since starred in such films as (2004), (2005), (2006), (2007), (2008), and (2008, with Gabrielle Union).
=== Matt Damon ===
 is an American Academy Award-nominated actor and Academy Award-winning screenwriter who was approached to play 's father, in Star Trek. According to Abrams, Damon turned down the role for "most gracious and understandable and logical of reasons." The role ultimately went to Chris Hemsworth. 
Before this, Damon had long been rumored to be in the running for the role of in the film. It was even rumored that he solicited William Shatner's aid in getting him signed up. Damon himself denied having been approached for the role, although he later told that he would be interested in playing a young Captain Kirk if the script met with his satisfaction. In March 2007, Kurtzman, although not confirming that Damon would play Kirk, stated that he was "the hugest Matt Damon fan. If he became [Kirk], great." In a subsequent interview with IGN, Damon stated that the filmmakers were looking for someone younger for the role. Chris Pine was ultimately cast in the role.
Damon began acquiring fame in the 1990s with major roles in such films as School Ties (1992), Courage Under Fire (1996), and Saving Private Ryan (1998). He and best friend won an Academy Award for their screenplay to (1997), for which Damon also received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor in a Leading Role. Damon and Affleck later became executive producers on , for which they received three Emmy Award nominations. Damon and Affleck have also worked together on several projects for director , most notably the 1998 film Dogma.
In addition, Damon is known for his roles in two film franchises: he plays young thief Linus Caldwell in the films: (2001), (2001), and (2001), and also stars as amnesiac assassin Jason Bourne in the films: (2002), (2004, with Karl Urban), and (2007). 
Damon's other films include The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999), The Legend of Bagger Vance (2000), (2003, photographed by Dan Mindel), (2005), (2005, with regular Alexander Siddig), (2006, with Mark Rolston). He also lent his voice to such films as Titan A.E. (2000, along with Ron Perlman and Charles Rocket), (2002, with James Cromwell), and (2008). 
Damon earned his second Academy Award in an acting category for his performance in (2009). He has since been seen in such films as (2010), (2010), (2011), (2011) and The Adjustment Bureau. Damon also worked alongside star Scott Bakula in (2009) and (2013). In addition, Damon played the recurring role of airline pilot Carol Burnett on NBC's . 
He later appeared in (2013, featuring Faran Tahir), (2013), (2014), (2015), (2016), and (2017).
=== Ricky Gervais ===
 is an English actor, comedian, producer, and director who turned down an unspecified role in Star Trek. He was approached by the film's director and producer, J.J. Abrams, whom Gervais previously worked with on an episode of Alias, but Gervais rejected a part in the film. He explained his reasons for doing so: "I was never a big fan, so I would've felt guilty taking the part just to be in a blockbuster. To what? Boost my profile?"
Gervais is known for his work on two popular British comedy series: he wrote, directed, produced, and starred in (and also made two cameo appearances on its American remake, which starred Rainn Wilson – coincidentally, Spencer Daniels, who plays in the film, is the son of , the executive producer of the US version), and then went on to do the same for . These shows have earned Gervais two Emmy Awards, four BAFTA Awards, a Golden Globe, and a British Comedy Award, among many other honors. Gervais has also starred in such films as Night at the Museum, For Your Consideration, Stardust, and (2008. He even wrote and lent his voice to an episode of The Simpsons.
=== Greg Haines ===
:Main article: Greg Haines
Greg Haines is an actor who was originally cast and scheduled to portray an instructor at Starfleet Academy in 's but was chosen to be the stand-in for actor Ben Cross. Haines had a wardrobe fitting but did not appear on screen. (Source: Greg Haines)
=== Jeffery Hauser ===
Jeffery Hauser is an actor who was cast to have a supporting role as a Kelvin crewmember in . He was cast in October 2007 and was on set to shoot his scenes a month later. During the day of shooting he was asked to step down by the first AD and told that they had another scene in mind for him. But Hauser got no call back and saw a different actor saying his lines when he saw the film on DVD two years later. 
Hauser moved to Los Angeles in 2003 and appeared in a few stage productions. He got featured parts in (2004), with executive producer Jerry O'Connell who also wrote the original story, and (2004, with Star Trek's Zoe Saldana). He performed in several commercials, including one with Samuel L. Jackson, which was shown during the Super Bowl in 2004. 
Also in 2004 he was featured in the MTV show Your Face or Mine?, appeared in the music video "I'm not ready" from My Chemical Romance, and was featured in (2005, featuring Angela Paton, Suzie Plakson, Dey Young, Beth Toussaint, and Scott Leva). 
Hauser has started to write his own scripts and to produce short films. He served as photo double for (2006), was featured in three episodes of (2004-05), and played a lead role in the independent film Broken Concrete (2006). 
After his experience in Star Trek he called himself a "Star Trek freak". 
=== Joshua Jackson ===
 auditioned for two roles in Star Trek, including . Although he was not cast, the audition won him a role in J.J. Abrams' . 
Jackson is best known for playing Pacey Witter in from 1998 through 2003. He is also known for playing Charlie Conway in (1992), (1994) and (1996, with Jeffrey Nordling). He has worked with Louise Fletcher in (1999) and (2005). His other film credits include (1999, directed by Bryan Singer and co-starring Bruce Davison and Joe Morton), (1998, with John Neville Robert Englund), (2000, with Christopher McDonald), (2000, starring James Marsden, with Sharon Lawrence), The Laramie Project (with Clancy Brown), and (2006, with Christian Slater).
=== Dominic Keating ===
:Main article: Dominic Keating
Dominic Keating, best known for his role as Malcolm Reed on , auditioned for the role of Kirk's uncle in . He did not get the part. 
=== Josh Lucas ===
 was considered for the role of in J.J. Abrams' , but the role ultimately went to Bruce Greenwood. 
Lucas had supporting roles in several acclaimed films, including (2000, with Reg E. Cathey and Catherine Black), (2001), and Secondhand Lions. He played the lead male role in 2002's Sweet Home Alabama and played the villain in (2003, starring Eric Bana). He has since had lead roles in such films as (2005), (2006), and (2006).
=== Paul McGillion ===
:Main article: Paul McGillion
Paul McGillion auditioned for the role of in . The role ultimately went to Simon Pegg, but McGillion was cast in another role in the film.
=== Derek Mears ===
:Main article: Derek Mears
Derek Mears is a stuntman and actor who was was the first choice for playing the long faced bar alien in but was unable to shoot his part because of his time schedule. He recommended Douglas Tait who got this part. 
=== Timothy Olyphant ===
:Main article: Timothy Olyphant
=== Sydney Tamiia Poitier ===
 is an American actress who auditioned for a role on , possibly . 
She is the daughter of Academy Award-winning actor and actress . She has been seen in such films as True Crime (with Michael McKean and Anthony Zerbe), (2001, co-starring Lori Petty), and Nine Lives (with K Callan and Lawrence Pressman) and had recurring roles on and Veronica Mars. She is best known for playing Jungle Julia in Quentin Tarantino's , one of the two films released as the 2007 anthology Grindhouse.
=== Chris Pratt ===
 auditioned for the role of in , but the role went to Chris Pine. Afterwards, he was cast as dim-witted Andy Dwyer on , which aired from 2009 to 2015, co-starring Jim O'Heir and Adam Scott. In 2014, Pratt voiced the protagonist Emmett in . He referenced his audition for Star Trek while narrating a featurette on The Lego Movie Blu-ray in character. He also played Star-Lord that year in , co-starring Zoe Saldana and Benicio del Toro. He subsequently starred in Jurassic World (2015) and The Magnificent Seven (2017), as well as reprising Star-Lord in further Marvel films.
=== Chris Prangley ===
Chris Prangley auditioned for the role of in , but the role went to Chris Pine. He auditioned on 24 August 2007. 
Prangley has appeared in several stage plays, commercials, and independent films and had a recurring role on the daytime series As the World Turns. 
=== Keri Russell ===
 was in talks to appear in , but she and director/producer J.J. Abrams decided it was not for the best. 
Russell was the star of Abrams' , for which she won a Golden Globe. She also appeared in Abrams' first film, Paramount Pictures' Mission: Impossible III with Simon Pegg. She later starred in (2007) and (2007). Other film credits include (2002), (2005), The Girl in the Park, and Austenland.
===Sebastian Stan===
 is a Romanian-born American actor who shot a screen test for the role of , but lost to Chris Pine. He is probably best known for his role as Bucky Barnes / Winter Soldier in the Marvel Cinematic Universe superhero franchise, where he acted alongside Chris Hemsworth, Benedict Cumberbatch, Idris Elba, and Zoë Saldana among others.
He recalled, "There were a couple things I didn’t get that I really, desperately wanted. Captain Kirk for J.J. Abrams was one of the first things that I got very close to. I was really close and I had a screen test with him at Paramount studios and my manager had me do a separate photoshoot where I would try and replicate all of these William Shatner pictures just to send to [J.J.] to see how much I look like him and stuff. Didn’t get it." 
=== Mike Vogel ===
 is the American actor and former fashion model who was a leading candidate for the role of . He had already worked with that film's producer and director, J.J. Abrams, on (2008). However, the role of Kirk ultimately went to Chris Pine.
Vogel was modeling for Levi's jeans that he won a recurring role in the FOX (and later WB) series Grounded for Life, whose regular cast included Richard Riehle. He made his film debut in (2003) which was followed by the remake of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre later that year. Since then, Vogel has starred in such films as The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, (2005), and (2005, with Jimmy Bennett, who played young James Kirk in Star Trek. Vogel also appeared in (2010, with Alice Eve), and a regular role in the ABC series Pan Am. From 2013 to 2015, he was Dale Barbara, aka "Barbie", on CBS' .
=== Mark Wahlberg ===
 is an American actor and former rapper who was offered the role of . He said "I remember [J.J. Abrams] asking me to play Captain Kirk's father in Star Trek. I tried to read the script, but I couldn't even, I didn't understand the words or dialogue or anything, and I said, 'I couldn't do this. I think you're really talented but I couldn't do it.' Then I saw the movie and I was like, 'Holy shit, he did a great job." 
== Star Trek Into Darkness ==
=== Benicio del Toro ===
 is a Puerto Rican-born Spanish actor who was offered the role of the villain in . Latino Review reported that del Toro would play , a report which J.J. Abrams said was "not true." Soon thereafter, it was revealed that del Toro's deal fell through and that he would not be appearing in the film. He was replaced by British actor Benedict Cumberbatch and the role did ultimately turn out to be Khan Noonien Singh.
Del Toro made his film debut in (1989, with Anthony Zerbe), then acquired recognition with his roles in such acclaimed films as Bryan Singer's (1995, featuring Jack Shearer) and (1998, with Larry Cedar, Jenette Goldstein, Gregory Itzin, Richard Riehle, and Steve Schirripa). He won an Academy Award for his performance in (2000, with Clifton Collins, Jr., Miguel Ferrer, Enrique Murciano, and Tucker Smallwood). 
Del Toro is also known for his roles in such films as (2000), (2003, for which he earned an Academy Award nomination), Frank Miller's (2005), (2008), (2010) and (2012). He later portrayed infamous drug lord in (2014), and appeared in (2014). He also appeared as the Collector opposite Chris Pratt and Zoe Saldana in (2014). 
=== Michael Dorn ===
:Main article: Michael Dorn
Michael Dorn played Worf and his grandfather in the previous films and television series, and was offered the part of "an officer – a soldier." He and his agent expressed interest, but "then time went by and we finally talked to them at maybe the end of January or February [2012] and they said they had changed their mind." Dorn was unclear why, speculating "It could have been the casting people going 'Hey this would be a good idea' and they shot it up the road to JJ and he said 'No, we aren't going to do that.' But I don't know. It is nothing nefarious. Nothing mean. They changed their mind, so I don't worry about it." 
Category:Production lists
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