Star Trek encompasses a simply staggering amount of content across various media. There are decades worth of television shows, over a dozen feature films, numerous video games, and piles of reading material. One could spend a lifetime devoting themselves to consuming everything under the Star Trek banner, but even focusing on one medium would take dedicated effort. With this in mind, it is a jaw dropping accomplishment to have a film series last thirteen entries over almost forty years. Star Trek: The Motion Picture kicked things off in 1979, and the most recent entry was 2016’s Star Trek Beyond.
While the films are mostly enjoyable, their lowest lows are as painful as their highest peaks are pleasurable. This feeling bleeds over into the actors who took part in them as well. To highlight this, the twenty five performers presented in this list all either adored or loathed their participation in the storied films. To the series’ credit, few stars had any qualms about their appearances. Those that do have mixed feelings, however, have rational explanations for their grievances. At the end of the day, though, only a handful of people can say they have been in a Star Trek film.
So without further ado, here are 4 Actors Who Regretted Being In Star Trek Movies (And 21 Who Loved It)
Loved It: Leonard Nimoy
When Leonard Nimoy signed on for Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, he did so with the understanding that it was to be his final appearance in the series. Looking at it now, it makes sense, considering Spock’s tragic fate at the end. Fortunately, he had such a delightful time filming that he wanted to come back and spend more time with the character. This led to him directing two couple of the proceeding entries. Had he not returned to the role, the sequels would have been completely different.
Loved It: Chris Pine
Chris Pine had some giant shoes to fill, and his bravery for even trying is commendable. He ultimately managed to pull off a fresh performance as the iconic Captain Kirk. It never feels like a cheap impersonation of William Shatner, yet simultaneously recalls the same character people have known and loved for decades. Reports indicate that plans for a new film have stalled due to contract negotiations, but that doesn’t mean the actor doesn’t adore the series and his role. Pine is eager to command the bridge for a fourth time.
Loved It: James Doohan
Without Scotty, how would the enterprise maneuver efficiently? Luckily, no one has to worry about that, because James Doohan was there from the beginning all the way through Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country. The actor was said to be enthralled by fans’ appreciation of the series and his character. Some people may feel trapped by a role, but Doohan embraced every moment of it and could always be seen at conventions. Outside of the movies, he also reprised the role for a guest spot on Star Trek: The Next Generation.
Loved It: Levar Burton
The actor may have dedicated a large portion of his time on television getting people to crack open a book, but the rest of his time on the tube inspired a whole generation of engineers as Geordi La Forge. Because of this, along with inspiring people with similar physical challenges, Levar Burton has nothing but positive things to say about his time in with the character. The Next Generation cast may have gone out with a whimper, but the legacy left behind by the show and characters will live on forever.
Loved It: William Shatner
William Shatner is a hotly debated figure. Some say his hammy acting ruined scenes, while others consider him one of the finest performers of his generation. Regardless of how one feels, no one can deny that he has filmed some powerful moments, like the ending of Star Trek II. The actor has always been ready to jump back into Kirk’s shoes, and consistently plays the role with passion. The character bit the dust in Star Trek: Generations, but Shatner would jump at the chance to return to the character if the story felt right.
Loved It: Anton Yelchin
The world will never know what great things Anton Yelchin would have accomplished had he been given more time, but judging from his magnificent performances in movies like Green Room and the three Trek films, one can only assume it would have been marvelous. Luckily enough for audiences, Yelchin left behind an already impressive list of credit before his untimely passing. As for his turn as Pavel Chekov, a posthumously published interview relayed that he thoroughly enjoyed his time on the Enterprise. Considering his Slavic roots, the role was perfect for him.
Loved It: Michael Dorn
It says a lot when an actor loves a role despite having to endure hours of makeup just to get into character. Michael Dorn played Worf for almost fifteen years, and reveled in every moment of it. For him, it was good enough to know that he did something that left an impression and will probably be remembered after he is gone. He loved the role so much that he shows up in The Next Generation films with almost no explanation, only being there to have the whole crew together once again.
Loved It: DeForest Kelley
Dr. McCoy was always the lovable curmudgeon. He looked older than the rest of the crew, appropriate since DeForest Kelley was the oldest regular cast member, and never seemed like he wanted to be in space. Kelley himself, however, had the opposite attitude towards his character and time in Star Trek. As the movies progressed, he took advantage of the chance to further explore the character and think about how the years have changed him. While he may have been slightly type-casted, he never denied the good things the series give him.
Loved It: Walter Koenig
Pavel Chekov appeared in less than forty episodes of original Star Trek series, but he still ended up becoming an irreplaceable staple of the bridge. When it came time to make the feature films, he was there for all six outings, being prominently featured in all of them. He considers The Voyage Home as one of his career peaks. In general, the full length movies gave him more time to shine than the show ever did. Indeed, many episodes feature the character in the background, and insignificant to the plot.
Loved It: Idris Elba
One could make an argument for Idris Elba’s talents being underutilized in Star Trek: Beyond. He is a master at his craft, and Krall is a unique villain, but he does not get enough time to really explore the depths of his personality. Even so, the English actor described his time in the space opera positively. Despite the already existing relationships between the crew, he ended up having a great experience and striking a kinship with Director Justin Lin, who was also working on the series for the first time.
Regretted It: Malcolm McDowell
The unfortunate thing about playing a villain in Star Trek is that one only gets a single chance to do it right. For the main cast, they can redeem their bad experience by making a better movie next time. Antagonists usually kick the bucket or end up locked away forever off-screen. Malcolm McDowell is often referred to as the dude who offed Captain Kirk, and he has qualms about how that was done. Ultimately, he feels that such an iconic character should have had a more magnificent send-off, rather than having a bridge collapse underneath him.
Loved It: Zachary Quinto
Before 2009’s Star Trek, Zachary Quinto was only recognizable to fans of Heroes and So Notorious. Spock dramatically elevated his status, but that’s not the only reason the actor loves the role. As a performer, the Vulcan character presents a unique challenge of subtly conveying intense, gripping emotions. He has played the character in three films thus far, and is ready to do so for a fourth time once all the reported pre-production troubles are sorted out. Other than a confirmation by J.J. Abrams that it is happening, little news has seeped out about the project.
Loved It: George Takei
These days, even people who never watched any Trek know George Takei. The actor has a thriving social media presence and uses it to advocate for several important causes, particularly for the advancement of the LGBT community. As a performer, Takei was always ready to jump into the Hikaru Sulu role. By the time the original crew hung up their uniforms, Sulu was commanding his own ship. He would have been more than willing to do a cameo in the reboot, but understands why it didn’t happen. Perhaps he will do one in the future.
Loved It: Eric Bana
Nero, played by Eric Bana, was the villain that changed everything for the timeline. By destroying Vulcan, he drove a prominent species to the brink of extinction, forever altering the future. Despite his importance in the franchise, it is unlikely he will make it a return, at least according to the actor. Bana has no ill feelings about his time in the role, however. On the contrary, he reveled in the experience and the opportunity to work with the immensely talented cast. He may be a one and done, but it was one he’ll never forget.
Loved It: Patrick Stewart
The actor who brought Captain Picard to life was unprepared for the impact the character would have on his life. He did not expect the show to make it past the first season, let alone revitalize the franchise, turning it into the behemoth it is today. Though it did the exact opposite of his expectations, he is more than content with the way things turned out. While the movies he starred in changed the character slightly to make him more of an action hero, the actor still immensely enjoyed those experiences.
Regretted It: Tom Hardy
He’s world famous now, but back in 2002 Tom Hardy was relatively unknown. Because of this, he put everything he had into his Star Trek: Nemesis role, as it could have been his big break. His effort shines through in the performance, but the film itself was a critical and commercial failure. The negative impact caused personal troubles, but thankfully he got his life back on track to become a universally beloved actor with numerous venerated performances under his belt in films like Bronson, The Dark Knight Rises, and Mad Max: Fury Road.
Loved It: Christopher Lloyd
Before Back to the Future, Commander Kruge in Star Trek III was perhaps Christopher Lloyd’s biggest role. He was a regular on Taxi for several years, but this was a featured part as a villain in a revered franchise. The film itself is of debated quality, but Lloyd has no regrets over participating in it. He was initially confused as to why he got the part, but an actor won’t turn down a good opportunity just because it doesn’t make sense. Since then, he has appeared in several conventions and is always up to answer fans inquiries.
Loved It: John Cho
When John Cho was initially offered the part of Sulu in the reboot, he was hesitant to accept because of his different ethnic background than the character’s. However, George Takei encouraged and ultimately convinced the actor to take on the role. Some actors may be tired of the same character after three movies, but John Cho is anything but. He is patiently waiting for production to begin on the fourth movie in the time line. In the meantime, he recently starred in the thriller, Searching. Hopefully this Sulu becomes a captain, too, one day.
Loved It: Marina Sirtis
English actress Marina Sirtis played Deanna Troi on Star Trek: The Next Generation. By her own admission, the character did not get the time to shine that she would have liked, but she has nothing but reverence for her role and the series. More than twenty five years after the fact, she still attends conventions and moseys with fans. Those who have had the pleasure to meet her in person can testify to her appreciation of the franchise and the fans that keep the stories alive all these years later.
Regretted It: Brent Spiner
For just about every moment of his appearance on camera, Brent Spiner had to be covered in green make-up. It’s relatively simple compared to the other things heavily modified faces have had to endure, but it was still a chore. On top of that, the actor feels like his time on the bridge has overshadowed his other career accomplishments. While he is thankful for everything the show has given him, he wishes he was known for more than the role of Data. All in all, though, there are worse fates for actors.
