If Star Trek: The Next Generation was remade in 2022, there are plenty of promising candidates to play its cast of beloved characters. The success of ST: TNG paved the way for all future Star Trek TV shows afterward, from the tense environment of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine to the comedy beats of Star Trek: The Lower Decks. For a story set in space, featuring aliens and androids, Star Trek’s greatest strength lies in the deeply human stories it tells, and its characters are key to this.
Following in the footsteps of the classic Star Trek from the 1960s, ST: TNG is now a sci-fi classic in its own right. Despite a slightly rough start, the show eventually found its feet (around the time Will Riker grew his beard), telling stories that gave heartfelt explorations of humanity and thought-provoking high-concept science-fiction in equal measure — precisely the kind of thing Star Trek is best known for. A big part of this comes down to the iconic ensemble of characters and the almost palpable chemistry between them.
Spanning 7 seasons, ST: TNG is a huge anthology of science-fiction. If it was being made in 2022, it would likely look quite different. A modern version of the show might have more emphasis on season-long story arcs, though the self-contained stories in 90s Star Trek were a big part of its success. No matter the storytelling style, there are a few actors who could do a good job of recapturing the presence of the original ensemble cast.
David Tennant as Captain Jean-Luc Picard
Captain Picard is one of the most famous and popular characters in the entire Star Trek canon. This all comes down to his presence on-screen. Patrick Stewart’s performance as Jean-Luc Picard is the glue that holds the show together, especially in the early seasons. All at once wise, stern, and warm-hearted, with a few little quirks such as his penchant for drinking Earl Grey tea, Picard acts as a mentor figure for every other character on the starship Enterprise. It’s hard to imagine anyone else stepping into the shoes of Jean-Luc Picard, but one actor who could manage is David Tennant.
Like Patrick Stewart, Tennant is a classically trained Shakespearean actor, perfectly able to be lighthearted or severe in the same role. His past roles in shows like Doctor Who and Good Omens show that he can match Stewart’s stage presence and that he’s no stranger to science-fiction. However, many fans might consider it a shame if he had to shave his hair to play the part.
Andrew Garfield as Commander William Riker
Starting out brash and ambitious, the iconic William T. Riker acts as a character foil to Jean-Luc Picard’s quiet confidence. Where Picard is a seasoned leader, Riker is much more like Captain Kirk in the original Star Trek — both in his style of command and in his flirtatious nature. The trusted second-in-command of the main cast, Riker’s portrayal by Jonathan Frakes is another big reason for the success of ST: TNG. After his heroic acting role in The Amazing Spider-Man, Andrew Garfield would be a good choice to give Riker the charisma and passion the character needs to excel.
Antony Mackie as Lt. Commander Geordi La Forge
Portrayed on-screen by LeVar Burton, Geordi La Forge is a fan-favorite character in Star Trek, known for the VISOR which allows him to see, having been blind from birth. Starting out as helmsman on the Enterprise before later becoming the chief of engineering for the ship, Geordi has a calm, rational demeanor, though he’s always able to cope well in a crisis. One actor who could play the role well is Antony Mackie, who could easily match Burton’s cool exterior without sacrificing the occasional comedy beats the character is known for in his interactions with Data.
Paul Bettany as Data and Lore
Data is an android, one of only a handful of his kind in existence, created by a brilliant but eccentric scientist. Data is essentially Pinnochio in space, an emotionless not-quite-human person who slowly learns to understand humanity. Played by Brent Spiner, Data is hypercompetent in technical pursuits, but it’s his child-like innocence that makes him one of the most endearing Star Trek characters — particularly after he adopts a cat and tries his hand at hobbies like art and poetry. Lore, on the other hand, is Data’s brother. Much like an evil twin, Lore is the inverse of Data, being jovial but self-centered, he becomes a recurring villain throughout the show.
Brent Spiner’s performance was unquestionably the key to Data’s popularity, and one actor who could do a similar job is Paul Bettany. At risk of typecasting him, his portrayal of first JARVIS and then Vision in the MCU has some interesting parallels to Data’s journey in Star Trek. At the same time, Bettany showed in Solo: A Star Wars Story that he has no trouble being a villain.
Mustafa Shakir as Lt. Worf, son of Mogh
Worf, son of Mogh, is the longest-running character in all of Star Trek, being in all 7 seasons of ST: TNG, as well as 4 seasons of Deep Space Nine and four movies. He’s an interesting character as the first Klingon to join the main cast, stoic and unyielding on the outside, but conflicted and uncertain over his place in the world on the inside. Like Data, Worf gives an outsider’s view of humanity, but where Data aims to become more human himself, Worf wants to reconcile the human and alien sides of his personality.
Mustafa Shakir could perform excellently in this role. His acting as Jet Black in Netflix’s live-action adaptation of Cowboy Bebop is one of the highlights of a show which left many viewers disappointed. As a gruff, reserved character with a complicated relationship with his family, Shakir’s version of Jet already shares a few similarities with Worf.
Felicia Day as Dr. Beverly Crusher
The chief medical officer of the starship Enterprise, Beverly Crusher is the central character in some of the most memorable episodes of ST: TNG. Played by Gates McFadden, Dr Crusher is caring and compassionate while also being resourceful and good at solving problems, balancing being a mother figure for the crew with being a single mother herself. Drawing on her experience in TV shows like Supernatural and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Felicia Day could play the role very well and, being a self-professed geek herself, would definitely do a good job.
Gemma Chan as Counselor Troi
Counselor Deanna Troi is the emotional center of ST: TNG. Half-human, she’s an empath, able to feel the emotions of others, both human and non-human. In her role as the ship’s counselor, Troi is responsible for the mental well-being of the crew — an aspect often overlooked in sci-fi TV shows. Played by Marina Sirtis, she also acts as an advisor to Picard, and has several episodes which revolve largely around her. In a role that needs sensitivity, depth, and nuanced performance, Gemma Chan would give an excellent portrayal of Deanna Troi. From roles in movies like Crazy Rich Asians and Eternals to TV appearances in shows like Doctor Who and Sherlock, Gemma Chan has proven herself to be a talented actor.
Gwendoline Christie as Lt. Tasha Yar
Tasha Yar’s appearance on ST: TNG was short-lived. Starting out as the chief of security, actress Denise Crosby was unhappy in the role, leaving the show before her character could really develop the way the others did. Even after death, her character still left some impact on the show, with scattered references to her in later series. After her performance in Game Of Thrones, Gwendoline Christie would make an excellent Tasha Yar, and after playing Captain Phasma in Star Wars, she’s no stranger to sci-fi.
Lupita Nyong’o as Guinan
Guinan is one of the most mysterious characters in ST: TNG. The barkeep of Ten Forward, the lounge-bar where the ship’s crew go to blow off steam in their spare time, Guinan’s background is shrouded in mystery. While she appears to be human at first glance, she’s actually an alien, hundreds of years old, who first met Picard long before he met her after a time-travel mishap. Other characters often turn to Guinan for guidance, because of her deep wisdom and knowledge. Lupita Nyong’o may not have appeared herself in Star Wars, but her role as Maz Kanata proved that she can do a similarly good job playing a wise and mysterious alien mentor figure.
Noah Schnapp as Wesley Crusher
Wesley Crusher’s presence on ST: TNG was always somewhat contentious, as child characters often are in TV shows. All the same, his ambition and curiosity while going through his teenage years living on a spaceship certainly made for an interesting character, and he took the main role in at least one episode. Originally played by Wil Wheaton, Wesley could be well portrayed by Noah Schnapp, known for his skilled performance in Stranger Things.
Chris O’Dowd as Transporter Chief Miles O’Brien
Chief O’Brien is one of the longest-running Star Trek characters, second only to Worf in his number of appearances, after transferring from The Next Generation to Deep Space Nine. Played by Colm Meaney, O’Brien is the transporter chief of the Enterprise, and his Irish heritage is an important aspect of his character. An actor who could do justice to O’Brien is Chris O’Dowd. While O’Dowd is best known for his comedy acting in The IT Crowd, he’s also acted as an engineer in space, in The Cloverfield Paradox.
Chris Parnell as Lt. Reginald Barclay
Lieutenant Barclay is ST: TNG‘s comic relief character, neurotic, uncertain, and with a host of issues to keep Counselor Troi busy. Originally played by Dwight Schultz, Barclay is at the center of several episodes, usually haplessly involved in some kind of catastrophe. Chris Parnell would be perfect for the role. While Parnell is best known for his voice acting, as Jerry in Rick and Morty and as Cyril Figgis in Archer, he’s no stranger to live-action performances, notably as a bungling criminal in Brooklyn 99. Parnell’s niche in playing highly strung, misfortunate characters makes him well suited for someone like Reginald Barclay.
Tessa Thompson as Ensign Ro Laren
A later addition to the main cast of ST: TNG, Ensign Ro Laren is hot-tempered and impatient. Played by Michelle Forbes, Laren is a spanner in the works of the Enterprise. She doesn’t want to be there, and the crew don’t really want her there, but they’re all stuck with each other and have to learn to get along. With her troubled past, fiery Laren adds some turmoil and uncertainty into the main cast. Tessa Thompson’s performance in the MCU as Valkyrie, with a similarly troubled past and obvious trust issues, makes her a great choice for the role.
Constance Wu as Lwaxana Troi
Deanna Troi’s mother Lwaxana is a recurring character in The Next Generation. Showing up and antagonizing almost everyone she encounters, Lwaxana Troi (played by Majel Barrett) is the embodiment of that one relative who you have to invite to family gatherings while inwardly hoping that she won’t turn up. That said, she also has a warm, caring side to her. In addition, she’s not human but Betazoid, meaning that she’s telepathic. If Gemma Chan could play Deanna Troi, then her fellow star of Crazy Rich Asians, Constance Wu, would be a perfect choice to play Lwaxana. If Jessica Huang from Fresh Off The Boat could actually read minds, that’s exactly the level of charisma Wu could bring to this role.
Katee Sackhoff and Charlize Theron as Lursa and B’etor
Lursa and B’etor are a pair of recurring antagonists in ST: TNG, originally played by Barbara March and Gwynyth Walsh. Sisters from the House of Duras, they’re a pair of rogue Klingons, calculating and dangerous, who started a civil war among the Klingons (in a Star Trek storyline that was nearly canceled). Katee Sackhoff and Charlize Theron would fit comfortably into these roles. Sackhoff and Theron have both have played hardened warriors, as Bo Katan Kryze in The Mandalorian and as Andy in The Old Guard respectively. Sackhoff, in particular, has played a plethora of sci-fi roles, so she has no shortage of experience.
Tom Hiddleston as Q
Q is a strange character who shows up in the very first episode of ST: TNG and returns as an opponent in several later episodes. Played by John de Lancie, Q is an incomprehensible higher-dimensional being, who acts as a trickster deity and seems to enjoy nothing more than antagonizing humans. Tom Hiddleston is almost too obvious a choice as an actor to play Q, being best known as a trickster deity himself, in the MCU’s Loki. After so much time playing the god of mischief, it’s not hard to imagine Hiddleston being even better in the role than de Lancie was.
Star Trek: The Next Generation was the foundation on which most of Star Trek as we know it was built. Had it not been as successful as it was, it’s likely that Star Trek would not hold such a large and beloved place in pop culture. While it’s important to keep looking forward and telling new stories, it’s still interesting to look back and consider what could have been if things had turned out differently. After all, that’s the basic premise of more than one Star Trek story.
