If not for Archer and the rest of the Star Trek: Enterprise cast, the franchise's vast universe would look very different. Although Enterprise was and remains divisive among Trekkies, the importance of Archer's contributions to Starfleet and the United Federation of Planets cannot be denied from a canonical point of view. However, the actor playing him was equally important to Star Trek's future.
Scott Bakula Was Star Trek's Most Famous Actor Since TNG's LeVar Burton
Bakula was Dr. Sam Beckett in Quantum Leap, less than a decade before his Star Trek debut
The actor playing the Enterprise NX-01's commanding officer was a known entity even before stepping into the role of Captain Archer. Scott Bakula played Dr. Sam Beckett in every season of the classic sci-fi show, Quantum Leap, which began in 1989 and ended in 1993.
So, while Bakula may have been known mainly to sci-fi fans, the fact that he was on a Star Trek show made that distinction pretty much irrelevant. Before Bakula, the only real big name among the cast of other Star Trek shows before their franchise debut was LeVar Burton, who played Geordie LaForge throughout Star Trek: The Next Generation.
Plus, with Enterprise beginning in 2001, Bakula was less than a decade removed from Quantum Leap, whereas Burton hadn't been in Roots for ten years when TNG began in 1987.
Burton has returned to Roots twice since his TNG debut. He reprised the role of Kunta Kinte in 1988's Roots: The Gift TV movie, and he also played Ephraim in 2016, appearing in 1 episode of the Roots reboot. Although Quantum Leap was rebooted in 2022, Bakula was not involved, and Dr. Beckett was recast.
Star Trek Has Cast Several Big-Name Actors Since Enterprise
Scott Bakula wasn't the first or last Star Trek actor to have a big reputation before his franchise debut
Star Trek: Enterprise is considered to be the last show of the franchise's classic era. It ended in 2005, and there wouldn't be another show set within the main canon until Star Trek: Discovery began in 2017. Discovery marks the start of Star Trek's modern era, and the franchise's casting trends have built upon the introduction of Scott Bakula in Enterprise.
Other modern Star Trek shows have continued to do what the classic era often avoided by introducing stars to the various casts. For instance, The Boys' Jack Quaid was cast as Ensign Boimler in Star Trek: Lower Decks, and the upcoming Star Trek: Starfleet Academy will star both Holly Hunter and Paul Giamatti.
Chris Pine also played Captain Kirk in 2009's Star Trek movie and its two sequels, but none of them are set within the Prime Universe. The trilogy also included many other big names, such as Zoe Saldaña, Zachary Quinto, and Simon Pegg. Despite being part of a different timeline, known as the Kelvin Timeline, these movies also contribute to this casting trend.
Casting Famous Actors In Star Trek Has Pros & Cons
Known entities like Scott Bakula offer something different to Star Trek
Big stars in Star Trek seem like the norm now, but there were good reasons why it was so rarely done in earlier shows. For instance, lesser-known stars tend to cost less to cast as they are less in demand. While the money actors receive will typically increase the longer they're on the show, it's often more economically viable to start with a smaller payroll.
Plus, an unknown actor in a new role offers a huge advantage. In short, there are no preconceptions from the audience when it comes to what the character will be like. For example, despite a long career before being cast as Captain Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation, most of the audience didn't know who Patrick Stewart was.
This allowed for a blank slate for Stewart to work with. On the other hand, the inclusion of a big-name actor can come with upsides. Firstly, it arguably makes it more likely that an established star will offer a great performance compared to their less experienced counterparts. Secondly, their presence should, in theory, broaden the project's appeal.
The franchise's longevity has resulted in a third option when it comes to casting decisions, and it's quite quirky. Some actors have only become big names because of their past connections to Star Trek, and as such, they are the notable presences among the cast when they return, such as Robert Picardo playing Voyager's Doctor again in Star Trek: Prodigy and Star Trek: Starfleet Academy.
There are no planned projects that would allow Scott Bakula to reprise the role of Jonathon Archer, but with the franchise's willingness to revisit certain characters like Jean-Luc Picard and Kathryn Janeway (Kate Mulgrew), the door remains open for Bakula to return as his Star Trek: Enterprise character someday soon, which would be exciting for both his stardom and his Star Trek history.
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