Responding to fans on BlueSky, Mike McMahan dropped a bombshell that an idea to bring back Genevieve Bujold as an alternate reality Captain Janeway in Star Trek: Lower Decks season 5 was "discussed." Read McMahan's post below:
Mike McMahan answered another fan and explained why he didn't ask Genevieve Bujold to return as Captain Janeway, saying he didn't want to be "disrespectful" to Kate Mulgrew. Check out Mike's post below:
Star Trek: Voyager's 2 Captain Janeway Actors Explained
Genevieve Bujold Quickly Quit Star Trek: Voyager
Genevieve Bujold was the original actor cast as Captain Nicole Janeway in Star Trek: Voyager. Executive producer Rick Berman was especially taken with a prestigious film actress like Bujold leading the first Star Trek series with a female Captain. Within the first few days of filming, however, Bujold abruptly quit the series, necessitating a scramble to cast her replacement.
As a film actress, Genevieve Bujold was unaccustomed to the speed of filming a weekly television series, and Bujold was also out of her depth with science fiction. Bujold's exit ultimately was to Star Trek: Voyager's benefit, as Kate Mulgrew was quickly cast as Captain Kathryn Janeway. Mulgrew would go on to become one of the most iconic and inspirational Star Trek Captains in the franchise's history.
Our Take On Genevieve Bujold Returning As Captain Janeway In Star Trek: Lower Decks
Bujold Returning As Janeway Would Have Been A Real Shock
While it's understandable why Mike McMahan opted not to bring back Genevieve Bujold out of respect for Kate Mulgrew, the return of the original Captain Janeway in Star Trek: Lower Decks' multiverse would have been genuinely mind-blowing. Footage of Genevieve Bujold playing Janeway is rare, but an animated version voiced by Bujold would have made Star Trek history. Ultimately, however, McMahan made a wise call.
Mike McMahan had another ace-in-the-hole that seemed like an "impossible" get: Star Trek: Enterprise's Jolene Blalock.
