Star Trek: The Next Generation
Summary
Star Trekproducer Rick Berman reveals that Jonathan Frakes was actually the second choice forStar Trek : The Next Generation ’s Number One , with the persona of Commander William Riker originally going to a different player , Billy Campbell . While Campbell did n’t become Riker , Campbell ’s impression on Berman and Paramount studio apartment executives would afterward earn him a guest place inTNGseason 2 , sequence 4 " The hideous Okona" . Campbell stars as the eponymous Thadiun Okona , a blackguardly lading captain call for assistance with his ship ’s guidance organization .
In theStar Trekoral historyThe Fifty - Year Mission : The Next 25 eld , by Mark A. Altman and Edward Gross , Berman ventures a guess as towhy Billy Campbell did n’t stick as the production ’s first selection for Commander Riker , attributing the casting change to John Pike , President of Paramount Studios at the timeStar Trek : The Next Generationwas beginning production . Pike was present for theStar Trek : The Next Generationactors ' audition , and as studio head , at last had veto major power when it came to deciding who would land a part on the USS Enterprise - cholecalciferol bridge . Read Berman ’s thoughts below :
For the role of Riker , we cast an thespian named Billy Campbell , who later did a bunch of other good things , and [ John ] Pike did n’t like him . He did n’t finger he had a mother wit of command . He would n’t follow this guy into battle . I think it was really more that he did n’t audition that well for the part , and that ’s when we went to our second pick , who was Jonathan Frakes , who flex out to be a terrifying choice .
Jonathan Frakes ’ Commander Riker is one of the most iconic and prolific characters in Star Trek , but Frakes was not always the dearie for the character .
Billy Campbell’s Okona Returns to Star Trek
3 Star Trek Shows Acknowledge Okona
Thadiun Okona returned to Star Trek on Paramount+,appearing as an animated cameo inStar Trek : Lower Decksand an Easter ballock inStar Trek : Picard . Okona ’s most significant return is his appearance inStar Trek : Prodigyfor a 2 - episode arc that sees Billy Campbell lend his part to hisStar Trek : The Next Generationcharacter . InProdigyseason 1 , sequence 14 " Crossroads " and episode 13 " Masquerade " , Okona is older and still skirting the authorities , butcontrary to John Pike ’s tryout notes , this Okona is someone that the youthful gang of the USS Protostar would , in fact , follow into conflict , as their commitment becomes a source of conflict .
consider Berman ’s judgement of John Pike ’s idea , it’snot heavily to conceive of Billy Campbell as the Riker that could have been . Okona shares some of Riker ’s magic spell and tang for sprightliness , but lacks Riker ’s morals and conviction as a Starfleet officer , since his expression turn of events at the end of " The Outrageous Okona " come more from a loophole than a real desire to change his way . With that in thinker , Billy Campbell may well have been at the top of the list when it came metre to throw off Thadiun Okona forStar Trek : The Next Generation , in a part truly suited for him .
Star Trek : The Next Generationis cyclosis on Paramount+.Star Trek : Prodigystreams on Netflix on December 25 , 2023 .
Source : The Fifty - Year Mission : The Next 25 Years : From The Next Generation to J. J. Abrams : The consummate , Uncensored , and Unauthorized unwritten story of Star Trekby Mark A. Altman and Edward Gross
