12 Perfect Casting Choices That Launched Major Film Franchises
3. Patrick Stewart Captain Picard (Star Trek) And Professor X (X-Men)
When he was cast as Captain Jean-Luc Picard, the Los Angeles Times referred to him as an unknown British Shakespearian actor. That wasnt entirely true; he had played minor roles that did earn him some notice in 1981s Excalibur, 1984s Dune, and 1985s Lifeforce. The Shakespearian reference was to his membership in the Royal Shakespeare Company from 1966 to 1982. Stewart has stated that his most unnerving moment about the role was when someone asked him how does it feel to be auditioning for an American icon? He was initially disappointed at the lack of discipline among his Next Generation cast mates, but eventually learned to loosen up and enjoy the absurdities of Star Trek technobabble. His commanding presence on the bridge of the USS Enterprise-D probably did as much as anything else to keep the Next Generation on air for seven seasons. He also reprised the role in four motion pictures. After Trek, Stewart found it difficult to return to the theater and other film roles because he had been typecast as Picard. However, a new iconic role was waiting for him, that of Professor Charles Xavier in the Marvel X-Men comic universe. The role seemed to be tailor-made for the bald Stewart, who closely resembles the character who was first revealed in X-Men #1 in September 1963. He has reprised the role five times, including the impending release of X-Men: Days of Future Past.
