12 Actors You Didn't Know Were Almost Cast In Star Trek

3. Marlon Brando

Martin Landau Spock
Warner Bros.

Marlon Brando was approached to play Soran, the antagonist of Star Trek: Generations. But, somewhat unsurprisingly, the producers couldn’t afford him.

Now, if you want to get a feel for what an amazing actor Brando was pick up a copy of On The Waterfront. There's a scene with him and Eve Marie Saint. They're walking together and Saint is supposed to put her gloves on but she accidentally drops one.

Brando, in a brilliant moment of improvisation, picks up the glove and the two actors continue the scene. He sits down on a swing and starts picking lent off the fingers of the glove. Eventually, he even puts the glove on his own hand while they continue their conversation.

Both actors handle the moment beautifully, and it's a strangely poignant scene.

However...

While Brando was a pioneering method actor, by 1994 he was well past his prime. We’re talking Island Of Doctor Moreau era Brando. So, him turning down the role was probably for the best.

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John is a teacher and writer living in Texas. He spends far too much time watching Star Trek. Check out more if his work at artofnarrative.com