Casting The Star Trek: Enterprise Reboot

10. Thy'lek Shran - Robert Carlyle

Robert Carlyle Shran
MGM/CBS

The Andorians were explored as a race in Enterprise, realized fantastically with Jeffrey Combs as Commander Shran. While there has been a tendency to keep Combs in these reboot lists, we feel that this time a change is warranted. Robert Carlyle needs little introduction and would make for a compelling anti-hero in this series.

He has experience in both television and film dating back decades. A highly expressive actor, Carlyle has been a fantasy monster, a psychopathic addict, the leader of an all-male strip show and a shadowy doctor in the far reaches of the universe. The man has seen it all and it is easy to picture him taking no nonsense from Archer or Soval.

If this reboot is sticking with the new aesthetic that Star Trek Discovery as established, then it is easy to picture the horned forehead below the antennae atop Carlyle's head. There is enough expression in that face to reach the back row. There is no better man in our mind for the Andorian soldier. Plus, who doesn't want to hear the Scottish accent in Star Trek again?

Contributor
Contributor

Seán is the host and head writer/presenter for TrekCulture, as well as a writer/presenter on WhoCulture and WhatCulture Horror. He has authored two novels, dozens of short stories, and hundreds of articles for WhatCulture. He holds a Master of Arts in Creative Writing from University College Dublin. As part of his work with TrekCulture, Seán has been invited to participate in collaborations with Roddenberry Entertainment, as well as contributing to several Star Trek community projects. An avid fan of Star Trek, Doctor Who, and the horror genre at large, Seán's expertise has helped develop these channels to the successes they are today. As host of the Ups & Downs series on TrekCulture, Seán has become internationally recognised for his positive yet critically informed approach to reviewing every episode of modern Star Trek, ensuring he is one of the go-to voices in the Trek community. Favourite Quote to describe himself: "I'm serious about what I do, just not always about the way that I do it"