How Each Star Trek Captain Got Cast
2. You'll Get 0% Ownership And You'll Like It!
Most Star Trek fans know that the original pilot The Cage was rejected by the network. Star Trek had been sold to them as Wagon Train to the Stars, which would combine action with the weekly dose of drama. However, The Cage was deemed lacking in action, so a new script was written.
Where No Man Has Gone Before ramped up the action, though it came with a loss. Jeffrey Hunter declined the opportunity to return for the second pilot and the team were left without a captain.
Several actors were considered for the role. Lloyd Bridges and Jack Lord were both considered, with Lord being Desillu Studios top choice. However, he demanded fifty percent ownership of the show, so he was dropped before Shatner was cast. He had been working for several years already, most recently in a Shakespearean production, along with several failed pilots. Star Trek would become Shatner's ticket to stardom.
However, even this was a semi-slow burn. While the show was cancelled after its third year, the re-run ratings were strong and the fan reaction was hugely positive. Thanks to the engagement with the fanbase, Star Trek was saved from obscurity through conventions, letter writing campaigns and, ironically, Star Wars, whose arrival on the scene stirred up a new interest in science fiction.
Shatner brought an upbeat mood to the captain, aiming to depict him not only as the commander, but as 'the captain, the pal' where possible. His experience in comedy helped to make James Kirk one of the most recognisable characters in television history.