Star Trek: 10 Things You Didn't Know About Benjamin Sisko

Before even a frame of DS9 had been filmed, the decision as to who would be cast in the lead role of station commander had to be fulfilled.

Among those considered for the role were several actors who would go on to guest on Star Trek including Highlander's Clancy Brown, Richard Beymer and future Maquis Bernie Casey, Season two Trill and Smallville regular John Glover, while Kelvin actors (Pike) Bruce Greenwood and (Sarek) Ben Cross were also on the list. Multiple guest Trek alumni Eric Pierpoint appeared on the list and would indeed return to Star Trek in several forms over the following years.

Perhaps more interesting are some of those considered but not auditioned. Rocky and Predator star Carl Weathers, Laurence Fishburne pre-Event Horizon and The Matrix, and Pierce Brosnan, two years before donning the tuxedo, was even on the list. There was also some guy called Peter Capaldi - but Who would he ever go on to be remembered for?

In the final stages, it would come down to some equally familiar names. Kurn actor Tony Todd was in the mix as were Sith-voiced James Earl Jones and Fresh Prince legend James Avery. Todd and Avery would both appear in later episodes of the franchise and both as Klingons with the role ultimately going to a Man Called Brooks.