Matt Damon was supplied an enormous Star Trek function, however not Captain Kirk

Given what number of superstar cameos the Star Trek universe has been topic to through the years, it’s not stunning to listen to that probably the greatest actors of all time was virtually nabbed for a significant function. Throughout the years, Star Trek has seen the likes of Kirsten Dunst, Mick Fleetwood, Iggy Pop, and Dwayne Johnson all taking over usually alien roles.

However Matt Damon being supplied an element in probably the greatest science fiction films of all time? Even that seems like a casting that may solely exist in our wildest desires. Think about Damon sitting on the helm of the Enterprise! Effectively, really, he most likely wouldn’t be there in any respect as a result of, regardless of what you would possibly assume, the function he was supplied was not that of Captain Kirk.

So, who was Damon set to play, if not the most effective Star Trek captain? Effectively, for those who’ve watched all the best Star Trek films, then you definitely’ll do not forget that in 2009’s Star Trek, the opening sequence (under) sees the starship USS Kelvin below assault from film villain Nero’s Romulan ship, Narada.

Throughout this scene, James Kirk’s mom (who’s going by labor) is hurried to an escape pod, whereas his father, George Kirk, decides that he should sacrifice himself with a purpose to save everybody, together with his pregnant spouse and unborn youngster, aboard the ship. He directs the Kelvin right into a collision with the Narada, thereby permitting everybody else to make a break for it.

It’s an electrifying opening scene to the film that may spark a brand new period for Star Trek. Within the J.J. Abrams film, George Kirk is performed by a then comparatively unknown Chris Hemsworth. However, it seems, this is the function that was supplied to Matt Damon.

For some time, followers thought this is perhaps some half-baked rumor, however it was really confirmed by Abrams himself in an interview with MTV, saying:

“I did [approach Damon], however not for the function of James Kirk,” he mentioned. “I went to Damon for the function of Kirk’s father, and he declined in probably the most gracious and comprehensible and logical of causes.”

“We lucked out with Chris Hemsworth, and he did an awesome job,” he added. “Possibly it might have been distracting to have somebody as massively well-known as Matt Damon in that function. … The choice was made very early on to have actors who weren’t essentially probably the most well-known however probably the most proper for the function.”

Whereas we agree that having somebody as recognizable as Damon within the small function might need been considerably distracting, we are able to’t assist however adore the irony that Chris Hemsworth ended up being one of many largest stars at this time, having appeared in among the finest superhero films and changing into a staple of the MCU.

Whereas some would possibly argue that the function of George Kirk is a bit too small for somebody like Matt Damon anyway, we’d must level out that George Kirk is, in truth, most likely one of the essential figures in your complete new period of the franchise. His loss of life resulted within the break up within the Star Trek timeline, which is what created within the alternate universe trilogy referred to as the Kelvin Timeline.

So, actually, George Kirk has an even bigger affect on the Star Trek canon than his son. And that’s not one thing we are able to say about any ol’ Star Trek character.

To boldly go the place no man has gone earlier than, check out our guides to the Star Trek 4 launch date, Star Trek Legacy launch date, and Star Trek Decrease Decks season 4 launch date. You may as well get to know the most effective Matt Damon films to see what he did as an alternative.

You may as well try what different finest sci-fi sequence are round, and discover out which Star Trek captains would survive a zombie apocalypse. Don’t miss our listing of the most effective TV sequence, an every little thing new on Paramount Plus too!