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    Wesley Snipes Was Almost Geordi in “Star Trek: The Next Generation”

    Mary Anne ButlerBy Updated:1 Min Read

    Imagine if you will, a different universe. One in which Sir Patrick Stewart was NOT Captain Jean Luc Picard on “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” and Wesley Snipes WAS Chief Engineer Geordi La Forge. What a world, right? Well, it could’ve happened.

    Wesley Snipes in Michael Jackon’s “Bad” music video, 1987

    According to a single-page document, dated April 13th 1987, Snipes wasn’t the only surprise possible casting choice.

    Yaphet Kotto, “Alien” 20th Century Studios

    Here’s another fun one- “Alien” breakout Yaphet Kotto was considered for the role of Picard. And Rosalind Chao, who would eventually play Chief Miles O’Brien’s wife Kaiko, was almost Tasha Yar. (Reminder that Yar was originally one of the leads of the series.)

    Okay also, seeing Tim Russ‘s name in the list for Geordi is pretty great. Because we all know how great he was in “Star Trek: Voyager” as Tuvok.

    Obviously, we know how this series ended up being cast.

    “Star Trek: The Next Generation” is available to stream on Paramount+. You can also pick up the complete series on Blu-ray on Amazon here.

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    Mary Anne Butler (Mab) has been part of the fast-paced world of journalism since she was 15, getting her start in album reviews and live concert coverage for a nationally published (print) music magazine. She eventually transitioned to online media, writing for such sites as UGO/IGN, ComicsOnline, Geek Magazine, Ace of Geeks, Aggressive Comix (where she is still Editor-in-Chief), Bleeding Cool (where she was News Editor), and now Nerdbot as Editor-In-Chief. Over the past 10 years, she’s built a reputation at conventions across the globe as a cosplayer (occasionally), photographer (constantly), panelist and moderator (mostly), and reporter (always). Interviews, reviews, observations, breaking news, and objective reporting are the name of the game for the founder of Harkonnen Knife Fight, a Dune-themed band with an international presence. Though she be but little, she is fierce.

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