Sci-fi TV fans would love to see the TARDIS land on the USS Enterprise one day, and while we’re still a way off from that ever happening, it turns out that the Doctor himself almost appeared in the Star Trek universe at one point.
Yes, that’s right. Outgoing Time Lord Peter Capaldi auditioned to play the lead role of Captain Benjamin Sisko on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. This intriguing bit of news comes courtesy of the trekdocs Twitter account, which unearths little-known facts about the series. This time, they’ve got hold of a list of actors who auditioned for the show from a UK casting call from back in 1992.
Notes from a UK casting session for DS9. Includes Alexander Siddig, @AnthonySHead, and HOLY CRAP PETER CAPALDI. July 23, 1992. pic.twitter.com/yTzKfUFMDq
— trekdocs (@trekdocs) September 7, 2017
The Twitter account for an upcoming documentary on Deep Space Nine then went one better and produced a screenshot of Capaldi’s audition, as well as that of Buffy the Vampire Slayer‘s (and one time Doctor Who guest star) Anthony Head.
We can do you one better, @trekdocs. Here's a sneak peek at some original audition tapes from 1992. #DS9 #AuditionTapes #WhatWeLeftBehind pic.twitter.com/zT56qpkxtB
— The DS9 Documentary (@DS9Doc) September 7, 2017
Star Trek fans will know that the role of Sisko eventually went to Avery Brooks. Apparently, it was always the plan to make Sisko the franchise’s first African-American lead, but the production team just decided to see different types of actors to “cover all the fronts.” Here’s what showrunner Ira Steven Behr told Trek Movie:
“I actually have some of the auditions and some were sent in from England from some very good British actors. So they were covering on all fronts, but I think that was all just due diligence. It was always going to be a brown captain.”
This isn’t the only US sci-fi role Peter Capaldi almost nabbed back in the 90s, either. He was one of many British actors who was up for the part of the Eighth Doctor in the 1996 Doctor Who TV movie, which was financed by Fox. That role, of course, eventually went to Paul McGann.
Peter Capaldi’s last Doctor Who story airs this Christmas, while the first TV incarnation of Star Trek in 12 years, Star Trek: Discovery, lands later this month.
