The Janeway That Almost Was... - Page 2

Commodore · #11 04-21-2008, 06:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VoyagerFan

What I find more interesting, is that initially, Janeway was going to be male!

Not initially, though. The role was meant from the start to be famale--she was to originally to be Captain Elizabeth Janeway--but the producers kept their options open and would have cast a male in the part if a female captain "didn't work out." Nigel Havers was one of the male actors considered if that came to pass.

When Bujold walked off the set, a number of the VOY cast expressed some concerns that the producers would indeed cast a male as the captain and would have caused them to make other cast changes (a male character might have to be rewritten as a female and vice-versa)...

Zardoz · #12 04-21-2008, 07:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Commodore

Not initially, though. The role was meant from the start to be famale--she was to originally to be Captain Elizabeth Janeway--but the producers kept their options open and would have cast a male in the part if a female captain "didn't work out." Nigel Havers was one of the male actors considered if that came to pass.

When Bujold walked off the set, a number of the VOY cast expressed some concerns that the producers would indeed cast a male as the captain and would have caused them to make other cast changes (a male character might have to be rewritten as a female and vice-versa)...

The sad part is Bujold is actually a talneted actress, who has done some good movies. But her acting here is horrible, like she was trying to get fired.

Botany Bay · #13 04-21-2008, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zardoz

The sad part is Bujold is actually a talneted actress, who has done some good movies. But her acting here is horrible, like she was trying to get fired.

No, I think she just tried to press something through. By playing the character so... "meaningfull" she may have tried to force the producers to make stories that fit the high class of an actress like her. As soon as she realized that the producers dont give a damn she left the show. Its not uncommon that actors try to influence the way a movie or TV-show develops. Seeing her performance and the very negative way how Berman reacts to questions about her, I get the feeling thats exactly what happened here.

In the way: Star Trek sucks, I dont have another offer now, so perhaps I can force the producers to make Voyager a really high art TV show. If not, then to hell with Trek.

Sad enough, I personally think she may not be that wrong about it, because I really dislike Voyager and find it a really numb show. And considering how the franchise developed in the last decade...

Zardoz · #14 04-21-2008, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Botany Bay

No, I think she just tried to press something through. By playing the character so... "meaningfull" she may have tried to force the producers to make stories that fit the high class of an actress like her. As soon as she realized that the producers dont give a damn she left the show. Its not uncommon that actors try to influence the way a movie or TV-show develops. Seeing her performance and the very negative way how Berman reacts to questions about her, I get the feeling thats exactly what happened here.

In the way: Star Trek sucks, I dont have another offer now, so perhaps I can force the producers to make Voyager a really high art TV show. If not, then to hell with Trek.

Sad enough, I personally think she may not be that wrong about it, because I really dislike Voyager and find it a really numb show. And considering how the franchise developed in the last decade...

Very well written and isightful there BB!

I would tend to agree with that statement on her acting.

I never found Voyager numb or boring personally.

Saquist · #15 04-22-2008, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VoyagerFan

I always cringe when I see the footage of Bujold as Janeway. She didn't seem to put in any effort at all during her brief performance. She'd almost signed it off before the cameras started to roll. I'm glad Mulgrew was the next choice, she gave a more passionate performance.
What I find more interesting, is that initially, Janeway was going to be male! And, being from the UK, I was even more surprised to hear that Nigel Havers (below) had auditioned for the role!!!

I'd pay good money to see the smooth-talking Nigel having a debate with the borg queen on the viewscreen!

Quote:

Originally Posted by arutha

I think we mostly don't like her because we know Janeway as she is played by mulgrew, anyone else would simple be out of sinc. She was a great actress butr I agree she was not fit for the role, her acting to... ridgit?

For me it's different. THose lines really had a sense of passion in them...and it's like she didn't get it. She refused to show any emotion other than stark emphasiveness. it was actually quite distrubing to hear her talk about Harry Kim and his mother with absolutely no expression on her face.

She definititely had to go.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Botany Bay

No, I think she just tried to press something through. By playing the character so... "meaningfull" she may have tried to force the producers to make stories that fit the high class of an actress like her. As soon as she realized that the producers dont give a damn she left the show. Its not uncommon that actors try to influence the way a movie or TV-show develops. Seeing her performance and the very negative way how Berman reacts to questions about her, I get the feeling thats exactly what happened here.

In the way: Star Trek sucks, I dont have another offer now, so perhaps I can force the producers to make Voyager a really high art TV show. If not, then to hell with Trek.

Sad enough, I personally think she may not be that wrong about it, because I really dislike Voyager and find it a really numb show. And considering how the franchise developed in the last decade...

Good Observation on her acting.
I sense while Trek didn't break to many award wining performances and dramas...It was quite a statement to put a female in command...even in this day it's not frequently done. I like to think of it as Voyager's or ...Janeway's contribution.