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Robert Beltran was offered the part of Seven of Nine’s husband in Star Trek: Picard

BBG News

As a die-hard Star Trek fan with decades of fandom under my belt, I can’t help but appreciate Robert Beltran’s decision to decline the offer to play Chakotay as an evil character in Star Trek: Picard. While it would have been intriguing to see a darker side of our beloved Voyager crew member, it’s understandable that Beltran wanted to preserve the integrity of the character he had spent so many years developing.

Towards the finale of Star Trek: Voyager, the producers introduced a romantic storyline between Chakotay, portrayed by Robert Beltran, and Seven of Nine, played by Jeri Ryan. This development took fans by surprise because there had been no indications of chemistry between the characters before, and the relationship seemed illogical. Despite this, the series concluded with Chakotay and Seven of Nine in a romantic relationship.

Prior to the start of Star Trek: Picard’s second season, Michael Dorn (Beltran) received an offer for a part in the initial episodes titled “Penance” and “Assimilation.” In these episodes, Admiral Picard and his team are transported by Q [John de Lancie] to an alternate reality where Earth has transformed into a tyrannical empire ruled by a dictator and her partner. Initially, Dorn was cast as the dictator’s husband, but the role later went to Jon Jon Briones when Dorn declined the offer.

In a different scenario, Chakotay might have become the Chief Ruler of Earth, embodying a level of wickedness similar to Briones’ character, but this wasn’t something that appealed to Beltran. He publicly shared his decision to decline the role on Twitter/X.

I was offered an episode (first two, then one) in ‘Picard,’ but I simply did not like what they had written for Chakotay, so I turned them down. I won’t go into detail, but I have no animosity toward the ‘Picard’ producers at all. ‘Star Trek: Prodigy’ offers a Chakotay that I AM enthusiastic about.”

Robert Beltran

Voyager never explored the Mirror Universe, meaning we didn’t get to see Chakotay’s cruel side (except in the episode “Nemesis,” where he was manipulated into viewing the Kradin as enemies), and actor Robert Beltran may have chosen to safeguard the character he developed with Chakotay. As Captain Janeway’s second-in-command, Chakotay was deeply loyal, committed to the crew, and driven to help Voyager return home. This is a legacy worth taking pride in, and it’s commendable that Beltran didn’t want to harm that positive image.

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2024-10-14 04:23

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