Star Trek: Picard’s Santiago Cabrera was going to be Aquaman

Star Trek: Picard's Santiago Cabrera was going to be Aquaman

As a fan who’s been around the block more times than a well-worn pair of space boots, I must say, Santiago Cabrera‘s journey is nothing short of astounding! From nearly donning the iconic Aquaman suit to his recent roles on hit series like The Flight Attendant and Land of Women, it’s clear that this South American star is a force to be reckoned with.


As Santiago Cabrera, I had an unforgettable run for two exhilarating seasons on Star Trek: Picard, portraying the rogue Captain Cristobal Rios, once part of the Starfleet family. Though my character’s departure was somewhat explained at the end of season two, it left a void in season three that was deeply felt by me and many fans alike. Regrettably, our budget constraints prevented us from welcoming back all the familiar faces from seasons one and two, as the actors from Star Trek: The Next Generation were set to rejoin for another heartfelt send-off for their beloved series.

After moving on, Cabrera has made appearances in “The Flight Attendant”, “The Cleaning Lady”, and is set to star in Apple TV’s “Land of Women”. Prior to these roles, this South American actor had been preparing for yet another part. In 2007, he was chosen to play Aquaman in “Justice League: Immortal”. Before the 2007-2008 writers’ strike, Cabrera had visited Australia to meet with the film’s director, George Miller and even tried on the Aquaman costume. However, these preparations were halted when the writers’ strike occurred, ultimately leading to the project being put on hold, and later canceled following the success of “The Dark Knight”. [Adapted from Gamesradar.com]

Technically, I was Aquaman in 2007 when the writer’s strike hit. Just before, we went to Australia, I was with George Miller — I’m just such a fan, I think he’s phenomenal. And I had a little communication with him. My friend Tom Burke, who was fantastic in Furiosa, which I just loved, he was like, “Hey, George says ‘hi.’” It was a feeling like, would you like to be a superhero? The strike hit, so they put [Justice League: Mortal, which remained shelved] on hold. But just being in his world, I went to Wētā, Peter Jackson’s FX company, where I tried the costume on. So it felt very real for a second there. But at the same time, it was like: Don’t do these things. In this business, until it’s all out there, until you’re at the premiere and you’re talking about it like I am now, it’s never real. Clearly, I was excited for that one. So if anything came again, I feel, why not? I’d love to go into the villain territory though, I think I’d enjoy it.

Santiago Cabrera

Naturally thrilled about the project, Cabrera shared with The Hollywood Reporter that “for a moment, it felt incredibly authentic.” If an opening were to arise in either the Marvel or DC Comics universe, he would eagerly seize the chance. There are numerous villains in both realms, and he hopes to capitalize on this opportunity should it arise.

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2024-11-18 06:23

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