The mid-Nineties was a really busy time for “Star Trek.” 1993 noticed the beginning of “Star Trek: Deep House 9,” proper in the midst of the sixth hit season of “Star Trek: The Subsequent Era.” The 2 exhibits ran concurrently. In Could of 1994, “Subsequent Era” celebrated its remaining episode, whereas manufacturing was already in progress for the function movie “Star Trek: Generations.” That movie opened in November. In January of 1995, Paramount launched its personal community, the UPN, whereas additionally debuting the brand-new collection “Star Trek: Voyager.” It started proper when “Deep House 9” was in its third season. These two exhibits additionally ran concurrently. And in 1996, the franchise returned to theaters with the “Subsequent Era”-inspired film “Star Trek: First Contact.”
The assorted “Star Trek” exhibits of this period have been all filmed in the identical “neighborhood” of studios on the Paramount Photos lot in Hollywood. An enterprising “Deep House 9” actor might, in the event that they have been so inclined, trek throughout the lot to see the set of “Voyager.” The 2 exhibits tended to not “mingle” in such a trend, and every collection had its personal solid and artistic crew, however actor-to-actor interplay might be had, ought to somebody be possessed to do it and if scheduling shook out.
This potential ease of entry was actually on the thoughts of Nana Customer, the actress who played Major Kira Nerys on “Deep Space Nine.” Entry to the “Voyager” set was really easy, in reality, Customer figured — in a match of formidable pique — that she might play Kira in the future, after which play Captain Janeway on “Voyager” the subsequent. In a 2025 interview with TrekMovie, Customer admitted she did not understand how which may logistically work, however she felt she might have swung it.
Nana Customer felt she might play bith Main Kira and Captain Janeway
To make certain, the characters of Main Kira and Captain Janeway have been very, very totally different. Kira was a former freedom fighter through the navy occupation of her dwelling planet, Bajor. Initially of “Deep House 9,” the occupation had ended, and Kira needed to settle right into a desk job that she type of hated. Captain Janeway, in the meantime (performed by Kate Mulgrew), was a disciplined Starfleet officer who grew to become obsessed along with her mission to return the united statesS. Voyager to Earth. Because the collection progressed, Janeway started to lean into her extra authoritarian tendencies, clashing with the franchise’s ideals. Each have been fascinating characters.
In keeping with the TrekMovie interview, Nana Customer as soon as had a pipe dream of taking part in each roles. She even approached the “Star Trek” head honcho on the time, Rick Berman, and prompt that she would be capable to do it. “I did not care how it might work,” she mentioned, “I cared that I felt like I might do it.” Customer continued:
“I wished to play each roles. And I believed there, , it is simply throughout the road. It is a fast make-up change. I can do it. Separate all of the scenes that she’s received for the week, put them on lately. Main Kira on others. It could have been a nightmare for them. After all, for therefore many causes, it made no sense. However while you’re captivated with one thing, generally you do not make a whole lot of sense.”
The scheduling would certainly have been a large headache for everybody. The make-up remark was in reference to the small nasal prosthetic that Customer needed to put on to play a Bajoran character; Janeway was a human and required no facial prosthetics.
Nana Customer clearly liked Captain Janeway
There was additionally the difficulty of getting two “Star Trek” exhibits with the identical lead actress taking part in two totally different characters. Customer is actually able to taking part in two characters, in fact, however her presence on the newer present would have robbed “Voyager” of forging its personal id. Kate Mulgrew was the suitable selection, nevertheless it’s admittedly enjoyable to think about what Customer would have performed with the function, particularly if she elected to play Janeway as a gentler counterpart to the gruff Main Kira.
Customer as soon as admitted that she admired Mulgrew’s work, and was clearly nonetheless in love with the character. When she noticed what Mulgrew did with the Captain, Customer started imagining Main Kira and Captain Janeway interacting … to explosive impact. Visitor once expressed a wish that Janeway and Kira somehow meet face-to-face, figuring that the 2 of them would slam heads. Particularly, Customer mentioned:
“I’d like to work with Kate Mulgrew. She has the entire Captain command aura and presence about her, and that might be an actual upheaval to [‘Deep Space Nine’]. How would that work out? I see sparks everywhere, and with Captain Sisko. Unsure they’d get alongside. These are two alphas. I believe that might be actually attention-grabbing.”
After all, “Voyager” was set within the Delta Quadrant, a many-decades journey away from Deep House 9, so it appeared unlikely that the 2 would ever have interacted (they solely might have within the “Voyager” pilot episode). However Customer actually dreamt huge. Each Customer and Kate Mulgrew are nonetheless working, nonetheless, so it is attainable they might take a job collectively sometime.
