Bruce Greenwood Contrasts His Pike With Original April 28, 2010
by TrekMovie.com Staff , Filed under: Star Trek (2009 film), TOS , trackback
The Justice League fan site has a new interview with the new Christopher Pike, Bruce Greenwood, who draws a sharp contrast between his portrayal of the character and the original version by Jeffrey Hunter. More details below
Greenwood contrasts the Pikes
In his audio interview with Justice League, Greenwood was asked about the differences between his Pike and the original. Greenwood stated:
I think the fundamental difference between the two, the Hunter Pike and the Greenwood Pike, if you really want to start to draw comparisons, is the dilemma that Jeffrey Hunter’s Pike had is entirely different from my dilemma and Hunter’s being that he was terribly ambivalent about is his place in the Federation, he was really torn about whether or not he wanted to go back and have an authentic smaller life or the large life of a commander. And that is not the dilemma of the Captain Pike in this Federation….He doesn’t have an internal wrestling match the way the earlier Pike did. But he does have second thoughts and misgivings about the way Starfleet is training its officers and the kind of officers it produces.
Much more from Greenwood on Pike and his work on the upcoming animated DVD "Batman: Under the Hood" at earthsmightiest.com/fansites/justiceleague
Greenwood says his Pike is not as conflicted as Hunter’s
POLL: Who is your favorite Pike?
Do you prefer the Pike from the original Star Trek pilot, or the new Pike from the Star Trek movie. Or do you prefer the beeping Pike from “The Menagerie?”
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Comments»
I absolutely loved Greenwood as Pike and I sincerely hope they have him back for more, with or without the wheelchair. He’s a terrific actor and has earned his place in Trek lore.
As strange as it sounds, I wouldn’t mind having Tyler Perry back, either. He did a surprisingly good job as Admiral Barnett.
I would have to agree – Greenwood made that very clear in his portrayal of Pike. It’s great to know he watched “The Cage”.
Which Pike do you all like better?
By the way – my first time being first …
Its good to hear that Greenwood seems to have done his homework. I thought his Pike was quite different than the TOS Pike but I honestly liked this Pike a lot better.
I was very pleasantly surprised by Greenwood’s Pike. Greenwood seemed so comfortable and at such ease in the role. He was extremely convincing in every scene.
Greenwood is a great actor, and his portrayal of Pike was fantastic. Hope to see him back in action for the sequel!
I personally loved Greenwood’s Pike and Hunter’s Pike. Both actors made the part their own. And what everyone needs to remember is that Greenwood’s Pike hadn’t been in charge of the Enterprise for years like Hunter’s Pike had. So yea there are going to be differences in their personalities. Both are spectacular as Pike, and I hope Greenwood comes back at least for a cameo in the 2010 move.
Pike Prime had lost his mojo. In the JJ-verse, Nero’s incursion seemed to make the Federation and its leaders become more strongly motivated. The Enterprise gets built bigger and more advanced, and Pike has a purpose.
Fantastic actor. Needless to say his Pike was awesome. Greenwood alone was reason for me to watch the film. Magnificent casting. (And I also agree w/ #8 Magic_Al.)
I think it’s great how Greenwood’s Pike is being developing in an alternate storyline. Same man, same officer, but a different set of circumstances is influencing and shaping a different part of his character in that reality. What has ( or had) gone on in the Federation has re-focused his sense of integrity from the personal to the professional. I think Pike will (or should) continue to pop up as a (dare I say it?!?) Yoda-like presence when the plot warrants.
Apologies for typos galore in above post. My doc took me off a med that was causing some serious problems, including cognitive issues. (And no, it wasn’t Thorazine, smart asses. LOL)
Like hr said, two different worlds two different Pikes. Like them both for different reasons.
I don’t understand why people spend so much time contrasting the two actors. I don’t think people are so constant from day to day that you can draw contrasts. I like how Greenwood looked at it, comparing the character in the context of the stories, but I don’t think people need to contrast them as two different people.
That said there is an intensity without humor or charm in Hunter that I don’t think would have served TOS as well as our favorite Canadian ham or the new guy did. It’s like having Paul Walker as Kirk… Just the wrong type of guy…
I just wonder what “Enterprise” would have done with better writing, a better cast (someone like Greenwood as captain) and less of a focus on the politics of planets and Vulcans and more going where noone had gone before…
Bruce Greenwood is a fantastic Actor and he did an Incredable job as Capt Pike. I hope we see more of him in the Next Trek Movie.
Its funny, but CMD Riker always reminded me of the Hunter Capt Pike. Greenwood did do a fantastic job though, he kind of made the character his own. Actually one of the better performances in the movie.
Greenwood is a great actor, and he did a terrific job in the role as Capt (later Admiral) Pike. But my favorite character in the new movie, is by far Karl Urban’s “Bones” McCoy. He was just great in every scene he was in. I hope to see more of him in the sequel, and I really hope CBS/Paramount would authorize the go-ahead on a new television series based in this new reality.
We were so lucky to get Mr. Greenwood.
I am all about the original Star Trek. But I certainly voted for Greenwood. His Pike was straight to the point and heroic in his choices. His Pike could be a role model for kids. Where say Kirk, might be considered a little less so, at this point, in his development with regard to this particular film.
So sure, let’s see Pike in a mentoring role for Kirk and also place him in a dramatic position in the film. That kind of mentoring thing certainly couldn’t have taken place in that the ‘other’ universe, so I say lets see more of Captain Pike.
Heck, who knows, maybe the Talosians could get involved again….
#16
Did you guys have your eyes on Bruce Greenwood from the start?
Was there anyone else J.J Abrams considered?
Bruce Greenwood along with Leonard Nimoy lent the film a tremendous amount of gravitas.
18. ryanhuyton – April 28, 2010
When April Webster mentioned Greenwood, we’d all just been talking about how Kirk was in someway modeled and cast with JFK in mind. And anyone who has seen 13 Days will hopefully recognize what a brilliant job Greenwood did as Kennedy. So he is the only actor Alex and I advocated, and JJ agreed.
I could not pass up on voting for rad. burned Chris Pike.
-J.
Greenwood is gold. I hope you guys bring him back, and not to kill him off. James Bond has M. Star Trek should have Admiral Pike.
Loved Greenwood since Nowhere Man. Awesome screen presence. Hunter rocks as well, just two different types, each excelling in his own interpretation. But yeah,…more please.
Just wanted to add to the Bruce Greenwood love! :)
Fantastic actor, and I thought he and Chris Pine played off each other really well.
And it’s cool to know that he did his homework, too! ;)
Agree with #21.
As much as I enjoy the new Alternate/Parallel Star Trek, I still prefer the one thats an (imaginary) extension of our own timeline/destiny.
19
Bob, that all makes good sense, but one other question…..Greenwood is a great actor, but did you, maybe even on a subliminal level, cast him as Pike because he is Canadian and it kind of gives a nod/salute to the Shat’s turn as the “original” Captain?
#19
Believe it or not Bob, I still haven’t seen “Thirteen Days”. I’ll have to put it on by “to-watch” list. :-)
I really enjoyed Mr Greewood’s take on Pike. I hope we at least get a cameo out of him in the next Trek.
and Mr Greenwood’s take too… really, I can spell, just not so good at the typing…
Greenwood was good as Pike, but I’m surprised to see, and it’s a shame that Hunter’s Pike isn’t getting more respect here. He deserves better, and a picture of him being included in this article wouldn’t have hurt either for that matter.
#29
I think that is because Hunter’s Pike was a reluctant captain who became tired of commanding a ship. While Hunter was good in the role, his character just wasn’t that interesting. The execs at NBC wanted a captain who loved being in command and an actor who would convey that. Hence William Shatner as Kirk. The alt-verse Pike, while the same character, was more upbeat and his disillusionment came from Starfleet’s inability to find capable, talented officers worthy of command. Plus, Greenwood’s Pike was a father figure to alt-Kirk which also added to his appeal.
The vote isn’t really fair, Bruce Greenwood had the whole franchise’s history to build on, while Jeff Hunter was playing the first Trek lead ever.
Still, Bruce was perfect in the role. His Pike gave the film a grounded, credible center at least as much as Nimoy did.
I don’t know about you folks, but I think it’s cool as heck that Bob Orci drops by this forum and posts. What a franchise this is, and what a great community of dedicated fans–whether you’re creating the magic or just enjoying it.
Maybe the magic is IN us enjoying it!
32 I think its pretty cool to actually. And I think the biggest part of his motive is (besides finding some neat ideas perhapes) is to just chat with fans like himself, or at least thats what I get, cant speak for Bob though.
To be honest (and I know this is weird, but just think about it and hear me out. I always, ALWAYS thought that if they ever revisited the Pike era, Ray Liotta would have been perfect in looks and acting ability.
I can kind of see those points, talented actor for sure.
I gotta say I really didn’t want Captain Pike to leave the center chair! I’ve adored Bruce Greenwood since I first glimpsed him in Capote!!! I hope he somehow makes it to the Star Trek sequel along with Admiral “Perry.”
I would like to see him back.
I hope they keep him in the wheelchair. That to me was symbolic of the universe balancing everything out.
He ends up chair bound as he did in the other time line only not so severe which was nice.
As this movie was a new canon universe then this Pike is a totally different character.
As I said before I love all the new actors but I still prefer the originals.
Bruce Greenwood was excellent at Pike.
Guess because Pike was in one episode it is harder to be adament the original is the best which is what I hold to in the main 7.
I am always going to prefer William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy as Kirk and Spock.
I like Jeff Hunter as Pike though
I don’t see the Greenwood Pike as all that different. Hunter’s Pike was seen at crisis point in his life. Greenwood’s character is older and more comfortable in his own skin.
Personally, a Greenwood/Pike straight-to-Blu-ray film or TV show would work very well with me!
Greenwood is da man! I hope he has a continuing presence in the storyline. I think he’s as important as Kirk, Bones, & Spock.
Yeah, I’ll have to toss in my two cents that Greenwood’s Pike was more enjoyable, largely due to the fact that Mr. Greenwood was able to declare so much about the character in such a short amount of screen time.
Consider that The Cage events are placed around the early 2250’s, and ST09 is in the late 2250’s. Greenwood’s Pike is so good, in that it’s as if one took Hunter’s Pike, age reversed him to 2233 when Nero’s Insertion took place, and then took him forward 25 years.
Hunter was playing the role as written so well: Pike had just lost crew in an ambush at Rigel, he was injured (although not as much as Spock -viz. limp), and thus angry and dejected. Roddenberry’s ego mistake was to use The Cage as the pilot, when that story as a “cold viewing” just is tough to pick up on. I know GR was trying to make another “Forbidden Planet” essentially, where we just drop in on the C-56-D; but a story like Corbomite Maneuver would have worked much better. It would have been interesting to see Hunter’s take on Pike in a different episode.
I voted for Greenwood though, because after watching 13 Days many times, and also enjoying anything in which he appears… such as the US President in National Treasure, I want to follow this guy wherever he leads.
Here’s hoping Pike survives a couple nu films, before saving a large number of new cadets in holding a baffle plate to prevent deadly delta rays from injuring everyone! Sort of the original Spock-Sacrifice-to-escape-Khan move, if you think about it!
Oh—Absolutely BRUCE GREENWOOD is the Pike i prefer!!
I sure hope to see him in the sequel and not just a cameo role either!!!
Nothing against Greenwood, but he’s not my Pike…and that’s not my Enterprise.
@40 yes a new series based on the enterprise under the command of Captain Pike could go over very well.
@45
Have you actually created an Enterprise of your very own?
For the record…..I loved the new Star Trek movie. BUT…one of the things that left me scratching my head was the reason for Pike’s relief of command of the Enterprise and the nature of his injuries from his ordeal on the Narada. Other than the wheelchair, he looked heathly and able-minded. Were his injuries permanent…or progressive? Surely in the 23rd century (and hopefully today) a persons ability to command a ship isn’t predicated on his ability to walk. What exactly was going on then that led to him giving up command? Was he promoted? (Hence the new uniform?)
In any case, I hope he has a prominent role in Star Trek 2.0. Would love to see a story that dove tails ultimately with The Menagerie and Talos IV.
Beeeeeeeeeep!
@7 and 43:
totally took the words right out of my mouth…
it would’ve been interesting to see Mr. Hunter as Pike more…too bad they couldn’t work him into episodes as the re-curring Fleet Captain/Commodore/Admiral or something to interact with Kirk.
and MAYBE, just maybe, NuPike is just as conflicted, we just don’t get to see it, though with the ‘new’ timeline the Rigel incident probably didn’t happen, or at the very least not as it happened to Prime-Pike.
#45;
Yeah it’s not my Enterprise either. IMO the “A” is still the best-of-em-all. If they could only have made it more “A”, than the “A”. I’m not sure what this means exactly, but I’ll know it when I see it (if that makes sense to you).
#45.
Maybe it would have helped if the writers had actually made clear that the events of this last film were supposed to be in an alternate universe, but they didn’t do that obviously, regardless of all the people that have chosen to buy into that template anyway (which isn’t canon obviously).
It doesn’t matter if the new timeline is a parallel universe or a rewrite: all the events of the other TV shows and movies led up to the moment Nero’s ship went through the black hole!
Joe Public didn’t worry about that and neither should we!
I’d like to see Pike back again, as I thought Greenwood really made the character deep and interesting.
Yeah, why IS he in that wheelchair? Is it permanent? Is it progressively getting worse? Where did he get those swanky duds???
Sean Keeney meep meep
I think both the acting AND the writing for Greenwood’s pike were one if the highlights of the movie. His portrayal in the Iowa bar scene with Kirk was perfect.
If only today’s military officer were more like that and less like shady career-minded politicians.
I like Greenwood’s Pike more than Hunter’s because Greenwood’s version of him was a bit more spunky and kickass. Hunter’s was very soft spoken.
Keeney’s was pretty interesting though. He went BEEEEEEP BEEEEEEP. And BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP when he was in distress.
I don’t think I could stomach a gratuitous ‘bumping off’ of Pike.
So don’t even be tempted, Bob and Alex!
Now if he were to take a Starship and ram in into an enemy of whatever description to save Kirk and the Enterprise…… well, I think I could live with that. If it was done well. Which I know it would be!
I had a dream the other night. I had just watched the next Trek film and it sucked rather alarmingly! The press hated it and it was very depressing!
Don’t let it happen Mr Orci!
I think a major factor is that Greenwood’s Pike is a film character and Hunter’s Pike is a tv character. The way the actor’s play for the format makes a difference. I think Greenwood brings a lot to the big screen — he’s got that understated charismatic thing. Nothing against Hunter, but I always found his acting to be rather wooden.
Hunter’s Pike, for the brief time we saw him, was undergoing something of a personal crisis that had him rethinking his career in Starfleet. We don’t know how that crisis would have resolved itself had he remained the series star, although the fact that her remained in Starfleet, and was even injured in the line of duty, suggests that he resolved the crisis in favor of staying with the organization.
Now Greenwood’s Pike may or may not have faced a similar situation. For the purposes of the last film, his crisis was entirely different. But maybe that’s the plot for the next movie. A disillusioned Pike, tired of fighting with the admiralty over the direction that Starfleet is going, resigns and goes into business for himself. Uses those Starfleet diplomacy skills to set up trade and cultural exchanges between different worlds. Runs afoul of the Gorn or the Klingons and needs to be rescued by Kirk and Spock (acting against orders, of course). Hey, this thing writes itself.
Ok…nonrelated tangent here. In ST V…when Sybok is exposing everyone’s “pain”…what would Kirk’s have been? I’m guesing Edith Keeler or Gary Mitchell. Your thoughts?
Two entirely different characters.
I see Hunter’s Pike similar to the way they introduced the character of Ben Sisko in the DS9 pilot, ready to quit and ready to return to New Orleans with his son. But after his contact with the prophets and the early positive impacts he was able to make with the Bajoran people and the wormhole, his thoughts of turning in his badges quickly evaporated. Had Roddenberry had ever wanted to, and had Hunter not died early, and had Star Trek been judged accurately to be a success while still on the air, there definitely would have been more support for Pike adventures on TV.
But I love Greenwood’s NuPike.
Jeff Hunter was a fine captain and who knows how TOS would have been had he not backed out after the first pilot.
Bruce Greenwood was good in that he made Pike more real in the sense that he gets to fulfill his career in Starfleet.
If Pike has to sacrifice himself in the JJverse it should be to save Kirk or the Enterprise as in Wrath of Khan.
62. I think it would have to be Edith Keeler. The love of a woman against the timeline of humanity was great drama.
Gary Mitchells demise was to save the ship.
#54. Dom,
“Joe Public” didn’t have the investment in Trek that longstanding fans here tend to have in it.
And it’s silly to say that it doesn’t matter if this last movie wiped out all of Trek canon and history –that’s something we have a right to know unequivocally at the very least.
I’ve liked Greenwood as an actor for a while, before he was even cast in this film. He’s a good, solid performer, but Hunter’s Pike had considerably more screen time and deserves more credit than he’s getting here, the character’s disillusionment with Starfleet and his service in general in “The Cage” notwithstanding. That was something that would have been built on with character development had Hunter stayed with the role, and it’s not as though Shatner’s Kirk didn’t have similar feelings at times about his role as Captain of a Starship. We saw it in several episodes of the original series. Kirk was more bold, more brash, less low-key than Pike, granted, but that doesn’t mean Hunter’s Pike wouldn’t have proven to be a great character also had he stuck around and been given more time in that role to grow and better develop.
#62 I would say Kirk would still be very much feeling the loss of his son, David Marcus.
Bottom line, the oriignals will always be better.
C’mon show some love for Sean Keeney. Beep!
Eh, beep beep! He was the only Pike to make it to Futurama y’know! Beep!
Greenwood jumped off the screen as Pike. Having his character as a driving force in the film was wonderfully appropriate.
Jeffrey Hunter had an visible intensity, and I enjoy his performance. But “The Cage” left me cold in the same way that DS9’s “Emissary” did: it’s hard to rally behind a leader who doesn’t want to be there. It took me years to warm up to Sisko, even though I thought Avery Brooks’ performance was fine.
Greenwood did a good job as Pike. Nevertheless, I would like to see more modern movies that explore the shadow side of leadership. Hunter’s Pike was heroic and honorable AND conflicted. The people who write these modern entertainments don’t think audiences are clever enough to understand complex characters (maybe they’re right, given some of the comments on this board).
One of the greatest things about the original show was the character development. Was it a good thing that Kirk had a Tiger-Wood’s-like obsession with alien poon? Probably not. But you know who I’d want to captain my starship (that’s not a metaphor for anything, btw).
@69
So you mean the first personal computer is better than today’s laptop? VHS video is better than blu-ray? The car cell phones of 1992 are better than iPhones?
What, is someone at home transcribing your typewriter pages into a browser for you?
“Originals are always better.” Sheesh! Progressive attitude there. Still waiting to let your wife go out and vote?
#74
He was talking about the original actors who played Pike, Spock, Kirk etc.
Take it easy.
Hard to believe that 6 percent of you actually voted for the actor who played Pike in the chair. Staring into space expressionless with prosthetic makeup and his mouth open. Oh yeah. Let’s have some more of that.
Who ARE you people?
74
I prefer today’s computers and I prefer DVD over VHS and I love blu ray loads.
I meant I usually prefer the original actors over the new ones, only exceptions for me have been The Doctor in Doctor WHo and James Bond.
Dude u make it sound like a crime that I prefer William Shatner over Chris Pine.
But I do admit where as its easier to say the original actors are the best it is a bit more grey when it comes to Pike. And even though I do like the new actors I still have love for those originals more so.
Now the day Pine gets more votes than Shatner then that will be a very, very sad and depressing day. Pine was decent but Shatner made the role.
77. captain_neill: I guess it’s always difficult with recasting, so I know where you’re coming from. It’s inevitable in the cycle of a long-lived saga and, like it or not, each generation has its ‘own’ preferred versions.
I grew up in the Roger Moore James Bond era, but came to appreciate Connery the best, along with Dalton, who became Bond when I was around 11 or 12. But there are performances by Moore, Craig, Dalton and Lazenby I like better. I think Connery went downhill as Bond from Thunderball onwards. It was those first three truly great Bond films where he was at his peak. For me, Roger was a better Bond in The Spy Who Loved Me and For Your Eyes Only than Connery was in, say You Only Live Twice or Diamonds are Forever!
Same goes for Sherlock Holmes. Jeremy Brett’s performance will forever colour my view of how Holmes should be played and David Burke and Edward Hardwicke are how I feel Watson should be portrayed. But some people will prefer basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce, others Peter Cushing and, indeed, there is probably a bunch youngsters who will always see Robert Downey Jr and Jude Law as their Holmes and Watson.
That said, some sagas have a history of recasting and others don’t. IIRC, there was a possibility of recasting the Trek characters at the behest of Gene Roddenberry himself as far back as the 1970s. Nick Meyer’s approach to Star Trek II was reasonably unconventional and I doubt he could have sold the pitch these days. Can you imagine pitching a franchise film now where you were dealing with 50-year old actors playing characters coming to terms with old age and death?
Doctor Who is an oddity and different eras and casts have a different impacts on different people. I mean, my earliest childhood DW memories are of Tom Baker’s era, which is my favourite. I’ve seen all the eras on VHS or satellite and have gradually collected some of the DVDs. I love Troughton’s stories and Tom Baker’s. I like Hartnell a lot and enjoy early Pertwee. I think Davison was good, but many of his stories weren’t, although Kinda and The Caves of Androzani stand up as two of the best Doctor Whos ever. Davison also had rubbish companions until Peri. Colin Baker I really liked in his first season. McCoy got better, although many of his cheap looking stories just don’t work now. McGann was good in a rubbish film. Then, in nu-Who, there’s the oddity of an era being about the producer rather than the actor as Tennant’s time on the show is simply a continuation of Eccleston’s. I really loathe most of RTD’s era with a passion, but am liking better what I’m seeing on the current series. But lots of other people will disagree with all the above or agree with some of it. I simply take the view that Doctor Who moved on and I simply don’t care for the direction it took.
Sadly, I’m afraid, it’s a sign of us getting older that things we loved have moved on a younger generation will embrace the new versions of things. I mean, lots of youngsters love the Star Wars prequels and are less interested in the originals. C’est la vie!
That said, one piece of recasting I would love to see (and I suspect I might appal you with this) would be for the BBC (perhaps BBC4) to produce a low-budget spin-off series of Doctor Who where they remake the lost stories under similar conditions to the originals. They could do it mostly on greenscreen, in all honesty. I mean, they even have the original camera scripts for these shows! No one’s going to make the telesnaps and home cassette tapes of the sound from the originals go away, but, equally, re-staging the originals, which were effectively plays put on before cameras could be a lot of fun! :)
I agree with the posters who point out that we’re comparing only two brief moments from each Pike’s life. So it’s an apple and oranges comparison in the end.
Having said that, and having seem much of the work of both actors, I voted for Greenwood. I’ve long thought it was a VERY fortunate thing for Star Trek that Hunter turned down the second pilot.
@ Captain Neill
Of course I’m not saying it’s a crime to prefer Shatner over Pine. But that’s not what your post said. You said….”Bottom line, the originals will always be better.” I struggle with broad strokes comments that arguably sound like they have a very narrow view….ironically on subject that taught tolerance, diversity and open mindedness.
And for record…that’s just my POV.