Michael Dorn: Forget "Picard," I've been trying to pitch a "Worf" TV show

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https://www.salon.com/2021/03/07/sta...-worf-tv-show/

In its various forms, Star Trek has existed for more than 50 years. This means that almost three generations of people around the world have experienced Gene Roddenberry's hopeful vision of the future, one where humanity has survived its childhood and adolescence and then taken a leadership role in the galaxy through an interstellar alliance called the United Federation of Planets.

Following Roddenberry's template, Star Trek is a meditation on morality, ethics, leadership, politics and power as seen through a formula where there is a "problem of the week" (or now season) to be solved by the crew and its allies.

Of course, in Star Trek there are great enemies of "humanity" such as the seemingly unstoppable Borg. But there is always a future beyond where such foes are beaten back (perhaps to become future allies), and the Federation's core values may be challenged but in the end are not broken.

Star Trek is also a business; it is one of America's and the world's most enduring popular culture franchises, which in addition to TV shows and films also includes novels, comic books, toys, video games, and other products.

As commerce and storytelling Star Trek has experienced great highs and lows, successes and failures.

There are the excellent and deservedly beloved TV shows and films such as the original "Star Trek" series from the 1960s as well as its successors "Star Trek: The Next Generation" and "Deep Space Nine." Star Trek has also experienced great creative lows such as the TV series "Enterprise," JJ Abrams' Star Trek films, and the current TV series "Star Trek: Discovery."

But ultimately, it is the characters and their relationships with one another that are the bedrock of Star Trek's great success. In so many ways, Star Trek, especially for those who are immersed in its fandom, is a type of family.

Actor Michael Dorn has been a near-constant presence in Star Trek. Beginning with "Star Trek: The Next Generation" through to the film "Star Trek: Nemesis," Dorn's character Worf has appeared on-screen in more Star Trek TV shows and films than any other actor playing the same character. Dorn's time on-screen even surpasses that of William Shatner or Patrick Stewart, who respectively portrayed Captain Kirk and Captain Picard.

In conjunction with Dorn's latest film "Agent Revelation" – a sci-fi adventure about communicating with an alien race – the actor spoke to Salon to reflect on his career as well as the life and career lessons he learned from his parents and family who grew up during Jim Crow American apartheid. He shares the advice he gives to Black and brown actors about navigating their careers and opportunities in what he describes as a "fantastic time" of opportunity for non-white actors and actresses in Hollywood.

Dorn also reflects on his relationship with the sci-fi franchise, explains why Worf is such a popular Star Trek character, how he channeled the energy of a Klingon warrior, and addresses the rumor that Worf will appear in the Paramount+ (formerly CBS All Access) series "Picard."