Series creator Bryan Fuller recently shared concept art via Instagram showing how Laurence Fishburne might have appeared as a Klingon in Star Trek: Discovery. This reveal follows Fuller's departure from the production before its first season aired due to creative disagreements.
Ridged foreheads and the aesthetic of The Next Generation
The newly unveiled concept art suggests a visual direction that aligns much more closely with the established history of the franchise. Rather than the controversial redesign that eventually debuted in Star Trek: Discovery, Fuller’s vision utilized the iconic ridged foreheads seen in Star Trek: The Motion Picture and Star Trek: The Next Generation. The designs also featured armor with a more "barbarian-style" feel, moving away from the more distinctly alien look that the final series adopted.
The report notes that the Klingon redesign used in the actual Star Trek: Discovery series became one of the most widely criticized aspects of the show among the fanbase. By opting for a more traditional warrior aesthetic , Fuller’s unfulfilled concept might have avoided the intense online backlash that characterized the show's early years on CBS All-Access, now known as Paramount+.
The Hannibal connection: Fishburne, Anderson, and Armitage
Fuller’s original roadmap for Star Trek: Discovery included several actors from his previous acclaimed series, Hannibal. Beyond the proposed Klingon role for Laurence Fishburne, the creator intended to bring a specific ensemble of talent into the Star Trek universe. This potential cast list included:
- Richard Armitage as Ambassador Sarek
- Gillian Anderson in a Starfleet captain role
- Hugh Dancy in a role that remains unspecified
This crossover of talent would have fundamentally altered the tone of the series, linking the dark, character-driven energy of Hannibal with the expansive sci-fi setting of the Trek franchise.
The rejection of Starfleet uniforms and approved Klingon designs
The divergence between Fuller’s vision and the final product was rooted in fundamental creative disputes during the show's development. As Fuller told The D-Con Chamber podcast in 2025, his exit from the series was marked by a direct clash over production elements. "My last week there, I had approved the Starfleet uniforms, which they tossed out. And I had rejected the Klingons, which they kept," Fuller stated.
This indicates that the very elements that became hallmarks of the Discovery era—the specific uniform designs and the new Klingon physiology—were the exact elements Fuller had actively opposed before leaving the project. his departure meant that the first new Star Trek television series in over a decade launched without his specific stylistic fingerprints.
Uncertainties regarding Hugh Dancy and the anthology format
While the concept art provides clarity on the visual style, several aspects of Fuller's original pitch remain shrouded in mystery. It is still unknown what specific role Hugh Dancy would have played, or how his character would have integrated into the broader Starfleet hierarchy. Furthermore, while the source mentions that Fuller initially designed Star Trek: Discovery as an anthology series, it remainns unclear how much of that structural concept was considered by the studio before the decision was made to move forwrd with a continuous five-season narrative.
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