Michael Dorn reveals he was asked to appear on Star Trek: Discovery. As Worf, Michael Dorn set a record for the most appearances ever in Star Trek. Dorn portrayed Worf in seven seasons of Star Trek: The Next Generation, four TNG movies, and four seasons of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Michael Dorn returned as Captain Worf in Star Trek: Picard season 3, bringing his tally up to 285 total appearances as the Klingon Starfleet Officer.
Before Star Trek: Picard season 3, Michael Dorn's last appearance as Worf was in Star Trek: Nemesis in 2002. Dorn then spent the next 21 years getting a respite from wearing Worf's Klingon prosthetics. However, Worf was never too far away, as Michael would join his fellow Star Trek: The Next Generation cast members at Star Trek conventions over the years. While Dorn's comeback as Worf was overwhelmingly well-received by Star Trek fans, Michael says there was a window where he could have potentially appeared on Star Trek: Discovery.
Michael Dorn Was Asked To Join Star Trek: Discovery
As Worf or a new character?
Michael Dorn appeared as a guest on Inside of You podcast with Michael Rosenbaum, where Dorn explained that he was asked to be part of Star Trek: Discovery. However, Dorn doesn't specify that Discovery wanted him back as Worf; he just says they asked him to "do this character." This makes sense since Star Trek: Discovery was originally a prequel set in the 23rd century, long before Worf was born. Read Dorn's quote below:
I was asked several times to be part of that new universe, but because of just circumstances… just that sort of one thing that happens… nothing to do with me… but something happens like on Discovery, they said hey, we want you to come back and do this character. It would be great. We’ll show you... Scripts, everything… I was talking to the producer… The producer gets fired, and they bring in a whole ‘nother crew. So it’s those type of things. So that was going on for a long time. Then one time, I just went, ‘Okay, that’s it. I’m not going to think about this anymore.’
Given the clues in Michael Dorn's quote, it sounds like he might have talked to Star Trek: Discovery's original creator and showrunner, Bryan Fuller, who left the series due to creative differences. Fuller's initial concept for Discovery was an anthology about a new crew and starship every season. It's possible Fuller talked to Dorn about joining that early version of Star Trek: Discovery, perhaps as a new character, but Fuller was fired by Alex Kurtzman, who oversees all of Star Trek on Paramount+.
Michael Dorn Finally Returned As Worf In Star Trek: Picard
Picard season 3 delivered the TNG reunion fans wanted
Star Trek: Discovery ran for 5 seasons on CBS All-Access and Paramount+ without Michael Dorn playing any role. However, Star Trek fans' dreams came true when Star Trek: Picard season 3 finally reunited the cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation. Dorn returned as Captain Worf, now an aged and wiser Klingon warrior who embraced 'pacifism' but was as lethal as ever. Worf not only teamed up with Commander Raffi Musiker (Michelle Hurd), but joined his fellow TNG crew on the bridge of the restored USS Enterprise-D to save the galaxy from the Borg one more time.
Michael Dorn is so beloved as Worf that it's no surprise Star Trek wanted him back long before Star Trek: Picard season 3 made it happen. Dorn bided his time to come back as Worf, choosing the right project for his return. When Star Trek: Picard made an offer for the entire TNG cast to come back, Dorn couldn't refuse. Star Trek: Discovery lost out on Michael Dorn, but, thankfully, Dorn isn't done as Worf. Michael told Inside of You that he is willing to reprise the Klingon if a new opportunity comes up that he finds interesting.
