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## “The Cage”: The First Pilot
NBC’s decision to fund a pilot for *Star Trek* was formalized in 1964. The pilot, eventually titled “The Cage,” went into production with Gene Roddenberry as creator and producer.
The casting of “The Cage” reflected Roddenberry’s specific vision for the show. The captain of the starship — the central character — was Christopher Pike, played by Jeffrey Hunter. Hunter was an experienced Hollywood actor who had played Jesus Christ in *King of Kings* (1961), giving him a recognizable face and a reputation for physically imposing dramatic roles. The choice of Hunter for Pike was partly about star power: Roddenberry and Desilu needed a lead actor who would give the pilot credibility with network executives.
The character of Number One — the ship’s first officer — was played by Majel Barrett. This casting choice was significant for reasons beyond the professional: Barrett and Roddenberry were romantically involved, a relationship that would eventually lead to their marriage in 1969 but that was at this stage creating tension within the studio. Lucille Ball, when she learned of the relationship, reportedly considered firing both of them; it was Herbert Solow, working through a publicist, who persuaded her to let the matter alone.
The character of Spock was played by Leonard Nimoy, in a version of the character that was somewhat more emotionally expressive than the Spock that viewers would eventually know. The pointed ears were present; the total emotional restraint was not yet fully developed. Nimoy has described his own uncertainty during this period about whether playing an alien character — with heavy prosthetic makeup, in a role that required him to suppress the emotional expressiveness that most actors cultivate — was a viable career choice.