Jeffrey Hunter's performance is fierce and severe. Some rumors have circulated for years that Hunter's performance was so overwhelming, that studio executives declared him to be too scary for "Star Trek" audiences. These rumors aren't true, though, and Hunter's intense performance is mostly just mesmerizing. As mentioned, "The Cage" was eventually recut and supplemented with new "Star Trek" footage, extended it into a two-part episode called "The Menagerie." It's a pity Jeffrey Hunter couldn't return for a cameo, but at least his character was acknowledged and eventually given closure within the proper "Star Trek" canon.