William Shatner Open to Returning as Captain Kirk on One Condition
William Shatner says he would return as Captain Kirk only if the story is meaningful, while Star Trek: Strange New Worlds producers say they try every season to involve him.
William Shatner says he is not ruling out another turn as Captain James T. Kirk, but only if the story is worth telling. In a statement posted on September 26, the actor said he would consider returning if he were given a meaningful and interesting way to bring Kirk back.
Shatner was clear that nostalgia alone would not be enough. He said he does not want to bring Kirk back simply for the sake of it, suggesting any revival would need a purpose beyond a cameo.
On the production side, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds co-showrunner Henry Alonso Myers said the team has tried every season to involve Shatner. The series already features Paul Wesley as a younger James T. Kirk.
There is also a road not taken. A planned animated follow-up to "The City on the Edge of Forever" would have explored an alternate Kirk who stayed in 1930s New York with Edith Keeler. Several scripts were written, but the episode was never produced.
Shatner's last feature-film appearance as Kirk came in Star Trek Generations in 1994, which ended with the character's death. Whether that ending could be revisited remains an open question, as reported by comingsoon.net.
Quick answers
Would William Shatner return as Captain Kirk?
He said he would consider it if given a meaningful and interesting way to bring Kirk back, and that he does not want to do it simply for the sake of it.
What did Strange New Worlds' co-showrunner say about Shatner?
Henry Alonso Myers said the team has tried every season to involve Shatner.
When did Shatner last play Kirk in a film?
His last feature-film appearance as Kirk was in Star Trek Generations in 1994, which ended with Kirk's death.