Star Trek Actor William Shatner Wants To Return as Captain Kirk

An iconic Star Trek actor still wants to reprise their beloved role. However, they seemingly want to do so with minimal effort on their part.

The Star Trek franchise has had many film and television entries since creator Gene Roddenberry’s original series debuted in the late ’60s. Of course, the original Star Trek series remains franchise’s the best chapter in the eyes of many fans. At the center of the original show was William Shatner as Captain James T. Kirk, a role he reprised in multiple films and series that followed. Shatner made his final official on-screen appearance as Captain Kirk in the 1994 feature film Star Trek: Generations, in which the character was killed off.

Related

Star Wars: Rey’s New Jedi Order Movie Will Continue One George Lucas Tradition

The Star Wars: New Jedi Order movie recently hired a writer who appears eager to explore a topic George Lucas examined throughout the franchise.

Shatner has expressed interest in reprising his role as Captain Kirk in a new Star Trek project, but he’s laid out some conditions such as not wanting his return to be a “stunt” or a mere cameo. During an interview with Collider at the 2025 Saturn Awards, reaffirmed his willingness to return as Captain Kirk. However, he seemingly indicated that he wants to do so with minimal effort on his part, suggesting technology has advanced enough to facilitate his Star Trek return.

While it is unclear how Shatner envisions the technology being used to bring Captain Kirk back to Star Trek, recent Hollywood projects have proven a few options could work. While Marvel Studios is amid its Multiverse Saga, Star Trek has used the concept before, perhaps most notably to reboot the franchise for J.J. Abrams feature films. Those movies exist in an alternate timeline that allowed for the iconic roles from the original series to be recast. Chris Pine played James T. Kirk in those films, but Star Trek: The Original Series star Leonard Nimoy reprised his role as “Prime” Spock, who was stranded in the new timeline. While Shatner never appeared in Abrams’ Star Trek movies, a similar use of time travel and/or an alternate universe could be used to bring him back.

Of course, with Shatner saying, “I don’t want to do it again,” he may want to leave Kirk’s return up to Star Trek‘s special effects wizards. In recent years, productions have used stand-in performers to film scenes and later digitally replace their faces using archival footage of the character they’re meant to portray. This was notably done in The Mandalorian Season 2 for Luke Skywalker’s appearance and in Indiana Jones and the Dial Destiny’s flashback scene featuring a de-aged Harrison Ford. So, similar technology could be used to bring back a younger Captain Kirk.

While Shatner may want to return, Paramount could have different feelings. Still, most fans would probably be excited to see Kirk return. But like Shatner, the response would likely depend on how such a return is handled.

The Star Trek franchise is available on Paramount Plus.

Star Trek

Star Trek is a space exploration franchise created by Gene Roddenberry. The series has spanned shows like The Original Series, The Next Generation, and Voyager. More recently, developer Scopely came out with Star Trek Fleet Command, a mobile title where you get to be captain of your own ship.

Created by

Gene Roddenberry

First Film

Star Trek: The Motion Picture

Latest Film

Star Trek Beyond

First TV Show

Star Trek: The Original Series

Latest TV Show

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

Creation Year

1966

Expand

More

Star Trek: 8 Things You Might Not Know About Section 31

Even longtime Star Trek fans may have forgotten about these sinister details regarding Section 31.

Source: Collider