William Shatner says he’s “fit and ready” to sit in the captain’s chair once again.
William Shatner will forever be the Captain Kirk for many Star Trek fans. Since the announcement of the rebooted film franchise (now known as the “Kelvin Timeline”) in 2007 and a younger actor, Chris Pine, being cast as Kirk, fans have clamored for Shatner to appear as the iconic character one final time. During a recent interview, Shatner says that even at 86, he’s ready to play Kirk again.
As fans will know, his Original Series co-star Leonard Nimoy appeared in both 2009’s Star Trek and 2012’s Star Trek Into Darkness. So, with a little time travel, an older version of Kirk definitely could appear alongside the younger version of himself.
“I’m perfectly fit and ready to put on some makeup… The problem I guess is what do you do with an aging captain whose youthful existence is already there?,” Shatner said to the Regina Leader-Post.
Shatner last played Kirk on screen in 1994’s Star Trek: Generations.
With the younger version of himself already on screen, what do you do with an older Kirk? In addition to time travel and “flash forward” sequences, I’m sure the writers of the next film and my fellow Trekkies could come up with a vast amount of interesting ideas.
What about Discovery?
Aside from a feature film appearance, it’s not out of the realm of possibility for Shatner to appear as Kirk in the upcoming CBS All Access series Star Trek: Discovery — potentially through a tear in the space-time continuum. However, as we’ve previously reported, the new show will take place a decade before Kirk and Spock’s adventures in The Original Series.
In addition to Star Trek and his upcoming appearance at Fan Expo Regina this weekend, Shatner also discussed his interest in the environment and specifically Canada’s role in the battle against climate change.
“I’m a passionate environmentalist in that we’re all going to die from these effects if we don’t do something about it right now. Not even soon, right now,” Shatner said.
“Canada should be the leader in this and they’re not,” said the Quebec native.
What do you think? Should William Shatner don his captain garb one more time? Tell us how you think it could happen in the comments below.
For all the latest news on a potential fourth Star Trek “Kelvin Timeline” film, Star Trek: Discovery and all the Star Trek celebrity news, stay tuned to TrekNews.net.
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Feature photo: Laurie Lee for TrekNews.net
J Soares
May 5, 2017 at 10:21 am
I would make sense for Captain Kirk to appear in a ENTERPRISE movie during the Romulan War in the same way an aged T’pol did to prevent the destruction of the starship Enterprise.
SteveRanden
May 5, 2017 at 12:52 pm
“William Shatner will forever be the Captan Kirk for many Star Trek fans.”
“Captan”?
Joanie
May 6, 2017 at 2:57 am
Just great as Captain Kirk.
Ray Richelieu
May 6, 2017 at 10:21 pm
It’s the better news of the year I have heard!!! Not surprising me.
Stephen V. Weber
May 7, 2017 at 11:05 pm
I would love to see Shatner as Kirk again. I would also love to see what is going on with the rest of the crew. Any chance of there being an Admiral Chekov or Ohura? I know the TOS actors for Chekov (Walter Koenig) and Ohura (Nichelle Nichols) are in the Star Trek Renegades episodes 1 and 2, but still would like to see more development of their stories as well as Sulu (George Takei (Oh My!)). LOL
Randy Martin
May 8, 2017 at 12:10 pm
I would have liked to see Uhura and Sulu as well on Generations. They were a bigger part of the crew than Chekov but they weren’t even asked to be included. Shameful
Vern Hoover
May 8, 2017 at 2:12 pm
In Generations, he existed in the Nexus. Am I wrong that part of him still exists there forever? Why can’t he come back again by some action the Nexus created. Just a thought.
Jason King
May 8, 2017 at 4:09 pm
Guinan had an “echo” of herself in the Nexus because she entered and then was teleported away. Kirk went into the Nexus and left of his own choice, there is no “echo” of him in the Nexus”
Vern Hoover
May 8, 2017 at 4:32 pm
All things are possible in the Star Trek Universe.
Jason King
May 8, 2017 at 5:00 pm
Possible if they make sense yes. You wanted an explanation, there it is. Whether or not you want it to be true is a different matter.
Joe D.
May 9, 2017 at 9:03 am
That is just theory. I have always been of the mind once you’re in the Nexus, you’re always in the Nexus. But that said in the Kelvin timeline Kirk may never have been in the nexus, may never have died on the Enterprise B. In fact after the events of Star Trek Into Darkness he may live to a ripe old age if death is by natural causes. With any luck Star Trek Discovery is cancelled before it ever airs. The Kelvin timeline screwed up the franchise enough.
Jason King
May 9, 2017 at 10:42 am
If it is “just theory” it has more validity than simply saying he’s in the Nexus with no proof and no reason why.
PICARD: But …I never had a home like this. …Nor a wife and children. …But these are all mine. …Guinan, what are you doing here? …I thought you were on board the Enterprise.
GUINAN: I am. …I’m also here. …Think of me as an echo of the person you know. …A part of herself she left behind.
PICARD: When the Enterprise-B beamed you up from the Lakul?
Picard pointed it out pretty clearly.
Nicholas Masterson Jr.
May 9, 2017 at 2:48 am
That would be great if Shatner played Kirk again that would make my day
BlazeleaderVitale Vitale
June 11, 2017 at 1:12 am
Absolutely it would be wonderful to see William Shatner as Captain Kirk with Chris Pine in a feature film. No doubt there is a way to make this possible in the Star Trek universe. Please make this happen.
Josh
June 14, 2017 at 10:13 am
Maybe Discovery finds a signal from the nexsus like a distress signal and meets up with him! Sort of a follow up to generations or if not Discovery then perhaps young Kirk n crew
Aaron Ashton
June 14, 2017 at 3:39 pm
It would have to be justified REEEEALLY well. The first reboot movie was all about time travel and parallel universes, also involving an original cast member. To do it AGAIN, especially how the second and third reboot movies reference the plot of the first one as well, I’m too worried that it’ll just come off as forced, as much as I’d like to see it.
Now as far as having Shatner appear in the new CBS show somehow, I’m not sure how you’d do that. Not only is it a prequel series, but Kirk’s younger self isn’t even a character in the show. In other words, if Shatner’s Kirk showed up, he would be a total nobody to everyone except the audience.
It’d be cool, even awesome. But the new movies in particular have already been accused of having too much fan service in them. Unless they do it in an ingenious way, I don’t want the overall narrative to suffer in the name of doubling down on fan service even more.
jimmy pye
August 22, 2019 at 8:31 pm
Shatner is 87. There’s a limited time available to capture Shatner one last time and simultaneously revive Kirk in some form. Just remember, you probably have only one last opportunity. Shatner is approaching 90 and our time on this earth is limited.