William Shatner is not interested in a Star Trek return. The actor most famously known for portraying the iconic Captain Kirk is still beloved by fans years after he last was seen in the role. Captain Kirk was there from the beginning and was first seen in the very first episode of the long-running sci-fi franchise. Star Trek made its debut on September 8th, 1966. Fans were introduced to the crew of the USS Enterprise, with Shatner's Captain Kirk at the helm. Kirk remained captain for the original series' three seasons and proved to be an incredibly competent leader who also made his share of mistakes.
The Star Trek series was also revolutionary for portraying very real political/social issues of the time. Kirk's kiss with Uhura was the first interracial kiss seen on American television, though it almost didn't happen. Shatner and actress Nichelle Nichols flubbed alternate takes on purpose, ignoring NBC execs who wanted to shoot someone without the kiss for fear of angering Southern TV stations. Because of their intentional flubs, NBC was forced to show the kiss all across the country. Shatner was a hero to fans everywhere onscreen and off, long after his final appearance as Kirk in the movie Star Trek: Generations.
Shatner frequently participates in fan Q&A's on his Twitter page, clarifying certain questions about Star Trek and more. A fan asked Shatner if he thought a Kirk series might be in consideration after the success of Star Trek: Picard, a streaming series that features the return of another fan-favorite, Jean-Luc Picard. The actor gave a response that will likely disappoint countless Captain Kirk fans. Check out Shatner's answer below:
In a new era of streaming services and blockbuster movie releases where beloved shows and characters are rife for reboots, Shatner's response is rather refreshing. While it is exciting to see treasured franchises return with new stories and familiar characters, sometimes less is more. Certain character arcs and plot lines reach full circle and shouldn't be extended further than necessary. Conversely, Shatner's response to the fan's inquiry isn't exactly a firm no to returning as Kirk, but rather indication Shatner believes Kirk's story is done and doesn't want the character's image tarnished by a poor plot line or reboot idea. He did say several years ago that he would be game to return as an older Captain Kirk, but only if the reason were interesting enough, as opposed to a short and uninspired cameo.
Star Trek fans worldwide would certainly be ecstatic if William Shatner reprised his role. Captain Kirk is synonymous with Star Trek for a very good reason. While the show had and continues to have an interesting cast of characters, Kirk was the heart and soul of the show from the very beginning. Star Trek wouldn't be as beloved and iconic today without the confident captain who chose to boldly go where no man has gone before.
The Star Trek series was also revolutionary for portraying very real political/social issues of the time. Kirk's kiss with Uhura was the first interracial kiss seen on American television, though it almost didn't happen. Shatner and actress Nichelle Nichols flubbed alternate takes on purpose, ignoring NBC execs who wanted to shoot someone without the kiss for fear of angering Southern TV stations. Because of their intentional flubs, NBC was forced to show the kiss all across the country. Shatner was a hero to fans everywhere onscreen and off, long after his final appearance as Kirk in the movie Star Trek: Generations.
Shatner frequently participates in fan Q&A's on his Twitter page, clarifying certain questions about Star Trek and more. A fan asked Shatner if he thought a Kirk series might be in consideration after the success of Star Trek: Picard, a streaming series that features the return of another fan-favorite, Jean-Luc Picard. The actor gave a response that will likely disappoint countless Captain Kirk fans. Check out Shatner's answer below:
In a new era of streaming services and blockbuster movie releases where beloved shows and characters are rife for reboots, Shatner's response is rather refreshing. While it is exciting to see treasured franchises return with new stories and familiar characters, sometimes less is more. Certain character arcs and plot lines reach full circle and shouldn't be extended further than necessary. Conversely, Shatner's response to the fan's inquiry isn't exactly a firm no to returning as Kirk, but rather indication Shatner believes Kirk's story is done and doesn't want the character's image tarnished by a poor plot line or reboot idea. He did say several years ago that he would be game to return as an older Captain Kirk, but only if the reason were interesting enough, as opposed to a short and uninspired cameo.
Star Trek fans worldwide would certainly be ecstatic if William Shatner reprised his role. Captain Kirk is synonymous with Star Trek for a very good reason. While the show had and continues to have an interesting cast of characters, Kirk was the heart and soul of the show from the very beginning. Star Trek wouldn't be as beloved and iconic today without the confident captain who chose to boldly go where no man has gone before.