Legendary actor William Shatner has revealed he's in discussions to reprise his iconic role as Captain James T. Kirk in an upcoming Star Trek project, nearly 30 years after his last live-action appearance as the character.
During a panel at Fan Expo Vancouver on February 21, Shatner shared that he had been approached by a writer from one of the current Star Trek series. "I have been asked to come back as Kirk so many times," Shatner said. "If Kirk is going to come back, it has to mean something. It has to be the show."
The 93-year-old actor, who last portrayed Kirk in 1994's "Star Trek: Generations," expressed enthusiasm about the potential return, noting he was particularly impressed by the writer's approach. He mentioned awaiting a formal pitch in the days following the Vancouver event.
While details remain under wraps, Shatner's potential return would need to address several narrative challenges. Kirk's character met his end in "Generations," though his remains are known to be preserved in stasis at the Federation's Daystrom Station, as revealed in "Star Trek: Picard".
Any new appearance would likely require digital de-aging technology, as Shatner is considerably older than Kirk's canonical age at death. The project would also need to navigate the existing Star Trek timeline, which currently features actor Paul Wesley as a younger version of Kirk in "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds."
The news has sparked excitement among Star Trek fans worldwide, who have long hoped to see Shatner return to the role he first brought to life in 1966. His potential comeback would mark a historic moment for the franchise, bridging multiple generations of Star Trek viewers.
The actor emphasized that any return would need to be more substantial than a mere cameo, suggesting his appearance would likely form a central part of the story rather than a brief guest spot.