Key Takeaways:
– William Shatner, famed actor known for his role as Captain James T. Kirk in the Star Trek franchise, has not ruled out a return to the franchise.
– Shatner emphasized that any return must contribute to the lore of the franchise and avoid gimmicks.
– The actor also revealed regrets about his directorial role in Star Trek V: The Final Frontier, which performed poorly at the box office.
Veteran Star Trek Actor Open to Return
William Shatner is a household name remembered fondly for his iconic role as Captain James T. Kirk in Star Trek. Despite the original series running for only three seasons, the actor, and the franchise itself, gained a massive cult following. This popularity catapulted Shatner's career and led him to feature in several successful films.
The last appearance of Shatner as Captain Kirk was in Star Trek: Generations. In this film, he shared the screen with Sir Patrick Stewart who played Captain Jean-Luc Picard from The Next Generation. Since then, Shatner has not graced any new-generation Star Trek show or film.
During a recent chat with The Hollywood Reporter (THR), Shatner commented on the possibility of his return to the franchise. Like co-star Leonard Nimoy and successor Patrick Stewart, Shatner has a condition. He wants to avoid repeating the perceived gimmick of Nimoy's cameo in the JJ Abrams' Star Trek reboot. He said, “If they wrote something that was not a stunt but involved Kirk, who's 50 years older now, and it genuinely added to the lore of Star Trek, I would definitely consider it.”
Leonard Nimoy and his Cameo Appearance
Leonard Nimoy, also an iconic figure in the Star Trek universe, played the elder Spock in Star Trek and its sequel, Star Trek: Into Darkness. In the same franchise, actor Zachary Quinto portrayed a younger Spock. However, Shatner believes Nimoy's appearance was more of a stunt rather than a true contribution to the Star Trek narrative.
Regrets on Star Trek V: The Final Frontier
Besides his acting prowess, William Shatner ventured into directing with the film Star Trek V: The Final Frontier. Unfortunately, the film was a box-office disappointment. The failure, according to Shatner, was mainly due to the film not aligning with the Star Trek narrative. He confessed his regrets during the interview with THR.
Shatner stated, “In my mind, I failed horribly. I regret not being emotionally equipped to deal with a large motion picture.” Despite this, Shatner continued his directorial efforts, though none were as high-profile as the fifth feature film in the Star Trek original series.
Closing Remarks
In conclusion, Shatner's return to a new-gen Star Trek show would require a meaningful storyline rather than a gimmick appearance. His memories of Star Trek V remain a tough pill to swallow, and it's clear that the actor recognizes the importance of staying true to the Star Trek lore. Regardless, the Star Trek franchise remains a significant part of pop culture history, thanks to actors and directors like William Shatner. You can stream Star Trek: The Original Series on Paramount+.
