Despite rumours linking him to an appearance in Paramount Pictures’ Star Trek Beyond, last month saw William Shatner denying reports that he was set to return as James T. Kirk for the U.S.S. Enterprise’s latest adventure.
As yet, we haven’t seen Kirk in Paramount’s rebooted Trek universe, but Shatner has told The Hollywood Reporter that he’d “absolutely” reprise the role, assuming the producers can come up with an interesting storyline for his return.
“I would play an old Captain Kirk, absolutely,” said Shatner. “You would have [to have] an interesting character, not a cameo, like, ‘Here I am, aren’t I interesting?’ It’s the ongoing world; it’s the world within science-fiction. Yes, you age within the universe. Time goes on — but time bends, as well. There’s so many things you could do.”
SEE ALSO: Is Star Trek Beyond the worst teaser trailer ever?
Shatner also discussed meeting with J.J. Abrams for an appearance in the 2009 reboot, which ultimately never came off:
“How would they handle it, in science-fiction terms? I’m older, I’m heavier, I’m — all the problems of age. So what did Captain Kirk do? Die and age? Doesn’t sound science-fiction-y enough. Or maybe you make him really old. I don’t know. It seems to have beggared Abrams’ imagination.”
Now, I may be missing something, but if they did want to bring Kirk back, surely they can just say that Chris Pine ages into William Shatner in the NuTrek timeline, and the events of Star Trek Generations never take place?
Star Trek Beyond is set for release on July 22nd 2016 and features returning cast members Chris Pine as James Kirk, Zachary Quinto as Spock, Simon Pegg as Scotty, Zoë Saldana as Uhura, Karl Urban as Bones, John Cho as Sulu and Anton Yelchin as Chekov alongside new additions Idris Elba (Luther), Sofia Boutella (Kingsman: The Secret Service), Joe Taslim (The Raid) and Lydia Wilson (About Time).
https://youtu.be/2bSRrPDqhqo?list=PL18yMRIfoszEaHYNDTy5C-cH9Oa2gN5ng
Originally published February 7, 2016. Updated April 15, 2018.
