Now that Star Trek has returned to the small screen – and The Original Series-era timeline (well, close enough) – with CBS’ acclaimed new series Star Trek: Discovery, IGN has been speaking to the legendary William Shatner about what it would take to see him making a guest appearance in the new show.
“A great deal of money,” joked Shatner. “I don’t know what you’d do with a character who appeared 50, now 51 years ago. You know, I am 51 years older, with all the exigencies of age.”
Given that Discovery takes place ten years prior to The Original Series, a Kirk appearance would seem highly unlikely (barring some time travel scenario), but CBS is reportedly planning to expand its output to other Star Trek projects, and Shatner believes there is an interesting story to tell of Kirk’s golden years, drawing comparisons with his Better Late Than Never co-star and football legend Terry Bradshaw.
“[Bradshaw] was a great athlete,” said Shatner. “An awkward kid of 15, 16, who matured and then was a quarterback that was third quarterback, then he became the second quarterback. He grew into this great quarterback, one of the great quarterbacks, that he became. Now, he’s older, his knees hurt, his back hurts. … So here’s this aging athlete, who isn’t [what] he was in his twenties and thirties. Still carries himself grandly and has a sense of humor and all, but he’s not the athlete he was. What would Captain Kirk be like 50 years later, with the sagacity of mind, and yet the body doesn’t do what he wants it to do? I mean, it’s an interesting story.”
Would you like to see William Shatner back as Kirk for a new Star Trek project? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below…
Almost no one has seen a Klingon in more than 100 years. They do not come in peace. Set roughly ten years before the events of the original series, Star Trek: Discovery shows a never before seen era that shaped Federation history. First Officer Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) encounters new ships, worlds, and villains as the threat of war looms.
Star Trek: Discovery features a cast that includes Sonequa Martin-Green (Lieutenant Commander Michael Burnham) are Jason Isaacs (Captain Lorca), Michelle Yeoh (Captain Georgiou), Chris Obi (T’Kuvma), Doug Jones (Saru), James Frain (Sarek), Terry Serpico (Anderson), Maulik Pancholy (Nambue), Anthony Rapp (Stamets), Mary Wiseman (Tilly), Mary Chieffo (L-Rell), Shazad Latif (Lieutenant Tyler), Rekha Sharma (Commander Mitchell), Kenneth Mitchell (Kol), Clare McConnell (Dennas), Damon Runyan (Ujilli) and Rainn Wilson (Harry Mudd).
