Paul Wesley Cast As James T. Kirk In Star Trek: Strange New Worlds
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Phil Roberts 
The new adventures of the starship Enterprise will benefit from the welcome return of a Star Trek icon. The one, and only James T. Kirk!
Paramount Plus has announced that Paul Wesley has joined the cast of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 2 as the legendary James T. Kirk; famously portrayed by franchise legend William Shatner in The Original Series. How Kirk fits into the series that has been designed as a vehicle for Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount) remains to be seen. But Paramount was left with little choice but to confirm Wesley’s casting following a slew of leaked pictures from the set in Toronto.
SET LEAKS
The images revealed Wesley in full Starfleet uniform standing alongside Strange New Worlds mainstay Christina Chong (La’an Noonien-Sing). However, what is most notable about images is the fact that young Kirk is sporting the command stripes of Captain. A rank James T. Kirk didn’t achieve until much later in his career. Moreover, in Star Trek lore, Kirk and Pike never crossed paths until the latter was promoted to Fleet Captain. Hinting at the possibility that Kirk’s involvement features just before Pike is relieved of his duties aboard the Enterprise.
Moreover, in Trek history, James T. Kirk was serving as a Lieutenant aboard the USS Farragut before being promoted to the rank of Captain and placed in the command of “a destroyer class ship.” So, perhaps there are alternate realities or timewarp elements at play. But of course, take that with a pinch of salt. Sadly, we won’t have any answers until the second season of Strange New Worlds gets underway in 2023.
WILLIAM SHATNER
Wesley’s appointment has come as somewhat of a shock, with some members of the Trek community voicing their concerns about this new incarnation of James T. Kirk being introduced in Pike’s series. But if you are still on the fence about Wesley filling the shoes of the great William Shatner, the Trek legend has chimed in and given his successor his blessing. All the while reminding him to keep HIS ship and crew safe…in true Shatner fashion! Check it out below:
Thank you my friend, it’s an honor! I will do my best! https://t.co/Wa63gvjjnP
— Paul Wesley (@paulwesley) March 16, 2022
For me, bringing in an icon as big as James T Kirk is a bold and dubious decision. Like many fans, I was excited to explore a timeline where Christopher Pike was given the freedom to carve out his own niche in Trek lore. Free from the burden of living up to Kirk’s legacy. But, like my peers, I am more than willing to embrace a new version of the character while hoping his emergence doesn’t supersede the adventures of Captian Pike and his bold crew.
All will be revealed soon. But until then, there’s the small matter of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season One to deal with. The series gets underway on Thursday, May 5 on Paramount+ in the United States, Australia, Latin America, and the Nordics, as well as on CTV Sci-Fi Channel in Canada.
What do you think about Paul Wesley’s casting? Should James T Kirk be involved in Strange New Worlds? Sound off below.
Source: Star Trek
Phil Roberts is the owner, daily content manager, and editor-in-chief of The Future of the Force. He is a huge fan of Star Wars, Batman, DC, Marvel, Star Trek, Indiana Jones, Ghostbusters, King Kong, and the Ray Harryhausen movies.
If he’s not in the cinema he’s probably streaming something equally awesome!
Great show but why bring kirk in when pike is a great character