William Shatner’s 3 Failed Captain Kirk Star Trek Comebacks & 2 That Happened

Published Sep 28, 2026, 8:46 AM EDT John Orquiola is a New & Classic TV Editor, Senior Writer, and Interviewer with a special focus on Star Trek. John has over 5,000 published articles at SR, and he has interviewed the biggest names in Star Trek on the red carpet and VIP events, among other beloved shows, movies, and franchises. Sign in to your ScreenRant account William Shatner says he would consider returning to Star Trek as Captain James T. Kirk if he were presented with a worthy idea. However, there were a handful of attempts to entice Mr. Shatner to play Captain Kirk again, including from Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, while Bill has played Kirk non-canonically after the Captain's death. Captain James T. Kirk died in 1994's Star Trek Generations, and this is one of the few major iconic character deaths in Star Trek that has admirably struck. In Star Trek's canonical timeline, Captain Kirk took his last breath in 2371 after saving the planet Veridian III. Incredibly, the original Captain Kirk has stayed dead. Instead of resurrecting Kirk, the character has been youthfully rebooted, played by Chris Pine in J.J. Abrams' Star Trek movies and by Paul Wesley in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. Mr. Spock (Leonard Nimoy) heroically died in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, and the Vulcan quickly came back to life in the next movie. Admiral Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) died in Star Trek: Picard season 1's finale, and was resurrected in an android body in that same episode. Lt. Commander Data's (Brent Spiner) death in Star Trek: Nemesis was undone over 20 years later when the android returned with newfound humanity in Star Trek: Picard season 3. William Shatner's Captain Kirk, along with Connor Trinneer's Commander Trip Tucker in Star Trek: Enterprise, are among the few Star Trek deaths that haven't been reversed. 32 years later, Captain Kirk is still canonically dead, although ideas have been floated for Shatner to play Kirk again, including one from Bill himself. William Shatner Wanted To Bring Kirk Back In Star Trek: Enterprise — With A Twist William Shatner, along with authors Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens, presented the producers of Star Trek: Enterprise with a bold idea for a Kirk comeback. However, Shatner's idea was to play Tiberius Kirk, the Captain's Mirror Universe double last seen in Star Trek: The Original Series' "Mirror, Mirror." Still alive in a pocket dimension, Tiberius Kirk would have faced Captain Jonathan Archer (Scott Bakula) and the crew of the NX-01 Enterprise. Sadly, Shatner's comeback in Star Trek: Enterprise was a non-starter. Executive producer Rick Berman says Bill's asking price was far beyond what Enterprise could pay even a guest star of Mr. Shatner's caliber. Further, UPN planned on canceling Star Trek: Enterprise, which was in its fourth and final season, and the network would not commit to ponying up the funds for Shatner, even for what would have been a generational Star Trek event that fans would consider a must-see. J.J. Abrams Wanted William Shatner To Cameo As Captain Kirk in Star Trek 2009 J.J. Abrams' Star Trek reboot movie in 2009 was given a sheen of legitimacy by the participation of Leonard Nimoy, who returned as Ambassador Spock (also known as Spock Prime). Nimoy's Spock literally helped create Abrams' alternate Kelvin Timeline and played a pivotal role in helping the younger James T. Kirk (Chris Pine) when he needed to get back aboard the Starship Enterprise. Leonard Nimoy returned in 2013's Star Trek Into Darkness for what became his final appearance as Spock. Nimoy passed away in 2015, and he and Spock received a posthumous tribute in 2016's Star Trek Beyond. However, Abrams wanted to include William Shatner as Captain Kirk, too, but in a lesser capacity. Shatner was offered a cameo as Kirk in a video recording. Understandably, Bill balked at the idea, not wanting to resurrect Kirk unless it was meaningful and impactful, like Leonard's involvement as Spock. Thus, William Shatner's Captain Kirk didn't play any role in J.J. Abrams' Star Trek trilogy, save for a photo of Kirk and his Enterprise crew seen in Star Trek Beyond. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’ Failed Idea To Bring Back William Shatner’s Captain Kirk Star Trek: Strange New Worlds executive producers and co-showrunners Akiva Goldsman and Henry Alonso Myers attempted to bring back William Shatner as Captain Kirk in all five seasons of their prequel. Goldsman and Myers even met with Mr. Shatner to pitch their concept, but things didn't work out. Goldsman and Myers' idea was for William Shatner to play Captain Kirk again in a sequel to "The City on the Edge of Forever," Star Trek's greatest episode. Goldsman and Myers' idea was for William Shatner to play Captain Kirk again in a sequel to "The City on the Edge of Forever," Star Trek's greatest episode. Further, it would have been animated in the style of Star Trek: The Animated Series, telling a serious and emotional tale of an alternate timeline where Kirk prevented the death of his greatest love, Edith Keeler (Joan Collins). Perhaps it was the prospect of only coming back to voice Kirk in a cartoon, or that Goldsman and Myers' idea wasn't sufficiently "worthy," but Mr. Shatner passed. By turning down Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, the 95-year-old legend has effectively closed the book on playing Kirk again, preserving the sanctity of the Captain's sacrifice and death in Star Trek Generations. William Shatner Played Captain Kirk In A Star Trek: Video Game While it's considered non-canonical because it didn't happen in a Star Trek TV series or movie, William Shatner only waited three years before donning Captain Kirk's Starfleet uniform again. Bill returned as Kirk in 1997's "Star Trek: Starfleet Academy," a PC game that predated and is unrelated to the Paramount+ TV show of the same name headlined by Holly Hunter. William Shatner has also lent his voice as Captain Kirk to other video games, like "Star Trek: Tactical Assault." Set between Star Trek V: The Final Frontier and Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, "Star Trek: Starfleet Academy" showcases William Shatner's Captain Kirk giving motivational speeches to Starfleet cadets in the video game's cinematic cut scenes. The legendary Captain of the Enterprise repeats his signature lines to the young Starfleet hopefuls, like, "Risk is our business." Captain Kirk Did Come Back With William Shatner’s Help The closest that William Shatner has come to playing Captain Kirk again is in 2024's 765874 - Unification, the popular short film produced by OTOY and The Roddenberry Archive to mark the 30th anniversary of Star Trek Generations. Directed by Carlos Baena, Unification fills a hole in the heart of Star Trek by allowing Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock the reunion and goodbye that canon denied them. Stardate 47988.1 · Crew Assessment The Final FrontierTrivia Challenge 🚀ShipsEnterprise! ⭐CrewMake it so ☠EnemiesResistance is… ⚡TechWarp speed! 📖LoreLive long… ENGAGE → 01 The USS Enterprise is the most iconic starship in science fiction. What is the registry number of Captain Kirk’s original Enterprise from The Original Series? ANCC-1701-D BNX-01 CNCC-1701 DNCC-74656 ✓ Correct! NCC-1701 is the registry of Kirk’s original Constitution-class Enterprise. The “-D” suffix belongs to Picard’s Galaxy-class ship, NX-01 is Archer’s Enterprise, and NCC-74656 is Voyager. ✗ Red alert! The answer is NCC-1701. Kirk’s original Constitution-class Enterprise carried this now-legendary registry. NCC-1701-D is Picard’s Enterprise from TNG, NX-01 is Captain Archer’s, and NCC-74656 belongs to Voyager. NEXT → 02 Kirk’s most trusted officer is a half-human, half-Vulcan science officer famous for his logic and iconic salute. Who is this legendary character? AData BSpock CTuvok DSarek ✓ Correct! Mr. Spock, played by Leonard Nimoy, is the half-Vulcan science officer whose “Live long and prosper” salute became a cultural icon. His struggle between logic and emotion defines the heart of the Original Series. ✗ Red alert! The answer is Spock. Data is an android from TNG, Tuvok is Voyager’s Vulcan tactical officer, and Sarek is Spock’s Vulcan father. Only Spock is the half-human, half-Vulcan first officer of Kirk’s Enterprise. NEXT → 03 Starfleet’s most important regulation forbids interference with the natural development of alien civilizations. What is this guiding principle called? AThe Temporal Accord BGeneral Order One CThe Omega Directive DThe Prime Directive ✓ Correct! The Prime Directive (also known as General Order 1) is Starfleet’s most sacred law. It prohibits interfering with less-developed civilizations — though Kirk, Picard, and Janeway have all famously bent or broken it when lives were at stake. ✗ Red alert! The answer is the Prime Directive. While “General Order One” is technically another name for it, the Prime Directive is the universally known term. The Omega Directive and Temporal Accord are separate, more specialized Starfleet protocols. NEXT → 04 “Resistance is futile.” This chilling declaration belongs to a cybernetic collective that assimilates entire civilizations into its hive mind. What is this fearsome species called? AThe Borg BThe Dominion CThe Romulans DSpecies 8472 ✓ Correct! The Borg are Star Trek’s most terrifying villains — a hive-mind collective that forcibly assimilates species and technology. Captain Picard was famously assimilated and transformed into Locutus in the landmark TNG episode “The Best of Both Worlds.” ✗ Red alert! The answer is the Borg. The Dominion is the Gamma Quadrant empire from DS9, the Romulans are a rival empire, and Species 8472 is actually one of the few species that the Borg themselves fear. Only the Borg declare “Resistance is futile.” NEXT → 05 Captain Jean-Luc Picard commands the Enterprise-D in The Next Generation and later received his own series, Star Trek: Picard. Which acclaimed actor portrays him? AWilliam Shatner BAvery Brooks CPatrick Stewart DScott Bakula ✓ Correct! Sir Patrick Stewart brought gravitas, Shakespeare, and Earl Grey tea to the captain’s chair for seven seasons of TNG, four films, and three seasons of Star Trek: Picard. His “Make it so” is one of TV’s most iconic catchphrases. ✗ Red alert! The answer is Patrick Stewart. William Shatner plays Captain Kirk, Avery Brooks is Captain Sisko on Deep Space Nine, and Scott Bakula captains the NX-01 Enterprise. Only Sir Patrick Stewart portrays the legendary Jean-Luc Picard. NEXT → 06 Starfleet vessels travel faster than light by bending space around them using a matter-antimatter reaction. What is this propulsion system called? ATranswarp Drive BWarp Drive CSlipstream Drive DSpore Drive ✓ Correct! Warp Drive is the standard faster-than-light propulsion in Star Trek, powered by dilithium-regulated matter-antimatter reactions. Zefram Cochrane invented it in 2063, which led to humanity’s first contact with the Vulcans. ✗ Red alert! The answer is Warp Drive. Transwarp is an advanced Borg technology, Slipstream is an experimental quantum drive, and the Spore Drive uses mycelial network navigation (from Discovery). Standard Starfleet vessels use Warp Drive. NEXT → 07 At Starfleet Academy, cadets face a notorious no-win scenario designed to test their character under impossible circumstances. James Kirk is the only cadet who ever beat it — by cheating. What is this test called? AThe Prometheus Trial BThe Omega Simulation CThe Corbomite Maneuver DThe Kobayashi Maru ✓ Correct! The Kobayashi Maru is an unwinnable rescue simulation that tests how cadets handle certain death. Kirk reprogrammed it so he could win — earning a commendation for original thinking. It was memorably featured in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. ✗ Red alert! The answer is the Kobayashi Maru. The Corbomite Maneuver is a TOS episode, not an Academy test. The Kobayashi Maru is the famous no-win scenario that Kirk defeated by reprogramming the simulation — because he doesn’t believe in the no-win scenario. NEXT → 08 In the widely regarded greatest Star Trek film, a genetically enhanced superhuman from Earth’s past seeks revenge against Captain Kirk. “KHAAAAN!” Who is this iconic villain? AKhan Noonien Singh BGeneral Chang CQ DGul Dukat ✓ Correct! Khan Noonien Singh, played by Ricardo Montalbán, is Star Trek’s greatest villain. First appearing in the TOS episode “Space Seed,” he returned in The Wrath of Khan (1982) for a devastating revenge plot that cost Spock his life. ✗ Red alert! The answer is Khan Noonien Singh. General Chang is a Klingon from Star Trek VI, Q is TNG’s omnipotent trickster, and Gul Dukat is DS9’s Cardassian antagonist. Only Khan inspired Kirk’s legendary scream across the cosmos. REVEAL MY SCORE → Mission Complete Your Starfleet Record / 8 Are you an Admiral — or still a cadet on deck-scrubbing duty? ↻ RE-ENGAGE William Shatner was an executive producer of 765874 - Unification, and he helped actor Sam Witwer embody Kirk's body movements and performance. Revolutionary visual effects restored the older Captain Kirk to his 1960s youth and allowed Jim to jump Star Trek timelines to touchingly reunite with a dying Spock (played by Lawrence Selleck) one last time. TV Show(s) Star Trek: The Original Series, Star Trek: The Animated Series, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Star Trek: Voyager, Star Trek: Enterprise, Star Trek: Discovery, Star Trek: Short Treks, Star Trek: Picard, Star Trek Lower Decks, Star Trek: Prodigy, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Star Trek: Starfleet Academy Video Game(s) Star Trek Online, Star Trek: Resurgence, Star Trek: Bridge Crew First Film Star Trek: The Motion Picture First TV Show Star Trek: The Original Series Cast William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, George Takei, Nichelle Nichols, Deforest Kelley, James Doohan, Walter Koenig, Jonathan Frakes, Patrick Stewart, Michael Dorn, Marina Sirtis, Gates McFadden, Brent Spiner, LeVar Burton, Wil Wheaton, Avery Brooks, Nana Visitor, Rene Auberjonois, Alexander Siddig, Cirroc Lofton, Armin Shimerman, Colm Meaney, Terry Farrell, Kate Mulgrew, Robert Beltran, Roxann Dawson, Jeri Ryan, Robert Duncan McNeill, Robert Picardo, Ethan Phillips, Garrett Wang, Jolene Blalock, Connor Trinneer, Dominic Keating, Scott Bakula, Linda Park, John Billingsley, Anthony Montgomery, Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Simon Pegg, Zoe Saldana, Karl Urban, John Cho, Chris Hemsworth, Benedict Cumberbatch, Anton Yelchin, Idris Elba, Sonequa Martin-Green, Mary Wiseman, Doug Jones, Anthony Rapp, Wilson Cruz, Oyin Oladejo, Emily Coutts, Jess Bush, Christina Chong, Anson Mount, Ethan Peck, Rebecca Romijn, Michelle Yeoh Created by Gene Roddenberry