William Shatner returning to Star Trek is a provocative idea for many reasons. The accomplished actor, now in his nineties, is perhaps one of the oldest celebrities who maintains a level of relevancy you don’t typically see at his age. Having technically become an astronaut, and the oldest man ever to traverse outer space, it does feel appropriate that the writers of the fourth installment of the Kelvin films would find a way to bring the actor back. One last meaningful Star Trek role for Shatner akin to the presence of Leonard Nimoy, who played Spock Prime in the 2009 film and made an appearance in the second film, would surely be a heartfelt ingredient for the movie. Spock’s character, however, is a bit more malleable, with Vulcans living for over two hundred years and the fact that Spock’s death and resurrection were two major plot points in previous Trek films.
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Captain Kirk, however, was definitively killed in the 1994 film Star Trek: Generations while helping Captain Picard defeat the villain Soran, played by Malcolm McDowell. While this moment has divided fans over the years, it was an effective plot device for that movie. Generations saw Kirk taken by the Nexus, a mysterious energy ribbon that prolongs one’s existence infinitely within a loop of their happiest memory. Ironically, the same plot device can be found in the 1996 Kids In The Hall movie, Brain Candy, where scientists develop a drug that does the same thing. In Star Trek, however, the Nexus preserves the body, making it possible for the character (Shatner was in his sixties at the time) to avoid aging between the movie’s featured timelines.
If Kirk is to return, there is surely a combination of story mechanics and cinema technology to pull it off. Whether that means the Enterprise ventures into some form of heaven, time travel, another dimension is tapped, or de-aging techniques are applied, they will likely find a way to make it work. While there is only speculation about Kirk’s return at the moment, it does seem likely considering all the factors at the present moment. That said, it’s just as feasible to consider the return of George Takei, Walter Koenig, and Nichelle Nichols as well. With the sudden and tragic passing of Anton Yelchin, there may be a specific storyline that could acknowledge his death in a way that is fitting for the Star Trek universe.
Captain Kirk’s Legacy
Paramount Television
Shatner has gone on record with support of the idea of his return yet maintains a firm stance on his presence being more than just a cameo. Kirk is arguably the most iconic character of the franchise for audiences who first witnessed Star Trek’s television premiere back in 1966. However, some may claim it was really Spock who made the most significant impact on audiences. The trifecta of Spock, Kirk, and Bones is often used as a metaphor for settling disputes of ego and hierarchy. The three work as a great example when deconstructing a command structure with Spock representing logic, Bones being emotion, and Kirk balancing these two extremes to make the wisest possible decisions as captain. The character dynamics of the original series serve as a blueprint for all future iterations of the concept, to which there have been many.
There is now a generation who may nominate Picard as the most iconic captain of the franchise with plenty of alternatives to choose from. Nevertheless, William Shatner’s performance as Captain Kirk will go down in history as one of the most meaningful symbols of mankind’s aspirations toward space travel amidst a future devoid of prejudice and material possessions. He embodies the impact of Star Trek itself, and what the brand means for multiple generations. This was surely felt by all who witnessed his journey into actual space, cementing the cultural importance of William Shatner and Star Trek.
The Human Condition
Unfortunately, the original Star Trek actors have been followed by a dark cloud of rumored conflicts and infighting that is disappointing yet irresistible to learn more about. Like any tabloid element of Hollywood, it comes with exaggerations, outright lies, and exploitation to illicit those base emotions and curious minds of the public arena. George Takei, who embraced the modern social media zeitgeist more than most of Trek’s veterans, often shines a light on these conflicts. Takei has a keen eye for divisive topics and has grown a loyal social media following over the years. This can sometimes be accompanied by a certain sacrifice of one’s values in order to keep the dopamine hits flowing. Causing debate, getting the likes, shares, and engagement can lead to the heavier hits of press coverage and tabloid news. It’s an addiction most people are struggling with, yet combined with celebrity status, it can become a hefty burden.
Kirk’s return to Star Trek could create an opportunity to address these issues with a science fiction plot device that personifies the negative aspects of the human experience and what it all really means in the face of death. Forgiveness, letting go, and a lack of conflict versus hatred, grudges, and fighting is perhaps the very challenge of the human condition. It would be inspiring for audiences if Shatner found a way to translate his profound space flight feelings into Star Trek. After the experience, Shatner was brought to tears, expressing his feelings about the delicate nature of life on a small blue planet floating in the vastness of space. While we can’t know exactly what Paramount has planned, these themes could serve the new film well and construct a timely and appropriate framework for Kirk’s return.
