The legendary Star Trek veteran William Shatner has candid reflections on the evolution of a franchise that has courageously gone where no series has gone before. The Canadian actor, 93, who immortalized the intrepid Captain James T. Kirk in Star Trek: The Original Series, expressed his magnetic doubts in a March interview with THR, humorously suggesting that creator Gene Roddenberry might just be twirling in his“grave”.
With the current Star Trek series appearing to loosen the strict guidelines that Roddenberry imposed—guided by his own “military” & law enforcement experience—Shatner offered an insight into the past and the franchise’s future.
Having witnessed the birth of Star Trek’s utopian vision, Shatner shared a unique perspective on how the series has evolved over five decades and asked us to consider whether the spirit of the original content lives on in its contemporary counterparts.
William Shatner’s Take on The Future of Star Trek
According to William Shatner’s The Hollywood Reporter interview in March, the sci-fi TV series’ creator, Gene Roddenberry, would be “twirling in his grave” with what Star Trek has become. And while many may see this as just a small blip on the radar, for die-hard fans, this comment is like a photon torpedo hitting their warp core.
Shatner, known for his iconic role as Captain Kirk, spoke candidly about Roddenberry’s “strict rules” and how they seem to have been abandoned in the modern Trek series:
He was in the military, and he was a policeman. So there was this militaristic vision of ‘You don’t make out with a fellow soldier.’ There are strict rules and you abide by the rules. Around that, [the writers] had to write the drama.
Shatner chuckled as he mentioned how Roddenberry, with his military and police background, had a clear vision of discipline. But as time went on, it seems that rule was tossed out the airlock:
But within that was the discipline of ‘This is the way a ship works.’ Well, as Star Trek progressed, that ethos has been forgotten [in more recent shows]. I sometimes laugh and talk about the fact that I think Gene is twirling in his grave. ‘No, no, you can’t make out with the lady soldier!’
With phrases like “You don’t make out with a fellow soldier” and “This is the way a ship works,” Shatner painted a picture of a more rigid & structured Star Trek universe that has slowly eroded over time. He mentioned how newer series have taken a more relaxed approach to relationships, something that would have made Roddenberry raise an eyebrow.
Could We See William Shatner Back in the Star Trek Universe?
Can you imagine the thrill of Captain Kirk’s iconic persona appearing on screens again? With Hollywood’s magic wand of de-aging technology, age truly becomes just a number.
Speaking to Canadian Press, William Shatner said he would not rule out taking on the role of Captain Kirk again in a future Star Trek project if the script grabbed his attention. Even though he turned 93 this year, his age might not be a problem because there are technologies that can help with de-aging. He said:
It’s an intriguing idea. It’s almost impossible. But if was a great role and so well-written and if there were a reason to be there not just to make a cameo appearance, but if there were a genuine reason for the character appearing, I might consider it.
A further issue pertaining to Shatner’s Star Trek return is the demise of Kirk, which was mentioned in the 1994 film Star Trek Generations. In order to get around this and bring his version of Kirk back to life, the actor already has come up with a plot device:
A company that wants to freeze my body and my brain for the future might be a way of going about it. We’ve got Captain Kirk’s brain frozen here.’ There’s a scenario. ‘Let’s see if we can bring back a little bit of this, a little salt, a little pepper. Oh, look at that. Here comes Captain Kirk!’
Shatner has not been in a live-action Star Trek film for thirty years now, but his voice and images have continued to be featured in a number of media, including video games.
Star Trek (1966) is streaming on Paramount+.
