William Shatner became a legend for playing the role of Captain James T. Kirk in the show Star Trek. The actor played the role in all three seasons of the original series and even returned for the seven films with the OG cast. He also made an appearance on Star Trek: Generations, which passed the torch to the spinoff show The Next Generation.
While the film received mixed responses, one aspect of the film tested so badly with the audience that Paramount reportedly decided to change the scene. The scene involved the death of Shatner’s Captain Kirk. The veteran actor still seemed to be disappointed with it, but did not want another do-over.
William Shatner Opened Up About Captain Kirk’s Death In Star Trek: Generations
William Shatner’s Captain James T. Kirk has had many heroic moments in his career as the captain of a Starfleet ship. Kirk has fought countless aliens, humans, and everything in between, and has put empathy and morality above all. Despite being a cultural icon, his death in Star Trek: Generations was criticized for being too normal.
The captain dies after a bridge collapses and falls on him as he saves countless lives after escaping the clutches of the villain Tolian Soran. Kirk’s death and send-off from Patrick Stewart’s Captain Picard seemed to be a fitting end to the iconic character, who had been the face of the franchise for years.
The death was not extremely loved by Trekkies. In fact, a different scene was reportedly filmed initially, which saw Soran shooting Kirk in the back. However, it did not test well with audiences, and the scene was reshot. Shatner seemed to be disappointed with this version but did not want a do-over again (via Cinema Blend),
Probably not. The moment’s over. It’s done. I did the best I could. I would like to have another couple of shots at it. But, and then when I say this is what I meant, I’ve heard people say just actually just before you came on. No, no, I got that. That’s what I got. So, you know, it enters the area. Uh, bulls*it. Sounds cruel. This is the area of fantasy.
Though disappointed with the simple end to his heroic character, Shatner seemed to have accepted reality and moved on.
Star Trek: Generations Writer Mentioned That Kirk’s Death Was Important To The Story
While the OG Star Trek was a success and had a loyal fanbase, the spinoff show The Next Generation took the show boldly where it has not gone before. The cast of TNG experienced fame like no other crew and the show’s success spanned globally. Hence, when the cast was set to get its own movie, the makers saw it fitting for the OG cast to pass the torch.
However, only a few members of the original crew returned for Star Trek: Generations, with William Shatner reprising importantly. While his death was controversial, writer Ronald D. Moore mentioned that it was necessary for the themes the film explored (via Trek Movie),
I think that Kirk’s death in our minds was integral to the film because it was a movie about death. It was a movie about mortality. It was a movie about Picard reaching a certain age and realizing there are more days behind him than were in front of him.
His brother had died, the Enterprise herself died, and this mythic hero would ultimately have a mortal ending as well. Despite realizing we are mortal, you still move on and you still live your life and you still try and then make the most of it. That is what the movie was trying to be about.
However, Moore admitted that the writers did not have the maturity to deal with the subject well, and the death was not received well. He said that Leonard Nimoy, who rejected the proposal to return, saw through it.
Star Trek: Generations is currently streaming on Paramount+.
