The story gets TV and movie versions
“Boldly going where no man has gone before”. The opening text of the classic Star Trek series defines the work even more literally.
Audacious and innovative, the series was a forerunner in its field and revolutionized science fiction when it was launched in 1966. It was even responsible for helping to invent various technological items, and the plot’s success was so great that it continues to be adapted with new adventures.
Over the decades, Captain Kirk and the other Starfleet commanders and crew have found a loyal audience for which to show new explorations and discoveries, both in cinematic format and in TV series adventures.
Each of these adaptations has starred actors who have become eternalized in their roles. Find out who has played the legendary Captain James Kirk.
William Shatner
American actor William Shatner was the first to bring Captain Kirk to life in the original Star Trek series from the 1960s. It was he who introduced the character to the world.
The plot follows Kirk, the youngest captain in Starfleet history, as he commands the USS Enterprise on a five-year mission.
With three seasons released before being canceled, the show portrayed the first three years of this mission. Alongside the captain, important and memorable characters were also imprinted on the viewer’s imagination, such as First Officer Spock (Leonard Nimoy) and the ship’s chief medical officer, Leonard McCoy (DeForest Kelley).
As well as starring in the series, the star also took part in the first seven films in the franchise. Although in fiction his character has been dead for thirty years, actor William Shatner, who is currently 93 years old, recently revealed that he is open to playing him again at some point.
Chris Pine
In 2009, a new and alternative universe was presented to the public in Star Trek, a movie that dealt with a different origin for Captain Kirk, his upbringing, and the way he met the Vulcan Spock.
The first difference in the timeline between the original series and the new franchise appears in Kirk’s day of birth, which in the movie is dated to the year 2233. At first portrayed as an impulsive, rebellious, and quarrelsome person, the character gradually acquires the necessary maturity to take on the great job he has in hand.
The reboot, which was titled Star Trek, was followed by other films. In 2013, Beyond Darkness was released and paved the way for Star Trek: Without Borders, which hit the big screen in mid-2016. Since then, the fourth installment of the franchise has been confirmed and is being awaited, but still has no release date.
Paul Wesley
The third actor to bring the legendary Captain Kirk to life was Paul Wesley, who captivated a legion of fans as Stefan Salvatore, one of the protagonists of the Vampire Diaries series.
Although the script for Star Trek: Strange New Worlds focuses on Captain Pike, Spock and Number One exploring new worlds around the galaxy, the series cast Wesley as a younger version of the beloved starship commander.
Paul’s participation earned him an award at the Saturn Awards, in the category of Best Special Appearance in a Television Series.
Other captains
Eternalized in the imagination of many generations, Captain Kirk has become a symbol of great importance in the history of Star Trek. However, he wasn’t the only one to command exploration missions across the universe.
With each franchise launched, Star Trek fans are introduced to equally exciting characters, as was the case with Star Trek: The Next Generation.
Released in 1987, the plot is set seventy years after the events of the original 1960s series. The plot featured Captain Jean-Luc Picard, played by none other than Patrick Stewart.
Older, with a more serious, analytical, and diplomatic tone, the captain is a scholar and defender of ethics, known for his integrity and wisdom. During his missions, Picard is always faced with complex moral dilemmas.
In 1995, it was Star Trek: Voyager’s turn to surprise audiences and bring a woman into the command seat. Captain Kathryn Janeway, played by actress Kate Mulgrew, was the one calling the shots on board the USS Voyager. Janeway was the first woman to star in a Star Trek series as the main captain. She stood out for her great adaptability and strength, as well as having an extreme sense of compassion in her decisions.
The series was a huge ratings success and ran until May 2001, completing seven seasons and reaching a list of 172 episodes produced.
Another highlight is Star Trek: Discovery, which was released in 2017. In this series, the character Michael Burnham, played by actress Sonequa Martin-Green, came to prominence as a Starfleet officer who ended up becoming captain of the USS Discovery.
The plot, which has divided fans’ opinions, begins ten years before the well-known adventures of Kirk, Spock, and the Enterprise. With a personal connection to Spock, Burnham was marked above all by her path to redemption.
Facing great challenges, including time travel and galactic wars, Star Trek: Discovery is a good example of diversity in the form of command, bringing a perspective never seen before.
In addition to those mentioned above, the list of captains commanding the universe goes on and there are still famous names to mention, such as Captain Christopher Pike of the USS Enterprise. Pike was Kirk’s predecessor and became known for his balanced and ethical leadership style, which served as a model of morality and decency for his successors. One of his appearances is in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, a spin-off from Discovery.
In this version, American actor Anson Mount plays Captain Pike alongside Ethan Peck, who brings a new look and a new interpretation of the classic Commander Spock.
