Summary
- Paul Wesley played three versions of James T. Kirk in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.
- Unexpected twists include an alternate future Kirk, a different reality Kirk, and Lt. Kirk's debut.
- The Kirk family legacy on the Enterprise is further explored with the addition of Lt. Sam Kirk.
Paul Wesley portrays three versions of James T. Kirk in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. Wesley is the third actor to play Kirk in live-action as an adult, following in the footsteps of William Shatner, who originated the legendary Captain in Star Trek: The Original Series, and Chris Pine, who plays the alternate Kelvin Timeline's Captain Kirk in the J.J. Abrams-produced Star Trek movie trilogy. Meanwhile, there is yet another Kirk serving on the Starship Enterprise in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.
It was a surprise when Star Trek: Strange New Worlds announced Paul Wesley was cast as James T. Kirk before season 1 premiered in 2022. Strange New Worlds is a prequel set about 7 years before Star Trek: The Original Series, but the series was expected to exclusively focus on Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount), Number One (Rebecca Romijn), and Lt. Spock (Ethan Peck). That USS Enterprise trio who debuted to great acclaim in Star Trek: Discovery season 2 before receiving their own spinoff. Not only was Strange New Worlds adding a young Kirk initially a curveball, but so is Paul Wesley also playing alternate reality versions of Captain Kirk.
Strange New Worlds Season 2 Cast Guide — Every New & Returning Star Trek Character
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' cast of USS Enterprise legends grows in season 2, including the additions of Scotty and Lt. James T. Kirk.
4 Captain Kirk In Strange New Worlds Season 1, Episode 10 - "A Quality Of Mercy"
This James T. Kirk is Captain of the USS Farragut
Paul Wesley's debut as Captain James T. Kirk is in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 1's finale, "A Quality of Mercy." In an alternate future where Captain Pike never gave up command of the USS Enterprise, Kirk is Captain of the USS Farragut. Pike and Kirk's starships team up against a Romulan incursion in a reworked version of the Star Trek: The Original Series episode, "Balance of Terror," which ended up having a very different and tragic result for the United Federation of Planets.
Captain Pike's tendency toward diplomacy ended up being the spark of an endless war with the Romulans, whereas Captain Kirk's decisive aggression in Star Trek: The Original Series prevented that same war.
However, this Star Trek alternate future timeline, and this version of Captain Kirk, were deleted by Captain Pike choosing to accept his tragic fate so that this future never comes to . Partially driving Pike's decision was learning that avoiding the tragic accident that disfigured him would force a similar fate upon Spock. Meanwhile, Pike was so intrigued by Kirk that Strange New Worlds season 1's finale ends with Chris looking up Lt. James T. Kirk's personnel file to learn more about the young Starfleet Officer.
3 Captain Kirk In Strange New Worlds Season 2, Episode 3 - "Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow"
A different Captain Kirk falls for La'an Noonien-Singh
Paul Wesley plays a second Captain James T. Kirk from another alternate reality in Strange New Worlds season 2, episode 3, "Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow." This Captain Kirk grew up in space aboard the USS Iowa and is the Captain of the United Earth Fleet's USS Enterprise, which is also mired in a losing war with the Romulans. Kirk ended up in 21st-century Toronto with Lieutenant La'an Noonien-Singh (Christina Chong), where the duo sought to prevent a terrorist attack that would alter Star Trek's timeline.
Heartbreakingly, Captain Kirk was murdered by a Romulan operative named Sera.
La'an fell in love with Captain Kirk during their mutual ordeal in the past. La'an's time with James, who was relaxed and outgoing, sparked her desire to break out of her shell which kept La'an from connecting with others. Kirk and La'an also encountered Pelia (Carol Kane), the extremely long-lived Lanthanite, centuries before she became a Starfleet engineer. Heartbreakingly, Captain Kirk was murdered by a Romulan operative named Sera (Adelaide Kane). When La'an foiled Sera's attempt to assassinate a young Khan Noonien Singh (Desmond Sivan), Kirk and his timeline were wiped from existence when Star Trek's proper timeline was restored.
2 Lt. James T. Kirk In Star Trek: Strange New Worlds
Lt. Kirk is the younger version of William Shatner's Captain Kirk
Paul Wesley's primary version of Kirk, Lt. James T. Kirk, officially debuted at the end of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2, episode 3, "Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow," but Kirk finally beamed aboard the USS Enterprise in season 2, episode 6, "Lost in Translation." The newly-appointed First Officer of the USS Farragut, Kirk soon helped Ensign Nyota Uhura (Celia Rose Gooding), who introduced him to Lt. Spock, forging Star Trek: The Original Series' iconic friendships.
Lt. Kirk also ed the crew of the USS Enterprise in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' musical episode.
While Lt. Kirk was educated in the finer points of being a First Officer from Number One (Rebecca Romijn), he also learned from Lt. La'an Noonien-Singh about the alternate reality Kirk she met and fell for. Although Kirk is attracted to La'an, James itted he has a pregnant girlfriend named Carol. Lt. Kirk also ed the crew of the USS Enterprise in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' musical episode, and Paul Wesley will return as Kirk in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3.
1 Lt. Sam Kirk In Star Trek: Strange New Worlds
There's already a Kirk serving on the Starship Enterprise
Another surprise from Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is that another Kirk serves on the USS Enterprise before James T. Kirk is assigned to the Federation flagship. Dan Jeannotte plays Lieutenant George Samuel "Sam" Kirk, the older brother of James T. Kirk. The mustachioed Sam is a xenobiologist and a friend of Captain Christopher Pike. Sam takes great pride in serving on the Enterprise. Still, sibling rivalry flares up whenever his brother Jim beams aboard.
It''s ironic that Sam Kirk begins the Kirk family's legacy aboard the Starship Enterprise.
Lt. Sam Kirk is destined to die in Star Trek: The Original Series, but in Strange New Worlds, Sam is a popular member of the Enterprise crew. Unfortunately, and amusingly, Lt. Spock is no fan of Sam's. Still, it's ironic that Sam begins the Kirk family's legacy aboard the Starship Enterprise, setting the stage for James T. Kirk's legendary Captaincy. And it's amazing that in just 2 seasons thus far, four versions of Kirk have appeared in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds
- Release Date
- May 5, 2022
- Network
- Paramount+
- Showrunner
- Henry Alonso Myers, Akiva Goldsman
Cast
Captain Christopher Pike
Spock
WHERE TO WATCH
- Directors
- Dan Liu, Amanda Row, Maja Vrvilo, Akiva Goldsman, Dermott Downs, Eduardo Sánchez, Jeffrey W. Byrd, Jonathan Frakes, Jordan Canning, Leslie Hope, Valerie Weiss, Sydney Freeland, Christopher J. Byrne, Rachel Leiterman
- Writers
- Onitra Johnson
- Franchise(s)
- Star Trek
- Streaming Service(s)
- Paramount Plus
- Where To Watch
- Paramount Plus
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