Legendary William Shatner Unites with Two New Kirk Actors at Epic Star Trek Convention

Summary

Star Trek legend William Shatner joined Paul Wesley and Dan Jeannotte on stage, bringing together three actors who have played different versions of Kirk.

Shatner debuted as Captain James T. Kirk in the original series, whereas Wesley portrays the youthful incarnation in a recent installment of Star Trek.

Meanwhile, Jeannotte takes on the character of Lt. Sam Kirk, James' sibling, in the same show, a significant moment for the iconic "Kirk family."

Star Trek legend William Shatner recently made a memorable appearance at STLV: 57-Year Mission, where he shared the stage with Paul Wesley and Dan Jeannotte. This unique gathering brought together three actors who have portrayed the iconic character Captain James T. Kirk in different iterations of Star Trek. Shatner, known for originating the role in Star Trek: The Original Series, was joined by Wesley, who portrays a younger version of his character in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. Jeannotte, on the other hand, takes on the role of Lt. Sam Kirk, James' brother, in the same series. TrekMovie.com shared photos of this historic moment on Twitter, capturing the excitement of fans witnessing the three Kirk actors on stage together. Wesley and Jeannotte had just concluded their panel when Shatner decided to join them, further uniting this "Kirk family." Scroll down to see the Tweets and photos from the event.

How Strange New Worlds' Sam & James T. Kirk Connect To William Shatner's

Amusingly, William Shatner sought clarification regarding the relationship between Paul Wesley's portrayal of Lieutenant James T. Kirk and Dan Jeannotte's character in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, in comparison to his own iconic Captain Kirk. In Strange New Worlds, Wesley plays the younger version of Shatner's Captain Kirk in the Prime Timeline, specifically as Lieutenant James T. Kirk. The events of Strange New Worlds unfold 6-7 years prior to Star Trek: The Original Series, where Lt. Kirk has just been appointed as the USS Farragut's First Officer. Lt. Kirk looks up to Lt. Commander Una Chin-Riley and Captain Christopher Pike, portrayed by Rebecca Romijn and Anson Mount respectively, as he learns the responsibilities of being a Number One and ultimately a Captain. It is worth noting that the James T. Kirk played by Shatner and Wesley exists in different timelines than Chris Pine's Captain Kirk in J.J. Abrams' Star Trek films.

In regard to Dan Jeannotte's role, he informed William Shatner that he portrays Sam Kirk, James' older brother. Shatner's portrayal of Sam Kirk was limited to a single appearance in the Star Trek: The Original Series episode called "Operation: Annihilate!" Shatner donned a mustache for his portrayal of Sam, who was already deceased when Jim encountered him in the episode. However, in Strange New Worlds, Jeannotte's Sam Kirk is alive and well, serving as a xenobiologist on Captain Pike's Enterprise. Interestingly, when Paul Wesley was cast as the new James T. Kirk, he coincidentally shared an airplane ride with William Shatner, who graciously gave his approval to the Vampire Diaries actor. After becoming familiar with the presence of the two new Kirks alongside him on stage at STLV: 57-Year Mission, Shatner publicly extended his blessings to Wesley and Jeannotte by warmly welcoming them to the Star Trek family.

Source: TrekMovie Twitter