Unveiling a Stunning Revelation: The Unexpected Competition Between William Shatner and Paul Wesley for the Ultimate Captain Kirk Title!

Paul Wesley portrays three different versions of James T. Kirk in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, but William Shatner has portrayed more Captain Kirks overall in the Star Trek franchise. Shatner, of course, originated the iconic role of Captain Kirk in Star Trek: The Original Series and went on to play Kirk in three seasons of TOS, one season of Star Trek: The Animated Series, and six Star Trek: TOS movies before Kirk's demise in Star Trek Generations. On the other hand, Wesley takes on the role of James T. Kirk in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.

In contrast to Chris Pine's portrayal of Captain Kirk in J.J. Abrams' Star Trek movie trilogy, Paul Wesley's Lieutenant James T. Kirk in Strange New Worlds is the same character who eventually becomes William Shatner's Captain Kirk in Star Trek: The Original Series. Pine, on the other hand, plays an alternate reality version of Captain Kirk in J.J. Abrams' Star Trek films, and his Kirk has different life experiences in the Kelvin Timeline. In the Prime Timeline of Star Trek, both Wesley and Shatner's Kirks exist. It is worth noting that both Shatner and Wesley have also played various alternate versions of James T. Kirk, with Shatner having a slightly larger quantity in this regard over Wesley.

William Shatner Has Still Played More Versions Of Captain Kirk Than Paul Wesley

William Shatner has portrayed four different iterations of James T. Kirk throughout Star Trek's The Original Series, as well as the TOS movies. In contrast, Wesley's character, Lt. James T. Kirk, has taken on three distinct versions in Strange New Worlds. Aside from his portrayal of the primary timeline's Captain Kirk, Shatner also played Kirk's duplicate created by a transporter mishap in the TOS episode "The Enemy Within." Moreover, Shatner tackled the role of the wicked Captain Kirk from the Mirror Universe in the TOS episode "Mirror, Mirror." In Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, Shatner showcased two variations of Captain Kirk on-screen, accomplished through pioneering digital effects. The second Kirk portrayed by Shatner was a Chameloid shapeshifter named Martia (Iman).

Paul Wesley's character, Lt. James T. Kirk, was referenced in the season 1 finale of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds titled "A Quality of Mercy." Within the same episode, Wesley embodied Captain Kirk from an alternate future version of the TOS episode "Balance of Terror." In Strange New Worlds season 2, episode 3, titled "Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow," Wesley further portrayed an alternate reality Captain Kirk who time-traveled (and met his demise) in 21st-century Toronto. At the end of this episode, Lt. La'an Noonien-Singh (Christina Chong) establishes contact with Lt. Kirk via PADD, leading him to officially join the USS Enterprise in Strange New Worlds season 2, episode 6, titled "Lost in Translation."

Star Trek Has Had 10 Versions Of Captain Kirk

There have been various iterations of the iconic Captain James T. Kirk, making him one of the most beloved characters in Star Trek. In the finale of Star Trek: The Original Series, Dr. Janet Lester switched bodies with Kirk, resulting in William Shatner portraying Lester's personality within Kirk's physical form. Meanwhile, in J.J. Abrams' Star Trek movies, Chris Pine took on the role of Captain Kirk, without any doppelgangers. However, Jimmy Bennett portrayed a young James T. Kirk in the prologue of Abrams' Star Trek.

It is conceivable that Strange New Worlds may continue to cast Paul Wesley as different versions of James T. Kirk. Wesley would need one more variation to match William Shatner's portrayal and two more to surpass his record. Nonetheless, Wesley cannot depict James' elder brother, Lt. George Samuel Kirk. In Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Sam Kirk is played by Dan Jeannotte. However, it was William Shatner who adorned a mustache to portray the deceased Sam Kirk in the Star Trek: The Original Series' episode "Operation: Annihilate!"

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2 streams Thursdays on Paramount+.