William Shatner: What It Would Take To Have Him Guest-Star In Star Trek Discovery

CBS' all new Star Trek: Discovery is doing great so far, and it just adds more to the reinvigoration of the Trek franchise. We've had actors like Leonard Nimoy making cameos in the new Trek movies, but everyone is curious when Captain Kirk himself, William Shatner, will be making his return to the franchise.

Talking to IGN during the NYCC, Shatner talks about the possibility of guest-starring in Discovery, to which he simply wants: "A great deal of money."

Of course, considering Shatner's age and the timeline that Discovery is in, it's unlikely that Shatner will be playing Kirk himself. At best, he could play a close relative of a younger Kirk. Then again, time travel isn't exactly an alien concept in Trek, and I can imagine Michael Burnham and the rest of the Discovery crew making a jump to the future to meet old Cap'n Kirk.

When it comes to the concept of an aged Jim Kirk, Shatner comments:

"I don't know what you'd do with a character who appeared 50, now 51 years ago. You know, I am 51 years older, with all the exigencies of age."

If Kirk were to return however, Shatner already has a characterization of him in mind:

"So here's this aging athlete, who isn't [what] he was in his twenties and thirties. Still carries himself grandly and has a sense of humor and all, but he's not the athlete he was. What would Captain Kirk be like 50 years later, with the sagacity of mind, and yet the body doesn't do what he wants it to do? I mean, it's an interesting story."

Personally I would be fine if Shatner was just playing someone else, but I think a lot of people would also be amazed to see an aged Kirk grace the screens one more time, even for just a small cameo.

Catch Star Trek: Discovery on CBS and CBS All Access.

See Also: Spock And Kirk Stand With The Rebels In Cool Star Wars/Star Trek Mash-Up Art By Alex Ross