Actor Paul Wesley took on the iconic role of James T. Kirk for the hit Paramount+ series, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. As Star Trek fans are well aware, William Shatner, 94, originated the bold, brave captain of the USS Enterprise in Star Trek: The Original Series, which ran for three seasons from 1966 to 1969.
In a September 2025 interview with Entertainment Tonight, alongside his castmate,Ethan Peck, Wesley shared that he had an unexpected interaction with Shatner when he was first cast as Kirk for Star Trek: SNW Season 1, which premiered in 2022.
According to Wesley, he "had just shot [his] first episode of Stranger Worlds" when he went on an airplane that Shatner happened to be on. He said that he initially thought he was being pranked.
"At first I was like, I don't know. This is so bizarrely [sic], like, am I hallucinating or is this a hidden camera show? Did Paramount do this? But I quickly realized it wasn't. It was just a coincidence," said the Vampire Diaries star during the interview.
Wesley then said he started his conversation with Shatner by reminding him that they used to be neighbors. He said he eventually decided to tell him he was cast as a younger version of Kirk for Star Trek: SNW.
"We're mid-flight and I'm like, 'I got to tell him. I got to tell him. I got to.' And I'm like, 'Bill, listen,'" said Wesley to Peck, who plays Mr. Spock, originated by the late Leonard Nimoy. "He was like reading a book, and I was like, 'I hate to interrupt you, but I got cast in a role that I think you know well. You might be familiar with.' And he was just like, 'Well, what's the role?' And I was like, 'You know, Kirk.'"
Wesley theorized that Shatner didn't believe him.
"I think he really thought that I was like kind of pulling a fast one. He was just like 'What is this guy going on about?' And we chatted a little bit. He's like, 'Well, good luck.' Not much because I think he thought I was crazy," said Wesley in the interview.
He clarified that Shatner gave him words of support on social media when it was officially announced that he was cast as Kirk.
"Then it's announced that I got the role and then he tweets me, 'Take care of my crew and my ship.' And 'Congratulations Captain,'" said Wesley.
Paul Wesley Explained Why He Gave His Own Spin on Captain Kirk for 'Star Trek: Strange New Worlds'
In an August 2025 interview with CGMagazine, Wesley explained why he chose not to "replicate" Shatner's performance as Kirk, which he described as brilliant.
"I realized quite quickly and with the advice of others that I will never be able to match his intrinsic qualities as a human being," said Wesley in the interview. "So what I tried to look at some of the qualities that are non-negotiable for the character. And then instill my own version of James T. Kirk that is unique to me."
The fifth and final season of Star Trek: SNW is currently in production.
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