“It Was Suggested Not to Do It”. William Shatner Didn't Give Up and Decided in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan to Do Something He Was Advised Against

As a seasoned gamer and Star Trek enthusiast with decades of experiences under my belt, I can wholeheartedly say that William Shatner’s bold decision to humanize Captain Kirk in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan was nothing short of brilliant. Having witnessed numerous iterations of the iconic character, I can attest to the fact that Shatner’s portrayal of a vulnerable, identifiable Kirk added depth and complexity to the story that resonated with fans like myself.


Following the popularity of the Star Trek TV show, it was determined to extend the narrative into movies. Thus, Star Trek: The Motion Picture was initially produced, but despite its financial prosperity, it was critically panned. Nevertheless, the Star Trek saga and Captain Kirk’s crew did not lose their appeal. It was decided then to produce another film, titled Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.

In a new approach, William Shatner, famously known for portraying James T. Kirk, proposed an idea to the filmmakers. His suggestion was to make Kirk appear more emotionally sensitive in this installment, thereby making him seem more human-like. This fresh perspective would showcase Kirk after the time jump, revealing that he is grappling with a mid-life crisis. Although not everyone agreed with Shatner’s concept of humanizing Kirk, the actor successfully defended his idea.

In 1982, Shatner shared a story during an interview with Bobbie Wygant. During this chat, the artist admitted that the movie tackled topics such as “young adulthood, maturity, mortality, and affection.

At one stage, it was recommended I shouldn’t carry out the action. This advice came from individuals who genuinely cared about me. However, my personal belief has always been that the more authentic and relatable a character feels, the more vulnerable they seem, the stronger their impact. Consequently, we explored every available method to achieve this.

As a devoted fan, I can’t help but reflect on the moment when Captain Kirk, played by Shatner, took charge in “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.” This film kick-started a trilogy that culminated with “Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home,” and it’s no surprise that this second installment is often hailed as one of the franchise’s finest. It seems Shatner may have had an uncanny intuition about how to steer our beloved main character, Kirk, towards such captivating narratives.

Read More

2024-09-17 21:01