Would Paul Wesley play James Kirk the same in future Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’ episodes?

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’ Paul Wesley is interested in more time as James Kirk.

James Kirk has found a worthy successor in Paul Wesley, who is the third man to lay claim to the Kirk moniker behind William Shatner and Chris Pine. Shatner originated the role and Pine brought it back for the JJ Abrams-led Kelvin-Timeline of Star Trek films, starting in 2009. His performances so far have been well-received.

This is ironic, as up until “Lost in Translation”, he had played a different incarnation of the Kirk character in each of his three first appearances. Two were from alternate timelines, and finally, in the episode “Lost in Translation”, he appeared as the same character that Shatner played.

Apparently, that hasn’t slowed him down at all, and his love of the character has been very clear, as he spoke with CBR that he’d like to play this character for a long time so that fans can see him grow the role.

"I love this character. I honestly have been having the best time, and that’s obviously a testament to the cast that I’m working with and the writers. I love it. It’s fantastic. I love how much room there is to grow, and I love all the different facets of his personality,” said Wesley. He continued, “so playing Kirk in the future, I would approach that in a completely different way, and it’s such a gift for an actor to be able to do that."

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds will need to last for Paul Wesley to grow the role of James Kirk

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, like all Star Trek shows, is on the bubble going forward. Prodigy, a show with more engagement than Strange New Worlds (but less than Picard) was canceled in the middle of the second season. Despite Patrick Stewart and others on Picard being open to a third season or a film, Picard was shuttered after season three.

If both shows had short runs, there’s no reason to think that Strange New Worlds is safe. It’s just as, if not more expensive than the other shows that got axed, like Discovery, so if Paramount+ is worried about finances, then it’s very possible that Strange New Worlds doesn’t get the run it deserves.