Paul Wesley thought Paramount had set him up

Paul Wesley took on the role of Lt. James T. KIrk on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

After shooting his first episode as Lt. Kirk on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Paul Wesley was given the edict not to tell anyone because his casting hadn’t been announced. On his way back from Chicago to Los Angeles, he boards his return flight and sees William Shatner, the original Captain James T. Kirk, already seated.

If that wasn’t enough of a surprise, Wesley then checked his ticket and discovered his was the seat right next to Shatner’s. In an interview on the Inside of You Podcast with Michael Rosenbaum [via Screenrant], Wesley said he thought he was on Candid Camera or that Paramount had done something to set up the chance meeting.

Paul Wesley was trying to let William Shatner know he would be playing the new James T. Kirk

Of course, he couldn’t tell him so he was just trying to allude to it during the flight, but he thought Shatner must have thought he was a “deranged fan.” He did manage to ask for a selfie, and Shatner obliged him. But Wesley said he felt terrible about it.

Then the announcement came that Wesley had gotten the part of Kirk and discovered that Shatner had tweeted him.

"“Anyway, it’s announced that I got the part [of Kirk], and he went on Twitter and Tweeted me the sweetest… This supportive Tweet that said, “Take care of my ship.” It was such a beautiful moment. I felt redeemed because I really, for those few months, thought he thinks I’m this deranged lunatic who’s this hardcore Trekkie who couldn’t find his words. So when he Tweeted me, I was pretty thrilled.”"

To have finished filming one episode of Strange New Worlds and then discover he’s not only on a plane with William Shatner, he’s seated next to him, it’s no wonder Wesley was sure Paramount had set everything up. Talk about a perfect alignment of the stars topped off by a perfectly classy tweet!