We asked AI who should play Captain Kirk next in the Star Trek franchise

When it comes to Star Trek, there are few characters as iconic as Captain Kirk. Kirk has been at the heart of the franchise since its launch in 1966 and remains one of the most recognizable characters in the entire franchise.

The role was, of course, originated by William Shatner who helped make Kirk a household name in Star Trek: The Original Series. Kirk remains Shatner’s career-defining role, with Kirk being one of the most iconic figures in pop culture history and within the Star Trek fandom. For decades, Shatner’s Kirk was the definitive version of the character. That was until Chris Pine took on the iconic role when Paramount rebooted the franchise for the big screen with JJ Abram’s 2009 reboot, Star Trek. 

Pine helped introduce the character and franchise to a whole new generation of fans, cementing his place in Star Trek history. Abrams’ trilogy of movies brought millions of new fans to the franchise with Pine’s Kirk becoming an immediate favorite among audiences.

The hope is that we’ll get to see Pine reprise his role should Paramount proceed with a fourth film in the franchise. However, with each passing year, the odds of another movie from the franchise seem less likely with many wondering whether a reboot could be coming instead.

AI thinks a Marvel actor should play Captain Kirk in the next Star Trek movie

With the future of the Star Trek franchise up in the air, there is a lot of speculation as to who could potentially play Captain Kirk next should Paramount opt to reboot the franchise rather than continue its current cinematic franchise. Many fans have their thoughts on who would be a great Kirk, but who would be the best actor for the job? We decided to use the power of ChatGPT’s AI to identify the perfect actor to play the iconic character.

So who does AI believe would be the best selection to play the Captain Kirk next? According to ChatGPT, Richard Madden should play the next Kirk, and here’s why:

"The perfect actor to play the next version of Captain Kirk would be Richard Madden. Known for his impressive acting skills and charismatic presence, Madden has the qualities that would make him an ideal fit for the iconic role. He has already showcased his talent in various roles, most notably as Robb Stark in Game of Thrones and Ikaris in Marvel’s Eternals, proving his ability to carry complex characters with charm and authority.Madden possesses the rugged, dashing, and confident demeanor required for the Captain Kirk character, along with a youthful energy and natural leadership presence. His ability to convey depth, wit, and emotional range on screen aligns with the essence of Captain Kirk, making him a strong contender for the role.Casting Madden as the next Captain Kirk could bring a fresh perspective while maintaining the character’s classic qualities, appealing to both longtime Star Trek fans and a new generation of viewers."

Honestly, we could totally see Richard Madden being an amazing Kirk! As ChatGPT points out, Madden has more than proven his ability to masterfully tackle complex characters. And he absolutely exudes charm, while also having the authoritative demeanor needed for a leader such as Kirk.

Considering it’s unlikely Madden will return to the MCU and his time on Game of Thrones has been behind him for years, we’d love to see him get the chance to lead a franchise. He’d be more than capable of capturing the character’s key qualities, while also being able to make the character his own and we truthfully cannot think of anyone better for the job.