There’s a whole lot of James T. Kirk in the air these days. William Shatner recently said he’s soon to talk to a Star Trek show writer about possibly reprising the character, and Shatner voiced Kirk in the 2024 short film Unification (with Sam Witwer as the physical Kirk). Paul Wesley portrayed Kirk in seasons one and two of Strange New Worlds and has been confirmed to recur again in the upcoming third season of the series. And, one of these days, if the stars align, Chris Pine may yet again portray Kirk in a fourth feature with the Kelvin timeline Enterprise crew back in action.
But what if the Kelvin crew don’t return? Paramount will surely want to reboot Star Trek again as a film. And if that happens, who might settle into the captain’s chair? Let’s consider a couple of actors in their 40s, which is the age Kirk would be in a Kelvin timeline adventure, as well as younger options in the event Paramount decides to start all over again.
Wes Chatham -- Chatham would work well as a 40-something Kirk as he’s 46 years old now. He’d come with major sci-fi cred thanks to his long run on The Expanse and his three-episode turn as Captain Enoch on Ahsoka. He also bears a resemblance to Matt Damon, who was reportedly up for the role of Kirk when rumors swirled about a reboot in 2006.
Taron Egerton -- Best known for starring as Elton John in the biopic Rocketman, this Welsh actor is 35 years old but still quite boyish-looking. He’s an excellent performer, adept at drama (Billionaire Boys Club, Black Bird) and action-comedy (Kingsman: The Secret Service, Kingsman: The Golden Circle). We can envision him very capably imbuing Kirk with the elements of conviction, heroism, machismo, and wit that Shatner brought to the role.
Jimmy Bennett -- Remember the young Kirk who borrowed his stepdad’s convertible Corvette and took it for a joyride in Star Trek (2009)? Bennett played that role, effectively capturing the character’s essence. He continued to work steadily post-Star Trek (Orphan, Bones, No Ordinary Family) and more recently in an episode of Pachinko but reportedly considers himself a former child actor. We say, let him come in and audition if the opportunity arises and he's interested. He’s still just 29 years old.
Tanner Buchanan -- If we’re toying with going really young for a new Star Trek movie, we’d be on board for 26-year-old Buchanan stepping into Kirk’s boots. He’s versatile and handsome and has displayed his chops in Cobra Kai (literally and figuratively), Girl Meets World, and Designated Survivor. Some folks actually buzzed about him portraying Kirk on Strange New Worlds before Wesley landed the role.
Mike Vogel -- Vogel gives off a very Kirk-ish vibe, not unlike Chris Pine, which explains why at one point he was supposedly the frontrunner to star as Kirk in the J.J. Abrams' features. If Paramount and/or Abrams don’t tap Pine, Simon Pegg, Zoe Saldana, etc., for Star Trek 4, they certainly could give Vogel his shot at the Kirk gig. He’s 45 and has worked steadily since the early 2000s (with credits spanning from The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Cloverfield, and The Help to Under the Dome, Childhood’s End, and Sex/Life).