William Shatner Has Some Thoughts About His Character Being Left Out of STAR TREK Promotional Material

William Shatner's Captain Kirk has been left out of Paramount's STAR TREK Day promotional material. Images: Paramount+ / Santiago Felipe.

William Shatner, best known for his iconic role as Captain James T. Kirk in the original Star Trek series, has taken to X to address promotional art released by Paramount that features various characters from the Star Trek universe, but noticeably omits Captain Kirk.

The promotional material in question appears to be part of an effort to celebrate Star Trek Day and showcases the breadth and diversity of the Star Trek franchise across several of its television series. However, Shatner pointed out the absence of his character with a touch of his well-known wit and a hint of criticism towards the decision.

All you have to do is look at the Paramount+ graphics to answer that question. 😉 https://t.co/B4Rc9iUJGZ pic.twitter.com/uJEqIL7QZ7

— William Shatner (@WilliamShatner) January 6, 2024

In a series of posts, Shatner expressed his thoughts, saying, "It’s not the first time it’s been going on for years. It makes no difference to me that a group who think they are 'enlightened' (or whatever they think they are) obviously feels threatened by the Kirk character. It’s a character from a 1960’s TV show- get over it.😉🤣" This post suggests that Shatner is not personally affected by the omission but is bemused by the perceived need by some to downplay his character's legacy.

Continuing his commentary, he added, "It doesn’t bother me in the least. A bunch of self-righteous strangers thinking they are sending a message by erasing the past? Who is going to forget? It’s everywhere. It’s so indoctrinated that it will take many generations to be forgotten no matter what they do. Let it be.😑" With this, Shatner points to the enduring nature of the Captain Kirk character and the unlikely prospect of it being forgotten, regardless of its exclusion from promotional campaigns.

The absence of Captain Kirk from the promotional imagery has sparked conversation among fans and commentators, with some speculating about the reasons behind this choice. Shatner's tweets have certainly added a layer of celebrity insight to the discussion, reflecting a broader debate about the representation and legacy of characters in long-standing cultural franchises.

Paramount has not released a statement in response to Shatner's comments at the time of this report. Captain Kirk remains a pivotal figure in the Star Trek lore, and his impact on the franchise and its fandom is undisputed, even as the series continues to expand with new stories and characters.