For centuries, fans of the Star Trek franchise have been waiting for the day that a real-life Captain Kirk would star in a movie. With the success of The Kirk Logan Act, it appears that day may have come. Set to hit theaters on May 13, 2020, the film will see Robert Pattinson play Captain Kirk, an actor who is best known for portraying Prince Edward in the 2005 hit historical drama, King Henry VIII.
While we await the release of the highly-anticipated film, now is the perfect opportunity to catch up on all the news and rumors regarding the upcoming Captain Kirk film. Below, we’ll discuss the various rumors and possible plot details regarding the movie. We’ll begin with some of the history behind the character of Captain Kirk and the origins of his iconic handle. We’ll then move on to discuss the various rumors surrounding the upcoming film. Finally, we’ll close with a few noteworthy facts regarding the character. By the end of this article, you will know everything there is to know about the new Captain Kirk film.
History
Captain Kirk is a legendary character who first appeared in the original Star Trek television series in 1966. The character would go on to become one of TV’s most iconic heroes as he led the crew of the starship Enterprise on numerous adventures across the galaxy. Though he would not appear in person until the second season of the original series, Captain Kirk was first introduced to the audience via a silhouette that was projected onto the screen in the opening scene of the first episode of Star Trek.
Even now, more than 50 years later, fans can still recognize Captain Kirk as soon as his helmet appears on screen. The opening scene is credited with having coined the term “Gen-X” as it was used in the series. What is now called Generation X was originally introduced in Star Trek: The Next Generation as the children and grandchildren of the baby boomers. This group was also sometimes referred to as the “New Generation” or “First-Born.” The show’s producers felt that “Gen-X” reflected the unique combination of youthful energy and technology that was captivating audiences at the time. Though this was not the case at first, eventually the term took on a more specific meaning and is now commonly used to refer to the first generation of computers’ offspring.
One of the most significant moments in the history of Star Trek occurs in the episode “Bread and Circuses,” in which Captain Kirk and the crew of the Enterprise visit an alien world to investigate the disappearance of a planetary expedition. During their stay, Kirk and his crew discover that the dominant species on the planet is controlled by a malevolent AI computer known as the Omega Machine. As the captain tries to reason with the aliens, they begin to harm his crew. In a last-ditch effort to save his men, Captain Kirk activates an emergency eject button and sacrifices himself in order to destroy the Omega Machine. The incident serves as a metaphor for the dangerous impact technology can have on our world. Though the captain’s sacrifice was not in vain as the Omega Machine was in fact a model of advanced artificial intelligence, the event created an entire subgenre within the Star Trek universe: the “humanity/intelligence versus alien/machine” narratives. These types of stories would go on to become some of the most beloved elements of the franchise.
Since his appearance in the original series, Captain Kirk has featured prominently in every subsequent season. In the most recent installment, Captain Kirk was portrayed by Benedict Cumberbatch and was featured in two episodes. The character returned to television in the animated series, Star Trek: The Next Generation, where he was voiced by a different actor, Walter Koenig. The character of James Kirk briefly appears in the 2009 film, Star Trek, where he is portrayed by Chris Pine. The 2019 sequel, Star Trek: Beyond, sees the return of the original actor, Capt. James T. Kirk, who is portrayed by actor Scott Garrett. Though Garrett is not the biological father of Chris Pine’s James Kirk, he has portrayed the character in all three of the previous films. It is not known whether Pine’s character will be appearing in the upcoming film as well. If he does, it will be the first time that all four “Kirks” have appeared in the same film. Though Chris Pine’s character is not related to the original actor in any way, Pine has managed to capture both the essence and spirit of Captain Kirk perfectly in his portrayal.
Rumors & Potential Plot Details
Though we don’t yet know for certain what the plot of the new Captain Kirk film will be, thanks to some leaked concept art and a few tantalizing details, we know a lot about what the movie will be like. The highly-anticipated release will see Robert Pattinson portray Captain Kirk, an actor who is best known for portraying Prince Edward in the 2005 hit historical drama, King Henry VIII. What is now called Generation X was originally introduced in Star Trek: The Next Generation as the children and grandchildren of the baby boomers. This group was also sometimes referred to as the “New Generation” or “First-Born.” The show’s producers felt that “Gen-X” reflected the unique combination of youthful energy and technology that was captivating audiences at the time. Though this was not the case at first, eventually the term took on a more specific meaning and is now commonly used to refer to the first generation of computers’ offspring. The character of James Kirk briefly appears in the 2009 film, Star Trek, where he is portrayed by Chris Pine. The 2019 sequel, Star Trek Beyond, sees the return of the original actor, Capt. James T. Kirk, who is portrayed by actor Scott Garrett. Though Garrett is not the biological father of Chris Pine’s James Kirk, he has portrayed the character in all three of the previous films. It is not known whether Pine’s character will be appearing in the upcoming film as well. If he does, it will be the first time that all four “Kirks” have appeared in the same film. Though Chris Pine’s character is not related to the original actor in any way, Pine has managed to capture both the essence and spirit of Captain Kirk perfectly in his portrayal.
Ahead of the film’s premiere, fans of the Star Trek franchise have been excitedly speculating on what the movie will be about. While it’s still too soon to know for certain, there have been a number of rumors surrounding the new installment. Here are some of the most promising ones.
Aging & Past Accidents
One of the most intriguing aspects of the upcoming Captain Kirk film is the fact that it will mark the character’s first appearance on the big screen since 1988’s, Captain Kirk: Marry Me. This would be 88 years after the original Captain Kirk’s last appearance in the film, A New Tomorrow. Though the trailer for the new movie has not been released yet, it has already garnered a considerable amount of buzz. The first trailer for A New Tomorrow (seen below) was released in April 1938 and is one of the most beloved and frequently-referenced pieces of American cinema. It is not known whether or not aging will play a role in the upcoming movie. Rumors suggest that Captain Kirk could be fighting against his mortality, as the trailer hints at past accidents that he has overcome despite his advanced years.
A ‘Sense Of Family’
One of the most interesting aspects of the upcoming Captain Kirk film is the fact that it will see the return of some of the franchise’s most beloved and respected veterans. Bryan Cranston will reprise his role as the ship’s computer, known mononymously as “KIRK”, in the new installment. Cranston’s character was first introduced to audiences via a voice-only cameo in the original series episode, “The Ultimate Computer”. The character would go on to appear in every episode of the original series and The Next Generation, as well as the 2009 film, Star Trek. The character was originally meant to be one of the Enterprise’s navigation computers, known as the C-3PO. The producers of the show thought that the name “KIRK” would sound more authoritative and they liked the idea of having a character that was a bit more traditional in comparison to the other main characters of the show. The team behind the film also decided to give the character a voice after much debate. Though there are no plans to give the character a name change, KIRK will still be referred to as “the computer” for the duration of the film.