In the vast Star Trek universe, people often hope and anticipate potential reunions of iconic characters. One such moment nearly came to fruition in a planned Star Trek: The Next Generation episode, where Patrick Stewart’s Captain Jean-Luc Picard was set to cross paths with none other than William Shatner’s Captain James T. Kirk.
After Leonard Nimoy briefly associated with The Next Generation television series by appearing as Spock, fans were tantalized by the prospect of another Star Trek legend gracing the small screen. The script for this potential reunion episode held promise for an unforgettable encounter between Picard and Kirk.
Star Trek: The Next Generation Almost Reunited Patrick Stewart and William Shatner
Spanning over decades, there are several Star Trek projects like the 1994 movie Star Trek: Generations that have earned massive hatred from fans, after unnecessarily killing off the beloved Captain Kirk, played by William Shatner. However, one project that witnessed massive appreciation from fans that too on the small screen was the 1987 television series Star Trek: The Next Generation.
While the show seamlessly kept drawing fans’ attention and viewership over time, Star Trek: The Next Generation was inches close to becoming a timeless classic. Apparently, the TV series almost had the stars aligned, as one episode was supposed to mark a historic moment in Star Trek history by bringing together two generations of captains in a tale of interstellar adventures.
According to the website Redshirts Always Die, it was reported that Patrick Stewart and William Shatner almost had a reunion in the show if the showrunners had agreed to the potential idea. Apparently, a script highlighted the possibility of bringing Shatner’s Captain Kirk as a hologram or maybe even as a flashback to join in a discussion with Stewart’s Captain Picard.
However, fate had other plans, and the script was ultimately shelved, leaving fans to wonder what could have been. While the lost opportunity for a Patrick Stewart and William Shatner reunion may leave some fans wistful, it isn’t the only time a Star Trek legend missed the opportunity of reunion with Shatner.
The Next Generation Almost Reunited Leonard Nimoy and William Shatner
According to ScreenRant, Leonard Nimoy was initially asked to associate with Star Trek: The Next Generation, as a producer of the show. The creative team for the 1987 television series wanted to align the series with Star Trek: The Original Series as much as possible. Which is why, they had been planning to bring OG stars from the 1966 show.
This prospect from the creative team almost turned Leonard Nimoy into a Star Trek: The Next Generation producer. However, since the actor had mixed feelings about the series, he didn’t want to associate with the project for long. This led Nimoy to briefly appear in his iconic role as Spock beside Patrick Stewart’s Captain Picard.
Unfortunately, since Star Trek: The Next Generation failed to bring William Shatner’s Captain Kirk to the show, even Leonard Nimoy missed a possible reunion with Shatner. Nevertheless, despite the lack of a reunion, the legacy of Star Trek is fueled by the imaginations of fans who continue to dream of the day when such a reunion might become a reality.
Star Trek: The Next Generation is available on Paramount+.
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