Paul Wesley is no stranger to stepping into iconic roles, but taking on the mantle of James T. Kirk in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds comes with a unique weight. Best known for his eight-season run as Stefan Salvatore on The Vampire Diaries, Wesley joined the Strange New Worlds cast in Season 2 and has since been exploring the formative years of one of science fiction’s most legendary captains.
With Star Trek: Strange New Worlds now in its third season, Kirk’s arc is beginning to take shape, revealing the lessons and challenges that will define his future leadership aboard the Enterprise. We spoke with Wesley about the responsibility of playing a character so deeply ingrained in pop culture, how he balances honouring William Shatner’s original portrayal with making the role his own, and why the hopeful vision of Star Trek feels especially relevant in today’s world.
We’re now in season three of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. How does it feel to be part of this season?
Paul Wesley: Listen, I love this season. I’m really excited for people to see this Thursday’s episode because it’s a real step towards the evolution of James T. Kirk. We get to see him learn a very important lesson that will allow him to eventually become the leader that we all know him to be. And what a great honour to get to be part of something that becomes canon in this great, great legacy. Prequels are a great responsibility, and I don’t take it lightly.
On that note, you are playing one of the most famous captains in Star Trek history. How does that feel, and how does it feel capturing a character that was played by another actor in the past?
Paul Wesley: I certainly gave it a ton of thought, and I dabbled with the idea of trying to replicate or imitate what William Shatner so brilliantly did. I realized quite quickly, and with the advice of others, that that was probably not the best idea because I’ll never be able to match his intrinsic qualities as a human being. So what I try to do is look at some of the qualities that are non-negotiable for the character, and then instill my own version of James T. Kirk into that role—one that is unique to me.
Now, did you talk to William Shatner before getting the role of James T. Kirk?
Paul Wesley: No. I mean, I have spoken to him separately because he and I used to be neighbours, so we—yeah, yeah, it’s crazy. A total coincidence. But we never spoke about the character, and I was also under a sworn secrecy. I couldn’t talk to anyone. I’ve seen him multiple times since being cast in the show and since playing the role, and he’s always nothing but encouraging and kind. You know, he’s lived with this role forever, right?
So I think the last thing I want to do is ask him to talk about it. If he wants to talk about it, of course, I’m ready to go at any point. But no, he’s just been sort of like, “Godspeed, do your thing, you have my blessing, and go kick ass.” It’s awesome.
You’ve been a part of different franchises up to this point. Were you a fan of Star Trek before joining Strange New Worlds, and what are your thoughts on Trek now after you are this character?
Paul Wesley: Yeah, I mean, we all know Trek. We all watch—I mean, certainly me and everyone I know—we all saw, you know, in my era… I was born in the ’80s, but I grew up in the ’90s, really, and it was all reruns and The Next Generation. Star Trek is such a part of the zeitgeist of television. I had seen a ton of the reruns, and I watched The Next Generation. I was sort of a fan. When I got cast in the role, I dove deeper into the world of Star Trek.
I think one of the things I didn’t understand—because I was just watching it as a viewer—was what it meant to people until I got cast in the part. I didn’t understand how important hope, imagination, positivity, and optimism for the future were to the franchise. I also don’t think I ever fully realized how important Captain Kirk was to a lot of people growing up. He was, in a way, kind of a father figure to many. He was a true hero to a lot of people at home, and I’m very aware of that responsibility.
This latest season of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is one of the more uplifting and positive seasons in a while. Is this the right tone for this time? And how do you see that going forward into future Treks?
Paul Wesley: Yeah. Look, we live in a very—humans are deeply flawed, and the world is really sad in many ways. The news cycle is a dark, dark thing. To have a series that foresees the future as a place of harmony between different alien species and the human species is such a breath of fresh air.
Star Trek—and I’ll speak for our show—does have some dark episodes. There are some episodes that don’t end on an uplifting note. This Thursday is a very emotional episode. So it’s not all blind optimism. There are trials and tribulations. I think you can have challenges while maintaining an optimistic perspective on the world.
It’s funny—there’s been talk of a comet being an alien spacecraft. I don’t know enough about it, but it’s funny because your brain automatically goes, “Oh, it’s hostile, it’s hostile.” Imagine a world where we’re not hostile to one another. That parallel applies to different countries, religions, and nations. Hostility is such a deep part of our history as humans. To be able to get off of that psychology and watch a show that is optimistic is a really nice change.
I’ve seen most of the season so far, and you’re right—there are some dark episodes, but there are also some fun episodes that go in different directions. Do you think that’s integral to what makes Trek—having those serious moments, but also the ability to have levity and show how these characters live beyond just the action moments?
Paul Wesley: Yeah, and I think Strange New Worlds is so good at not being one note. I’ve been on a lot of TV shows, and some shows are very predictable—every episode is kind of cut out, and you know exactly what it’s going to be. What I love about Strange New Worlds is that we play with metaphor and symbolism, but sometimes in very dark ways and other times in wildly comedic ways. That’s what makes the show exciting—it’s breaking the mould of what we expect.
Star Trek and the world of Star Trek rely so much on effects. How was filming with such an effects-heavy show?
Paul Wesley: This is quite unique because when we’re on the bridge, you’re reacting to a green screen. Obviously, we’re not shooting in space. It’s very much like doing theatre. I’ve done plays, and in theatre you’re staring out into the audience, into this black void, and you have to use your imagination. That is very much what Star Trek is. I always feel like I’m doing theatre when I’m on Star Trek.
Star Trek has been known for its fan communities, fan conventions, and all that. Have you had a chance to experience any of that yet, and are you excited to if you haven’t?
Paul Wesley: I was in Vegas two days ago with William Shatner and a bunch of the cast. Chrissy, Jonathan Frakes, and Ethan Peck were there. It is a very unique world. I’ve done many conventions with The Vampire Diaries, and it’s a totally different demographic.
This world—Star Trek—the fans really ask you very intellectual questions. And I’m not speaking down on The Vampire Diaries crowd, because they’re amazing, but that’s a different kind of fantasy/romance world. This is a much more scientific world. The kinds of questions I get here reflect a totally different interest in the show than what Vampire Diaries fans would ask about. It’s a completely different demographic, and I absolutely love it.
Just one last question, because you inspired me—do you have a favourite episode this season, or one you think fans should really look out for as they go into the rest of season three?
Paul Wesley: I actually really love the episode that’s airing this Thursday. It’s called The Slot Who Ate Its Tail. I love it because we get to see Kirk learn a very important lesson. What I love about playing a young James T. Kirk is that we really want to see the journey of how Captain Kirk becomes the captain we all know. I think this episode is a big part of defining who he is.
Awesome. Thank you so much for your time, and I look forward to watching the rest of the season.
Paul Wesley: Thank you so much.
