It looked like we’d seen the last of the Kelvin timeline cast for a while there, but this month’s news that Star Trek 4 is finally happening, with WandaVision‘s Matt Shakman at the helm, has renewed fans’ hopes that Chris Pine could return as Captain Kirk. And if he really is back on board the Enterprise, there’s a chance this could lead to us seeing the alternate James Tiberius in a whole new medium.
We Got This Covered has heard from our trusted sources – the same ones who told us about Star Trek: Strange New Worlds before that was announced – that Paramount wants Chris Pine to cameo in some of the Star Trek shows. That’s as specific as we can get right now, so there’s no telling exactly where he could theoretically turn up. However, it’s clear the idea isn’t just to have him show up just the once but to appear all over the TV side of the franchise.
It’s important to note that we’re only hearing that this is something the studio wants to happen right now, so it’s not necessarily something that will happen as it all depends on whether Pine is willing. But it’s not surprising that Paramount likes the idea. Since Viacom re-merged with CBS in 2019, that put both halves of the Star Trek universe under the same roof for the first time since 2005, so obviously there are plans to combine them. No doubt Paramount is looking at all the success Marvel has had with movie/TV crossovers and wants in on that.
While the movie series has stagnated, the TV franchise keeps on expanding over on Paramount Plus (formerly CBS All Access). So it would be a mutually beneficial crossover if Pine’s Kirk really did encounter, say, Sonequa Martin-Green’s Michael Burnham or Anson Mount’s Christopher Pike or even Patrick Stewart’s Jean-Luc Picard.
Before we can get him on TV, Chris Pine has to sign on to return for Star Trek 4 first. Meanwhile, the next Trek show on the way is Star Trek: Lower Decks season 2, hitting streaming next month.
