Movies News Talk
Fans have enjoyed many Star Trek actors over the years. It appears that Chris Pine Captain Kirk faced his own trials, particularly a very early encounter with Starfleet death, long before William Shatner.
Chris Pine stars as Captain James Kirk in J.J. Abrams Star Trek movies set in the Star Trek Kelvin Timeline, which changes many aspects from the iconic Star Trek The Original Series starring William Shatner! But one big difference is the experiences they've faced!
William Shatner Kirk, despite many Starfleet losses, including the crew on his iconic ship the Enterprise, found a life-altering encounter when Spock dies in Star Trek II The Wrath of Khan. He acknowledges his son's statement that, as captain, he hasn't actually faced death before. It was a very dramatic and unforgettable event for the original Kirk. Chris Pine's Chris Pine Captain Kirk experience begins with a major Starfleet death that greatly alters his destiny. It occurs with the passing of George Kirk (his father, played by Chris Hemsworth), a Starfleet pilot on the USS Kelvin, sacrificed to save hundreds of people on his ship. This incident greatly affects Chris Pine's Captain James Kirk!
Fans will recognize how these actors deliver some very memorable roles. But in Star Trek Strange New Worlds, a different version of Captain James T. Kirk is played by Paul Wesley, the Prime Timeline Kirk. While still a young lieutenant, his understanding of death seems more clear when compared to William Shatner. His encounter with Ensign Nyota Uhura, played by Celia Rose Gooding, who is trying to accept the passing of Lieutenant Hemmer (who sadly met his demise while in Starfleet!), proves that death is part of the job, but holding onto memories is an act of resistance.
With the exception of Starfleet death for Chris Hemsworth and Hemmer's Starfleet death in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, each captain faces death on their own journey, which really brings this storyline into focus! The loss of Captain Christopher Pike in Star Trek Into Darkness, a very hard-hitting death, is for Chris Pine Kirk another important event. It highlights the consequences of his commitment to Starfleet. In the case of William Shatner's Kirk, Spock's sacrifice proves that no matter how much a captain grieves, they will always have to move forward, an experience William Shatner Kirk experiences, much later on in the timeline.
Be sure to watch Star Trek content, whether Prime Timeline Star Trek, such as the original series, or even explore more about the Star Trek Kelvin Timeline in Chris Pine Star Trek! Each of these will shed new light on the history of the Star Trek universe. Be sure to check out Star Trek movies and even check out some Star Trek TV shows as these have provided more details to fans since the franchise began!
With multiple storylines, each version of Captain James T. Kirk and his relationship with the other beloved Star Trek crew members, you'll find a common link between Star Trek and the world beyond it. It all goes back to the USS Kelvin, which appears in the beginning of the Star Trek Kelvin Timeline!