William Shatner on Plea for Him To Take Control of Star Trek Franchise

William Shatner responded to criticism of the new Star Trek series, Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, from Stephen Miller. Miller had suggested Shatner should have complete creative control over the show. Shatner shared a short reaction on social media.

William Shatner addresses calls for him to take over Star Trek franchise

William Shatner has addressed recent discussions about him potentially leading the creative direction of Star Trek. This follows online criticism of a new Star Trek series, Starfleet Academy, planned for Paramount+.

The discussion started after Stephen Miller, a top policy advisor at the White House, shared a clip from the show Star Trek: Starfleet Academy online, calling it “tragic.” He then suggested that the Star Trek franchise could be improved if Paramount reached an agreement with actor William Shatner and allowed him to lead its creative decisions moving forward.

Okay, so William Shatner, the original Captain Kirk, actually responded to this online criticism, and it was classic Shatner. The 94-year-old didn’t take the critique seriously at all, firing back with a really sarcastic reply. He tweeted at the critic, agreeing with them, but then immediately pivoted to something completely ridiculous: the fact that Holly Hunter’s character still needed glasses in the 32nd century! He called it a massive writing failure, which, honestly, was hilarious. It just proves he’s still got that playful, self-aware energy we all love.

Shatner playfully criticized the show’s low budget, joking on social media that Starfleet, being a futuristic and efficient organization, should be able to afford more than one pair of glasses for the bridge crew. He finished the post with a sarcastic offer to take over as the series’ director.

Miller responded to Shatner’s comments by repeating his belief that Paramount made a mistake. He believes the studio still has a chance to repair its relationship with Shatner and revitalize the franchise. However, neither Shatner nor Paramount+ has suggested that the actor will be involved in a creative capacity going forward.

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2026-01-20 14:47