As a fan who has followed Sebastian Stan‘s career since his days on Gossip Girl, I can’t help but feel a twinge of what-might-have-been nostalgia when I think about him almost playing James T. Kirk in Star Trek. While Chris Pine did an excellent job as the iconic captain, I believe that Sebastian Stan could have brought a unique flair to the role.
Initially, Sebastian Stan gained recognition from his role on Gossip Girl, but it was his casting as Bucky Barnes (later known as the Winter Soldier) in Captain America: The First Avenger that brought him international acclaim. If events had taken a different course, Stan might have portrayed Captain Kirk in the Star Trek series instead. Although I’m happy with his success in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, I would have been intrigued to see how he would have tackled the role of this famous sci-fi character.
During an interview with Josh Horowitz on “Happy Sad Confused,” Sebastian Stan also shared some intriguing insights about missed opportunities in his acting career. Specifically, he discussed coming close to being cast as Kirk in the 2009 “Star Trek” reboot that took place in the Kelvin timeline and led to subsequent films like “Star Trek Into Darkness” (2013) and “Star Trek Beyond” (2016). Reflecting on significant roles he didn’t secure, Stan expressed his thoughts about this topic.
I was yearning for a couple of roles I couldn’t quite grasp, particularly the part of Captain Kirk for J.J. Abrams. I came extremely close to landing that role; I recall being almost there. I even had a screen test at Paramount Studios with Abrams himself, and my manager arranged a separate photo shoot where I attempted to mimic William Shatner’s iconic images to show him how closely I resembled him. However, in the end, I didn’t get the role.
Allow me to clarify that I hold no issues with Chris Pine’s portrayal of Kirk in Star Trek. He skillfully captured the same intensity that William Shatner exhibited when he played the character in Star Trek: The Original Series and subsequent films, yet never gave the impression of merely imitating Shatner. Should Star Trek 4 ever materialize, I would be more than happy to see Pine reprise his role as captain of the USS Enterprise once more.
Still, I think that Sebastian Stan could have played a great James T. Kirk as well. He also has the right physical look and performative flair that would have served him well playing the cocky rule breaker who becomes one of the most iconic figures in Starfleet history. The only concern I have in this alternate version of history is if Stan would have had time to play both Kirk and Bucky, especially considering how the latter has grow increasingly important in the MCU. If not, then I’m glad things shaken out the way they did.
Currently, there’s no fresh news about the progress of Star Trek 4. Instead, the Star Trek origins movie is set to be released in the 2025 movie lineup. If you’re curious about a new take on a younger James T. Kirk, tune into Paul Wesley’s portrayal in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, available for streaming with a Paramount+ subscription. Meanwhile, Sebastian Stan will reappear as Bucky Barnes when Thunderbolts hits theaters on May 2, 2025.
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2024-10-26 04:37