Source: ScreenRant
By Matthew Rudoy
Nathan Fillion joins Star Trek in an iconic role.
Some of Nathan Fillion's most notable TV characters include Captain Malcolm "Mal" Reynolds in Firefly, Richard Castle in Castle, John Nolan in The Rookie, Caleb in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Gary West in Santa Clarita Diet. He has also become a staple of James Gunn's DC Universe through his portrayal of Guy Gardner, a Green Lantern with appearances in Superman, Peacemaker season 2, and Lanterns.
Now, per Bleeding Cool, Fillion played Captain Kirk during a surprise first script reading of Star Trek: The Animated Series season 1, episode 10, "Mudd's Passion." This took place at The Writers Guild Foundation's WGF RetroReads Presents: Star Trek 60th event. The other cast members for this reading, who were also not announced ahead of time, included D'Arcy Carden as Mr. Spock, Paul Scheer as Mr. Scott, Adam Arkin as Harry Mudd, and Aimee Garcia as Nurse Chapel.
The reading of "Mudd's Passion" was followed by a speech from Rod Roddenberry, the son of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry. Then came a reading of Star Trek: The Original Series season 1, episode 1, "The Man Trap." Numerous members of HBO Max's The Pitt cast voiced the characters for this reading, with Noah Wyle as Captain Kirk, Katherine LaNasa as Dr. "Bones" McCoy, Taylor Dearden as Spock, Fiona Dourif as the villainous Nancy Crater, Shabana Azeez as Lieutenant Sulu, and Ayesha Harris as Lieutenant Uhura.
Two Marvel stars also joined the reading of "The Man Trap," featuring Agent Phil Coulson actor Clark Gregg as Professor Crater and Ms. Marvel/Kamala Khan star Iman Vellani as Yeoman Janice Rand.
Fillion and Wyle have now joined an elite group of actors who have played Captain Kirk. William Shatner not only played Kirk in Star Trek: The Original Series and numerous movies, but also voiced him in Star Trek: The Animated Series. Other actors who have played the beloved character include Chris Pine in the films Star Trek, Star Trek Into Darkness, and Star Trek Beyond, and Paul Wesley in Paramount+'s Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, which is in the midst of its fourth season.
With Star Trek: The Original Series widely regarded as one of the most important television shows of all time, there is something fitting about modern TV icons like Fillion and Wyle playing Kirk during a celebration of the franchise. Plenty of other modern TV stars also brought these scripts to life again with Wyle's The Pitt co-stars, The Good Place and The Five-Star Weekend's Carden, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Gregg, and Ms. Marvel's Vellani.
Since Strange New Worlds is ending with season 5, Starfleet Academy with season 2, and no other Star Trek shows confirmed to follow them, it is a time of uncertainty for the franchise's television future. In the meantime, though, there are 60 years to celebrate, going all the way back to the first seasons of the original and animated series and doing readings for some of their earliest episodes.
By Matthew Rudoy
Nathan Fillion joins Star Trek in an iconic role.
Some of Nathan Fillion's most notable TV characters include Captain Malcolm "Mal" Reynolds in Firefly, Richard Castle in Castle, John Nolan in The Rookie, Caleb in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Gary West in Santa Clarita Diet. He has also become a staple of James Gunn's DC Universe through his portrayal of Guy Gardner, a Green Lantern with appearances in Superman, Peacemaker season 2, and Lanterns.
Now, per Bleeding Cool, Fillion played Captain Kirk during a surprise first script reading of Star Trek: The Animated Series season 1, episode 10, "Mudd's Passion." This took place at The Writers Guild Foundation's WGF RetroReads Presents: Star Trek 60th event. The other cast members for this reading, who were also not announced ahead of time, included D'Arcy Carden as Mr. Spock, Paul Scheer as Mr. Scott, Adam Arkin as Harry Mudd, and Aimee Garcia as Nurse Chapel.
The reading of "Mudd's Passion" was followed by a speech from Rod Roddenberry, the son of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry. Then came a reading of Star Trek: The Original Series season 1, episode 1, "The Man Trap." Numerous members of HBO Max's The Pitt cast voiced the characters for this reading, with Noah Wyle as Captain Kirk, Katherine LaNasa as Dr. "Bones" McCoy, Taylor Dearden as Spock, Fiona Dourif as the villainous Nancy Crater, Shabana Azeez as Lieutenant Sulu, and Ayesha Harris as Lieutenant Uhura.
Two Marvel stars also joined the reading of "The Man Trap," featuring Agent Phil Coulson actor Clark Gregg as Professor Crater and Ms. Marvel/Kamala Khan star Iman Vellani as Yeoman Janice Rand.
Fillion and Wyle have now joined an elite group of actors who have played Captain Kirk. William Shatner not only played Kirk in Star Trek: The Original Series and numerous movies, but also voiced him in Star Trek: The Animated Series. Other actors who have played the beloved character include Chris Pine in the films Star Trek, Star Trek Into Darkness, and Star Trek Beyond, and Paul Wesley in Paramount+'s Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, which is in the midst of its fourth season.
With Star Trek: The Original Series widely regarded as one of the most important television shows of all time, there is something fitting about modern TV icons like Fillion and Wyle playing Kirk during a celebration of the franchise. Plenty of other modern TV stars also brought these scripts to life again with Wyle's The Pitt co-stars, The Good Place and The Five-Star Weekend's Carden, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Gregg, and Ms. Marvel's Vellani.
Since Strange New Worlds is ending with season 5, Starfleet Academy with season 2, and no other Star Trek shows confirmed to follow them, it is a time of uncertainty for the franchise's television future. In the meantime, though, there are 60 years to celebrate, going all the way back to the first seasons of the original and animated series and doing readings for some of their earliest episodes.
