Paul Wesley has been added to the cast of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 2 on Paramount+.
Known for his leading role on the popular CW series, The Vampire Diaries, Wesley will join the Season 2 cast of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds as Captain James T. Kirk, a role first portrayed in Star Trek: The Original Series by William Shatner.
"Paul is an accomplished actor, an astonishing presence and a welcome key addition to the show," said executive producer Alex Kurtzman and showrunners/executive producers Akiva Goldsman and Henry Alonso Myers. "Like all of us, he is a life-long Star Trek fan and we are excited by his interpretation of this iconic role." This makes Wesley the third actor to play Captain Kirk, a role originated by Shatner in the 1960s. Chris Pine then took on the role for the 2009 Star Trek film.
Wesley portrayed the vampire Stefan Salvatore on The Vampire Diaries for the entirety of its eight-season run, where he also served as a producer and director. He has appeared in the Paramount+ (formerly CBS All Access) series Tell Me a Story and is also set to star in the Shudder original film, History of Evil. He has served as a director on shows like Roswell, New Mexico, Shadowhunters and Legacies.
Strange New Worlds is both a spinoff of Star Trek: Discovery and a prequel to Star Trek: The Original Series, based on the years that Captain Christopher Pike helmed the USS Enterprise before Kirk took his seat in the captain's chair. Anson Mount will reprise his role as Captain Pike from Star Trek: Discovery, along with co-stars Rebecca Romijn as Number One and Ethan Peck as Mr. Spock. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds will premiere on Paramount+ in May and has already been renewed for a second season, which is currently in production in Toronto.
Strange New Worlds, which recently released a new trailer, will also star Jess Bush as Nurse Christine Chapel, Celia Rose Gooding as a young Cadet Nyota Uhura, Melissa Navia as Lt. Erica Ortegas and Babs Olusanmokun as Dr. M’Benga. The series marks the fifth new Star Trek show since 2017, as Paramount continues to expand the franchise for its new streaming service. This includes Discovery, currently in its fourth season, Star Trek: Picard, as well as two animated spinoffs, Star Trek: Lower Decks and Star Trek: Prodigy.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 1 premieres May 5 on Paramount+ and will run for ten episodes.
Source: Paramount