William Shatner, the actor most famous for portraying Captain James T. Kirk in the original Star Trek series, has found himself in the spotlight again — this time over a debate about who should steer the future of the franchise. The controversy began when political commentator Stephen Miller publicly criticized the newest Star Trek show, Starfleet Academy, and urged Paramount+ to hand creative control over to Shatner. Miller’s criticisms implied that the show didn’t honor the original vision of Star Trek, and he suggested the best way forward would be to reconcile with Shatner and put him in charge of the franchise.
Rather than stiffly rejecting the idea, Shatner responded with a sense of humor. At 94 years old, he playfully agreed with Miller’s tongue‑in‑cheek suggestion, even joking about trivial futuristic details such as eyeglasses in the show. His lighthearted reply underlined both his enduring connection to Star Trek and his awareness of the often passionate and sometimes exaggerated opinions that swirl around long‑time fan favorites.
In a separate conversation about the Starfleet Academy series, Shatner also spoke more seriously about the criticism it has received. He acknowledged the love many fans feel for the classic Star Trek while expressing his support for the franchise’s growth and evolution. Though he’s not officially in charge of the modern Star Trek universe, his comments reflect a nuanced balance between honoring Star Trek’s legacy and welcoming new creative directions.
The back‑and‑forth highlights how deeply Star Trek remains embedded in popular culture, and how original cast members like Shatner still inspire debate about where the future of the franchise should go.