Earlier today came official confirmation from Paramount+ that Star Trek: Strange New Worlds has tapped a new actor to take on the role of James Kirk, the part originated by William Shatner in the original television and film series. Announced with an official photo of him in costume and on set was the reveal that former The Vampire Diaries star Paul Wesley would be taking on the iconic part for the series, but not until its already confirmed second season. It didn’t take long for fans to take hold of the announcement though with Wesley’s name launching onto the trending topics on Twitter after it was confirmed. 

Wesley is best known to many TV fans for playing Stefan Salvatore in all eight seasons of The Vampire Dairies but has also starred on the likes of Smallville, Tell Me a Story, and Army Wives, while also stepping behind the camera to direct episodes of Roswell, New Mexico, Legacies, and, naturally, The Vampire Diaries. “Paul is an accomplished actor, an astonishing presence and a welcome key addition to the show. Like all of us, he is a life-long Star Trek fan and we are excited by his interpretation of this iconic role,” Alex Kurtzman, Akiva Goldsman and Henry Alonso Myers said in a statement.

“I am deeply humbled and still a little startled to have been given the honor of playing the inimitable James T Kirk,” Wesley tweeted after the announcement was made. “Ever since I was a kid, I have been awed by the imaginative world Gene Roddenberry created. Recently, I boarded a flight to LA to discover that the man in the empty seat beside me was the one and only William Shatner, having himself just returned from space. I could barely put two words together but ultimately I managed to say hello and we chatted. I’m not one who usually believes in fate but this was more than a coincidence. And of course I had to get a picture. So thanks Mr. Shatner for the good company. And for seating us together, my thanks to the great bird in the sky. Can’t wait for all of you to see our Captain Kirk on your screens.”

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds will debut on Paramount+ on May 5th.  

Here come the jokes…

Sigh. There are going to be SO many “Shut up (Paul) Wesley” jokes when Season 2 debuts…

— Jono Logan (@jono_logan) March 16, 2022

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ride or die

it’s embarrassing how happy i get when paul wesley thrives. ride or die for stefan salvatore!!!! always!!!!!!

— julia (@julia___4) March 16, 2022

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Hope to see some classic TOS stories

I’m excited for #StarTrekStrangeNewWorlds for more Anson Mount as Captain Pike and Paul Wesley as Captain (?) Kirk. Hope to see some classic TOS stories and Trek-verse adventures

— andy is writing (somehow) 🚀 🌌 📚 #sffpit (@acolliver615) March 16, 2022

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Love Yourself

I don’t know who needs to hear this.

It’s OK that Paul Wesley has been cast as Captain Kirk.

Love yourself today.#StarTrek

— Quinton O’Connor (@QuintonWrites) March 16, 2022

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Don’t call it a comeback

In year 2022, Robert Pattinson went from Edward Cullen (“Twilight” films) to Bruce Wayne/Batman (“The Batman”). Later, Paul Wesley went from playing Stefan Salvatore (“The Vampire Diaries”) to James T. Kirk (“Star Trek: Strange New Worlds”) pic.twitter.com/KmPQBUjTAd

— Jassondra Lee (@ItsJassondra) March 15, 2022

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He’s got the look

This is dope. Listen, I’ve been a fan since I was a kid in the 80’s and this all makes me excited. He’s got the look. I’ve seen a lot of people play Kirk, so this isn’t some kind of sacred thing. Let’s all keep an open mind!

— J. Andrew Gleason 🖖 (@theopholus) March 15, 2022

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