Star Trek: Prodigy season 2 almost featured the return of Chris Pine as Captain James T. Kirk from J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek movies. Pine’s Captain Kirk exists in Star Trek’s alternate Kelvin Timeline, while Star Trek: Prodigy is set in Star Trek’s Prime Timeline. In Star Trek: Prodigy season 2, every Star Trek timeline is threatened by the reality-eating creatures called the Loom. The young heroes of the USS Protostar set the timeline right, but in Star Trek: Prodigy season 2, episode 14, “Cracked Mirror”, the Starfleet hopefuls jump into several alternate realities, including the Mirror Universe.
Star Trek: Prodigy co-executive producer Aaron J. Waltke joined Screen Rant for an exclusive interview deep-diving into the Star Trek lore of Prodigy season 2. Waltke revealed that one of the ideas discussed for Star Trek: Prodigy season 2 was Chris Pine’s Captain Kirk crossing over into the series for a 2-episode arc. Aaron explains why they unfortunately had to let go of that cool idea. Read his quote below:
At one point, I think we had discussed the possibility of what other universes can we explore? And I think at one point, we talked about trying to bring in even the Kelvin universe, but we just simply didn’t have time in the “Cracked Mirror” episode, where they’re going into all the different universes. And we were like, ‘Oh, what if we brought in that Captain Kirk, and he had to help them for a couple of episodes?’ It was a cool idea, but it was just a little bit too many sauces in the stew kind of a thing. I think it would have been fun. But I think it would have diverted from the story we were telling. It would have been the Captain Kirk show for a couple of episodes. Maybe that’s season three, we’ll find out.
Chris Pine In Star Trek: Prodigy Would Have Been Historic
What might arrive first: Star Trek: Prodigy season 3 or Star Trek 4?
Chris Pine hasn’t played Captain Kirk since Star Trek Beyond in 2016, and the mind boggles at the possibilities of the alternate Kelvin timeline’s Captain of the USS Enterprise crossing over into Star Trek: Prodigy. Aaron J. Waltke speculated a 2-episode arc for Captain Kirk, which would have given ample time for James to possibly step aboard the USS Protostar or USS Voyager-A to meet Admiral Kathryn Janeway (Kate Mulgrew). Dal R’El (Brett Gray) meeting Captain Kirk would also have been cool, letting the young Augment meet and be inspired by one of Star Trek’s most legendary Captains and risk-takers.
Perhaps Chris Pine returning as Captain Kirk could happen in Star Trek: Prodigy season 3, as Aaron J. Waltke suggested. It would mark the first time a Star Trek character from the Kelvin Timeline universe appeared in a Star Trek TV series. However, Star Trek: Prodigy season 3 awaits a green light from Netflix, while Star Trek 4, the long-awaited next J.J. Abrams-produced Star Trek movie, remains in development hell. Who knows which Star Trek project will make it to screens first, but fingers crossed both Star Trek 4 and Star Trek: Prodigy season 3 feature Chris Pine as Captain Kirk.