Chris Pine Reveals J.J. Abrams’ Biggest Star Trek Captain Kirk Direction: “Less Shatner”

Chris Pine reveals J.J. Abrams’ biggest direction when filming Star Trek (2009) was “less Shatner.” Pine took over the role of Captain James T. Kirk in Abrams’ rebooted Star Trek movie trilogy, which includes 2013’s Star Trek Into Darkness and 2016’s Star Trek Beyond. To play Kirk, Pine researched William Shatner’s iconic performances as the original Captain Kirk, and he may have adopted too many “Shatnerisms” at the onset of Star Trek (2009).

Chris Pine appeared on NPR’s Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me! podcast to promote Poolman, a new film he wrote and directed. Host Peter Sagal asked Pine about playing Captain Kirk in J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek, and how much of his performance was based on William Shatner’s. Read Pine’s response and listen to the podcast (Pine joins around the 20-minute mark) below:

I think the biggest correction that J.J. [Abrams] ever had for me was ‘less Shatner.’ Because it’s so deliciously fun. I mean, anything from how he sits in the chair to how he does a double take. There are many… the Shatnerisms are long and deep, and they’re beautiful. They’re beautifully crafted.

Source: NPR’s Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me! podcast

J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek movies are streaming on Paramount+