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Published Jul 30, 2026, 12:00 PM EDT
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Paul Wesley envisions a different future for James T. Kirk and his older brother, Sam Kirk (Dan Jeannotte), after Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.
In Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 4, Lt. Commander James T. Kirk is First Officer of the USS Farragut. As he evolves towards his destiny as a Captain, Kirk keeps finding ways to come aboard the USS Enterprise, his future starship. Meanwhile, Lieutenant Sam Kirk serves on the Enterprise as a xenoanthropologist and is usually annoyed by his little brother Jim’s appearances.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds executive producers and co-showrunners Akiva Goldsman and Henry Alonso Myers and cast members Christina Chong, Melissa Navia, and Paul Wesley were interviewed by ScreenRant’s Joe Deckelmeier at San Diego Comic-Con. Wesley, who owns Brothers Bond Bourbon with his* The Vampire Diaries* co-star Ian Somerhalder, was asked what business he thinks James and Sam Kirk would start together:
Paul Wesley: That’s good. That’s a pretty good question. Okay, let me think. So he’s into science. Okay, and Kirk’s into… not science. So maybe they need to meet in the middle. Oh, I know, like a revolutionary new way of like… can we put Sam’s engineering skills, science slash engineering skills… You know what I’m saying… and maybe he can build some sort of space rocket launcher company, like a space tourism company.
Henry Alonso Myers: As a xenoanthropologist, I think he would be very interested.
Paul Wesley: Yeah, and then we’ll serve booze on the, you know… I mean, that’s a good answer, right? Should I write, maybe?
Henry Alonso Myers: Let’s set a meeting.
Watch ScreenRant’s Comic-Con interview with *Star Trek: Strange New Worlds *here:
A space tourism company would be a fascinating venture for the Kirk brothers to start. In Wesley’s vision, it sounds like Sam would handle all of the science stuff while James would be the charming face of the brand. Of course, there would be drinking involved as both Kirks have proven they can set aside their sibling rivalry to bond over cocktails in the Starship Enterprise’s bar.
Paul Wesley’s idea would be a better future than the one that awaits Sam Kirk in *Star Trek *canon. Sadly, Sam is fated to die a few years after *Star Trek: Strange New Worlds *ends. Captain Kirk (William Shatner) finds his older brother (played by Shatner wearing a mustache) already deceased in Star Trek: The Original Series season 1’s finale, “Operation — Annihilate!”
However, neither Sam nor James know what their futures will hold in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. Season 4 delves into Jim’s regrets about fatherhood and not being present for his young son, David Marcus.* Star Trek: Strange New Worlds* season 4, episode 2, “The Griffin Incident”, finally addressed the fact that Sam has a wife and sons, whom he rarely sees because of his Starfleet career.
Somewhere in Star Trek’s multiverse, it’s possible that Sam and James Kirk do own a space tourism company together. Paul Wesley’s off-the-cuff idea is a brighter future for Sam, at least. After*** Star Trek: Strange New Worlds*** ends, Jim becomes a legend as Captain of the Enterprise while Sam is, unfortunately, doomed.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 4 releases new episodes Thursdays on Paramount+.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds ](/db/tv-show/star-trek-strange-new-worlds/)
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2022 - 2027-00-00
Henry Alonso Myers, Akiva Goldsman
Dan Liu, Amanda Row, Maja Vrvilo, Akiva Goldsman, Dermott Downs, Eduardo Sánchez, Jeffrey W. Byrd, Jonathan Frakes, Jordan Canning, Leslie Hope, Valerie Weiss, Sydney Freeland, Christopher J. Byrne, Rachel Leiterman
Captain Christopher Pike