A Marvel Actor Almost Played Captain James T. Kirk in JJ Abrams Star Trek (2009)a role that went to Chris Pine. JJ Abrams rebooted the Star Trek franchise with an all-new cast portraying Captain Kirk and his crew of the Starship Enterprise. Star Trek (2009) became a resounding success at the box office and among critics and viewers. Two sequels followed, but the first film was enough to launch many of the actors’ careers into stardom. In addition to Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Zoe Saldaña, Karl Urban and Simon Pegg have successful careers in Hollywood.
In an interview with Josh Horowitz on Happy Sad Confused podcast, Marvel actor Sebastian Stan revealed he was in the running to play Captain Kirk in Star Trek (2009). Stan said he “Desperately Wanted” the paper and that he really “I came very close to” this. Even though Stan probably would have been a solid Kirk, it all worked out for the best. A few years later, in 2011, Stan landed the role of Bucky Barnes in Captain America: The First Avenger, launching your career to another level in the same way Star Trek launched Chris Pine’s.
Sebastian Stan would have made a great Captain Kirk in JJ Abrams’ Star Trek films
If Sebastian Stan got the role of Kirk, he probably wouldn’t have been Bucky Barnes
Sebastian Stan had a particularly strong year in 2024, with two films worth highlighting – A different man and the biopic of Donald Trump, The Apprentice. Critics praised Stan’s performances in both films, proving that he has become a high-caliber actor. With his impressive list of credits, it’s obvious that Sebastian Stan would have made an incredible Captain Kirk. Sebastian Stan and Chris Pine had similar career trajectories, with Stan achieving stardom after his turn as Bucky Barnes in Captain America: The First Avenger.
Sebastian Stan played Bucky Barnes (aka the Winter Soldier) in five subsequent Marvel Studios films, not counting uncredited cameos in Ant-Man and Black Panther. He also starred alongside Anthony Mackie’s Falcon in the Marvel Television film. The Falcon and the Winter Soldier and is set to star in the next Rays*. Sebastian Stan made Bucky a fan-favorite characterand he could, no doubt, have bought the same energy for Captain Kirk. Although Bucky Barnes and Kirk are very different characters, they both have charming personalities and similar senses of humor.
Why Chris Pine Was Still the Perfect Choice to Replace William Shatner as Kirk
Chris Pine introduced a new generation to Captain Kirk
While it would have been cool to see Sebastian Stan’s take on Captain Kirk, Chris Pine did an excellent job portraying the Enterprise captain. Pine managed to capture the same arrogance of William Shatner’s Kirk of Star Trek: The Original Series, without simply impersonating him. Since JJ, Abrams Star Trek The films take place in Kelvin’s alternate timeline, Pine’s Kirk had a different upbringing than Shatner’s character. Because of this, Pine’s Kirk is more reckless and angry than Shatner’s Kirk. Pine portrays this difference beautifully, while also making Kirk feel fundamentally the same character.
Chris Pine’s take on Kirk remains one of the highlights of Star Trek (2009) and its two sequels.
Chris Pine also had the right kind of chemistry with Zachary Quinto’s Spock, as both actors perfectly portrayed their complex relationship, from rivals to reluctant allies to friends. As such, Chris Pine’s take on Kirk remains one of the highlights of Star Trek (2009) and its two sequels. Like Sebastian Stan, Pine has landed several leading roles throughout his career, highlighting his range as an actor. Pine is also no stranger to superhero stories, having landed the role of Steve Trevor in the DC film. Wonder Woman in 2017. Pine also voiced a version of Peter Parker in 2018 Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.