It’s been some time since William Shatner took part in any Star Trek revival, and with the movie franchise folding in on its own mythology, it might make sense of CBS’ Star Trek: Discovery to return the most famous Enterprise captain. Shatner is open to an appearance on the new series, but only “If I were useful.”

The longtime (and admittedly controversial) Star Trek star spoke to TVGuide of the potential to appear in the franchise’s TV return, noting that the late Leonard Nimoy was somewhat underused in the film franchise rebooting their legacy:

Leonard [Nimoy, who plays Spock in the franchise], my friend, did a cameo [in the new Star Trek movies]. I said to him, ‘You know you’re old when you go back in time and you’re still old.’ It was a cameo, and I thought, ‘That’s a waste of time. He’s so talented. Why didn’t they do something more with him?’ So that’s the way I feel about that.

That said, the 2009 Star Trek reboot found an appropriate use for the franchise star, where 2013's Into Darkness felt somewhat less imaginative with its use of Nimoy, and Star Trek Beyond found appropriate use for his character’s legacy. Shatner at least offered the possibility of a Discovery cameo as “If I were useful,” though few enough details of the new series are known as-is, let alone where in relation to Kirk the series might take place.

Shooting in Toronto this fall, the new 13-episode Star Trek: Discovery is officially said to return to the timeline previously rebooted by J.J. Abrams’ film series, as well to be “heavily serialized,” akin to a novel, more-so than an episodic nature.

Bryan Fuller will headline the new streaming iteration of Star Trek as co-creator and executive producer, while Wrath of Khan director Nicholas Meyer has also joined alongside Gene Roddenberry’s son Rod, fan-favorite Voyager novel alum Kirsten Beyer, franchise vet Joe Menosky and Heroes writer Aron Coleite. So reads the initial synopsis for the series, which debuts on CBS in January 2017 before moving to All-Access:

The brand-new “Star Trek” will introduce new characters seeking imaginative new worlds and new civilizations, while exploring the dramatic contemporary themes that have been a signature of the franchise since its inception in 1966.

Additional details will emerge soon, but what should we expect from the new streaming Star Trek: Discovery? Is a Kirk cameo worth the headache?

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