The Battle For The Enterprise Bridge: Every Actor Who Ever Portrayed Captain Kirk

So, there I was, sitting in my local comic book store, leafing through an old Star Trek annual, when I stumbled upon a panel that got me thinking. It was a sketch of the Enterprise bridge, and it had me wondering, "How many actors have actually sat in that captain's chair?" You know, the one that's seen more action than a Hollywood extra on a Saturday night. And thus, my friends, began the battle for the Enterprise bridge.

Captain Kirk: The Original

Let's start with the obvious, shall we? William Shatner, the man, the myth, the legend. He's the one who started it all, the first to boldly go where no man (or woman) had gone before. He captained the Enterprise from 1966 to 1969 in the original series, and then again in the movies from 1979 to 1994. That's a lot of time in the captain's chair, folks. But little did he know, he was just the first in a long line of Kirks.

Kirk: The Next Generation

Enter stage right, Chris Hemsworth. Now, I know what you're thinking, "But he's Thor!" Well, yes, he is. But before he was wielding Mjolnir, he was playing a younger version of Captain Kirk in the 2009 Star Trek reboot. Talk about a career launch. From the bridge of the Enterprise to the halls of Asgard, that's quite the leap.

Kirk: The Alternate Timeline

And then, there's another Kirk. Yes, you heard me right. In the alternate timeline created by the 2009 reboot, we meet a whole new set of characters, including Captain Kirk, played by Chris Pine. Now, I won't bore you with the details of the time travel shenanigans, but suffice it to say, this Kirk has been busy. From 2009's Star Trek to 2016's Star Trek Beyond, he's been giving Shatner a run for his money in the captain's chair department.

Kirk: The Animated Series

But wait, there's more! Remember the animated series from the 70s? You know, the one with the catchy theme song that's been stuck in your head since you were a kid? Well, Kirk was there too, voiced by none other than William Shatner himself. That's right, folks. He didn't just sit in the chair, he animated it too.

The Battle for the Bridge

So, there you have it. Four different actors have all sat in the captain's chair, each bringing their own unique flavor to the iconic role. It's like they're all vying for the title of "Most Time Spent on the Bridge." But really, who's counting? Well, I am, obviously. But that's beside the point.

Now, I'm sure some of you are thinking, "But what about the other captains? What about Picard, Janeway, Sisko, and Archer?" Well, that's a whole other battle, my friends. A battle for another day. For now, let's just appreciate the fact that the captain's chair on the Enterprise bridge has seen more action than a Hollywood extra on a Saturday night. And that, my friends, is something worth celebrating.

So, who do you think deserves the title of "Most Time Spent on the Bridge"? Shatner, Hemsworth, Pine, or the animated Kirk? Let me know in the comments. Until then, live long and prosper.