How Wrath of Khan’s Director Outfoxed William Shatner

Nicholas Meyer stepped into the director’s chair for Star Trek II: Wrath of Khan without ever having watched an episode of the original series. Despite this, he was determined to draw something new out of William Shatner, who by then had become set in his ways as James T. Kirk. Shatner’s approach had grown a bit stiff, and Meyer was keen to shake things up.

During a chat with sci-fi writer and producer Marc Zicree, Meyer explained his method for getting past Shatner’s defences. He said:

How to stop him from doing that was getting him to be bored with what he was doing. And when he was bored he let down his guard, and other things came to the fore because he wasn’t posturing.

The result was a performance that many still consider the high point of the Star Trek films from that era. Shatner’s take on Kirk in Wrath of Khan struck a chord with punters everywhere and is still a talking point today. It was a well-earned moment for an actor who’d worked his way up the ranks.

Shatner’s Unique Path in Showbiz

Shatner’s reputation as a hard worker was well established long before he made the move to Los Angeles. He’d already impressed the likes of Christopher Plummer, and once in Hollywood, he was open to just about any role that came his way. He took on parts in films like The Brothers Karamazov and Judgment at Nuremberg, making a name for himself at a time when breaking into the industry was no easy feat.

Even after working alongside some of the biggest names in the business, Shatner kept a strong presence on telly. He popped up in series such as The Twilight Zone, The Outer Limits, The Fugitive, and Route 66. But after landing the role of Kirk in Gene Roddenberry’s Star Trek, he seemed to settle in, sticking with the franchise for the long haul. This comfort zone was evident by the time Wrath of Khan rolled around, with Shatner becoming a bit too comfortable in his role.

Meyer’s Fresh Take on a Sci-Fi Classic

Wrath of Khan gave the Star Trek franchise a much-needed boost after the lukewarm response to the first film. Meyer, who admitted,

I’ve never watched Star Trek. I don’t even know what that is. It’s a guy with pointy ears, yeah?

was able to bring a fresh perspective, focusing on what made a good story rather than sticking to established formulas. The film, released in 1982, was directed by Meyer and produced by Robert Sallin, with a screenplay by Jack B. Sowards. It featured a cast led by Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, Ricardo Montalbán, and others, and saw Kirk facing off against Khan, who was out for revenge using the Genesis Device.

The film’s themes—mortality, sacrifice, and obsession—struck a chord with viewers. Kirk’s struggle with Spock’s sacrifice and Khan’s relentless pursuit gave the story real weight. Wrath of Khan set the standard for future Star Trek films, and Meyer’s direction is still credited with taking the franchise to new heights.

Star Trek II: Wrath of Khan is currently available to stream on Paramount+ in the US.