'Star Trek Beyond' cast updates: William Shatner willing to return as Captain Kirk

Star Trek BeyondParamount Pictures

"Star Trek Beyond" fans will have to wait a few more months until the movie hits the big screen, but there's already a lot to look forward to in the reboot's future. William Shatner, who is better known to die-hard sci-fi enthusiasts as Captain Kirk, has expressed interest to reprise his iconic role.

Fans will remember that back when "Star Trek Beyond" was just in production, there were already speculations about Shatner suiting up as the legendary commander in the film. However, the speculations turned out to be false. He was also close to playing the role in the 2009 reboot "Star Trek."

"I would play an old Captain Kirk, absolutely," Shatner told The Hollywood Reporter, adding that his return would have to be "interesting" and not something that basically goes something like, "Here I am, aren't I interesting?"

While it will be a treat to fans of the sci-fi franchise, the actor hopes that his appearance in the future "Star Trek Beyond" films, should there be any, will not be a mere cameo engineered to get a wild reaction from fanatics of the "Star Trek" franchise.

"It's the ongoing world; it's the world within science fiction. Yes, you age within the universe. Time goes on — but time bends, as well. There [are] so many things you could do," Shatner went on to say.

Fans will remember that Shatner's Captain Kirk met his demise in the 1994 film "Star Trek: Generations," but Shatner believes that this does not eliminate the chances of his character making a triumphant return.

In the event Shatner returns in the "Star Trek Beyond" follow-ups, the actor hopes that the version of Captain Kirk that he created in the novels he wrote about the character, which was also inspired by his own life, will be the one he will play in the reboot.

"Star Trek Beyond" will hit the big screen on Jul. 22.