William Shatner & Anson Mount Hilariously Debate Who Really Replaced Star Trek’s Original Captain Pike

Technically, actor Sean Kenney also has claim to be Jeffrey Hunter's replacement since he played Fleet Captain Pike in Star Trek's "The Menagerie."

Captain Pike wasn't seen again in Star Trek canon until Star Trek: Discovery season 2, when Anson Mount began playing the original Captain of the Enterprise. Mount's version of Pike was so popular, fans clamored for him to lead a spinoff, which became Star Trek: Strange New Worlds in 2022. Anson likes to joke that Strange New Worlds is the longest pilot-to-series pick up in TV history since it's essentially the continuation of Star Trek's "The Cage," taking place years before Star Trek: The Original Series.

Our Take On William Shatner & Anson Mount As Captain Pike's Replacement

The Two Captains Have Each Other's Backs

William Shatner's Captain Kirk replacing Jeffrey Hunter's Captain Pike was one of the pivotal decisions that allowed Star Trek to flourish, and eventually become a franchise that has endured for 60 years, spanning multiple TV series, movies, and ancillary media. Shatner's charm, wit, and occasionally bombastic performances turned Captain Kirk into a pop culture icon. Today, Anson Mount leads arguably the most popular incarnation of Star Trek, Strange New Worlds.

Anson Mount's Captain Pike combines authority, compassion, humor, intelligence, and culinary skills to redefine what it means to be the Captain of the Enterprise. What's most heartening about WIlliam Shatner and Anson Mount's X exchange, however, is their mutual respect and admiration. Only an elite few know what it means to lead a Star Trek series as Captain of the Enterprise, and it's great to see Bill and Anson have each other's backs.

Source: William Shatner on X