William Shatner Said New Star Trek Would Make Roddenberry “Turn In His Grave” – What He Meant

William Shatner clarifies a statement he made in 2022 that Gene Roddenberry wouldn’t approve of the current Star Trek on Paramount+ shows.

William Shatner speaking in front of the cast of Star Trek: Discovery

Summary

William Shatner clarifies 2022 remark that modern Star Trek would make Gene Roddenberry “turn in his grave.”
Shatner’s comment was specifically about intimacy among Starfleet characters in the current Star Trek series.
Shatner highlights how Roddenberry’s military background influences his views on relationships among Starfleet Officers.

William Shatner clarified a 2022 statement he made that the new Star Trek series on Paramount+ would make Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry “turn in his grave.” Mr. Shatner said so at his San Diego Comic-Con “Shatner On Shatner” panel, and his quote made the rounds with fans taking sides for and against the modern Star Trek series. Shatner, who just turned 93, is celebrating his life and remarkable 70-year-career in entertainment with a new autobiographical documentary, William Shatner: You Can Call Me Bill.

In an interview with CinemaBlend to promote You Can Call Me Bill, William Shatner was asked about his Gene Roddenberry Star Trek comment from 2022, which “ruffled some feathers” among Star Trek fans. Mr. Shatner zeroed in on what, specifically, he was referring to, which is how Roddenberry, a military man, would have felt about romantic relationships between Starfleet Officers that are featured in the current Star Trek on Paramount+ series. Read his quote below:

I wonder why some feathers would be ruffled by my saying the guy, the gentleman I knew, Eugene Roddenberry, was very strict about military protocol. So, having an intimate relationship with somebody you’re working next to is verboten. You don’t do that on the military thing. And they [modern Trek shows], you know, I don’t know about the latest things, but the couple of things I’ve noted is that there are relationships, sexual relations, relationships going on between the people that would make Gene Roddenberry turn in his grave.

Personal Relationships Are Common In New Star Trek Series

There’s plenty of romance in current Star Trek

William Shatner admittedly doesn’t watch Star Trek, but he’s also not wrong when it comes to the amount of romance among crew mates in the current Star Trek series. Star Trek: Discovery features multiple love stories aboard the USS Discovery, starting with Captain Michael Burnham’s (Sonequa Martin-Green) relationship with Cleveland Booker (David Ajala). Captain Saru (Doug Jones) also has a romance with Vulcan President T’Rina (Tara Rosling), and Discovery features Star Trek’s first loving marriage between a gay couple, Commander Paul Stamets (Anthony Rapp) and Dr. Hugh Culber (Wilson Cruz).

Gene Roddenberry famously disliked many aspects of Star Trek that became popular and enduring, including the film Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.

Meanwhile, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds has plenty of love stories on the Starship Enterprise. Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount) is in a relationship with Captain Marie Batel (Melanie Scrofano), and Lt. Spock (Ethan Peck) carried on a love affair with Nurse Christine Chapel (Jess Bush). Lt. La’an Noonien-Singh (Christina Chong) is attracted to Lt. James T. Kirk (Paul Wesley), which is canonically years before Kirk becomes the Captain of the Enterprise played by William Shatner. Gene Roddenberry believed in a future utopia, but his vision strangely forced a lack of passion and interpersonal relationships among Starfleet Officers when he was in charge of Star Trek.