The Art of Boredom: How Nicholas Meyer Unleashed William Shatner’s Potential
Nicholas Meyer’s approach to directing Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan was nothing short of revolutionary. He brought a fresh perspective to the franchise, one that embraced a sense of irreverence and grandeur. Unlike many fans of the original Star Trek series, Meyer had never seen an episode before taking on the project. Yet, he immediately recognized the potential in transforming the rivalry between Captain James T. Kirk and Khan Noonien Singh into a dramatic naval battle. His vision drew inspiration from classic swashbuckler films like Captain Blood and The Crimson Pirate, which added a layer of excitement and adventure to the story.
Meyer’s creative choices proved to be a masterstroke, not only for the film but for the entire Star Trek universe. However, one of the most challenging aspects of the project was working with William Shatner, who played Kirk. While Shatner was not a terrible actor by any means, his performance as Kirk had become predictable and rigid over time. This was a problem because the character of Kirk was meant to be complex—driven by a mix of ego, intelligence, and a deep sense of duty. To bring out the best in Shatner, Meyer needed to find a way to break through the actor’s established habits.
Breaking Through the Histrionics
Shatner had shown promise in earlier roles, such as his work at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival in Ontario, Canada, where he performed alongside notable actors like Christopher Plummer. He also delivered a strong performance in Roger Corman’s 1962 drama The Intruder. But once he became a household name through Star Trek, his acting style became more formulaic. His portrayal of Kirk often felt staged, with exaggerated expressions and a tendency toward posturing.
Meyer realized that to get a more authentic performance from Shatner, he needed to push him out of his comfort zone. During a panel discussion hosted by sci-fi writer-producer Marc Zicree, Meyer revealed that the key to unlocking Shatner’s true talent was to make him bored. By doing so, he could strip away the layers of pretense and allow the actor to reveal something more genuine.
The Power of Boredom
According to Meyer, “One of the things I found out working with William Shatner on Star Trek is that he was always sort of striking attitudes. He'd gotten into all these habits on Captain Kirk, and I thought ‘How do I bust through that.’ I realized that if I tackled that head-on, he would become very, very defensive… but I did understand that he got better when he stopped doing that. 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.”
This strategy worked wonders. In Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, Shatner delivered some of his most compelling performances, especially in the final scene with Spock and in the denouement with the crew. His line, “I feel young,” resonated deeply with audiences and showcased a vulnerability that had been missing from previous portrayals of Kirk.
A New Era for Star Trek
The success of Star Trek II marked a turning point for the franchise, not just in terms of storytelling but also in how it approached its characters. Shatner’s performance proved that even the most seasoned actors can surprise us when given the right direction. If boredom was the key to unlocking his potential, then perhaps it’s worth exploring whether this method could be applied more broadly.
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