The original James T Kirk has mooted the possibility of a return with threequel director Roberto Orci, though his character died in 1994’s Star Trek: Generations

William Shatner has confirmed talks with the makers of the new Star Trek film regarding a return to the long-running science-fiction saga.

Shatner, the original Captain James T Kirk, dating back to Star Trek’s 1966 debut on the small screen, told the Associated Press he had met with director Roberto Orci, who is taking charge on the forthcoming Star Trek 3.

“I had a talk with him the other day,” said Shatner. “So there’s talk, simply talk about the next movie.” He said he would take on the project providing it featured “a role that had something to do with the turning of the plot”.

However, Shatner said he had no idea how Orci and his team proposed to bring back the elder Kirk after the character died on screen in 1994’s Star Trek: Generations. “That was so long ago. How do they bring me back physically like this? I don’t know,” he said.

Orci, who is taking over from JJ Abrams for the third film in Star Trek’s ongoing reboot following the latter’s departure to rival space-saga Star Wars, has previously refused to deny the rumour that there is a place for Shatner in his plans. “Not in my interest to confirm or deny anything because it limits my options while maintaining my integrity as a truth teller,” he wrote on a fan forum, adding (in a Trekkie nod to the original Star Trek II): “love no win scenarios. In theory, damned either way”.