Central New York fans of “Star Trek” are excited to see Captain James T. Kirk in Syracuse, and William Shatner is excited to see them too.

Shatner will host a special screening of “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan” at The Oncenter Crouse Hinds Theater on January 18, at 7:30 p.m. The 1982 movie will be shown on the big screen followed by a live Q&A with Shatner, who starred as Admiral Kirk.

According to Shatner, “The Wrath of Khan” stands out as one of the franchise’s best because of the emotions and characters involved.

“The writers worked that emotion that involved the characters and put them through the ringer,” he said in a phone interview with syracuse.com | The Post-Standard.

But Shatner doesn’t like to watch himself on screen, so he admits he really hasn’t watched the sci-fi classic.

“I don’t really remember seeing the movie. I come onstage during the last moment of it," he said of the screening event.

In Syracuse, Shatner will talk about his life and career spanning 50 years as an actor, producer, director, singer and writer. Fans will also have chances to ask him questions during the live conversation portion, and VIP ticketholders will get to meet Shatner and take a photo with him.

His favorite part of meeting fans is “their sweaty little hands on your face,” he joked.

“Meeting a fan,” he then says more seriously. “I never forget that there’s a moment of awe, but it’s also gratitude that they are there. I never forget what an honor it is for someone to say they’re a fan and they like what we do. And liking what I do is always in jeopardy and I’m very grateful.”

For a long time, “Star Trek” was most popular in geek culture. Even in the ’90s, “Trekkies” or Trekkers were often depicted as dateless nerds dressing up at comic conventions. Now sci-fi and superheroes are mainstream, Comic Con is one of the biggest events in the world, and people like Shatner are rock stars.

And Shatner’s not surprised. He says anyone who’s ever tried reading science fiction or watching movies and TV shows in that genre quickly become fans.

“I was interested in sci-fi prior to ‘Star Trek,’ and it was fun,” he recalls. “And then I started to write it myself. I love the imagination of inventing this world of technology... Technology is so entertaining, and if you have invented interesting characters, you have them working in that environment, it’s a really good read. So I was really immersed in sci-fi early on. It never occurred to me that it was geeky.”

Another example of its popularity is the “Star Trek Tours” exhibit in Upstate New York, featuring a replica of the starship Enterprise set. Shatner last visited the Fort Ticonderoga, N.Y., exhibit in November (for “Treksgiving”) and will return on June 26-27, 2020.

Shatner says visiting the Enterprise is a lot like going back to a childhood home. There may be a sense of familiarity, but it’s been so long that an emotional connection is distant.

“It’s been so long that I recognize where I am but I don’t have an ‘oh my god’ feeling,” Shatner says. “I haven’t seen it in 50 years. I wish I could get in touch with some of those memories and I can if I will myself.”

“The door, the smell, and the people," he continues. "The comfort I feel of a soundstage. It’s coming home. I have the same feeling of familiarity and comfort [on a soundstage] as I do going to my own home. I spent my life with these cameras and the lights and the people and the hurry and the waiting.”

It’s not surprising that a film set feels like home to Shatner. He’s racked up more than 240 acting credits in movies and TV shows, from “T.J. Hooker” and “3rd Rock from the Sun” to “Miss Congeniality,″ “Boston Legal” and Syracuse author Bruce Coville’s “Aliens Ate My Homework.”

And while he may forever be most recognized as Kirk from “Star Trek,” Shatner says he lives in the moment and every role is his favorite when he’s doing them.

“Having spent a lifetime as an actor – I never really understood the people who retire… sitting in a walker. What waste of a life. What a waste would be for me to say 30 years ago and that’s my favorite and I’ll never repeat it,” Shatner says. “I like whatever I’m doing at the moment. Talking to you now is a real privilege."

As the interview was wrapping up, he was preparing to record a PSA for the March of Dimes in Canada, his home country. Founded by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the March of Dimes originally launched in 1938 to combat polio and today works to improve the health of mothers and babies from a number of diseases.

“I’m going to tell them how watching Tiny Tim made feel so sad and then when I had children, it made me think, ‘What if they got polio?’ I’m going to ad-lib that. Because it comes from my heart," Shatner says. "And that’s my contribution and the best I can do for the March of Dimes, and that will be [my answer] if you were to ask me ‘What’s the best thing I’ve ever done?’”

If you go:

William Shatner hosts screening of “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan” at The Oncenter Crouse Hinds Theater on January 18, at 7:30 p.m., followed by a Q&A with Shatner, who starred as Admiral Kirk.

Tickets are on sale through Ticketmaster, the Solvay Bank Box Office at The Oncenter, or by phone at 315-435-2121. Prices start at $29.50; additional fees may apply. VIP tickets include premium seating and a photo meet-and-greet with Shatner.

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