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

Star Trek Captains William Shatner and Anson Mount hilariously debate who really replaced Jeffrey Hunter's Captain Christopher Pike in Star Trek: The Original Series. Hunter was the initial actor cast as the lead of Star Trek in its original 1965 pilot, "The Cage." However, NBC ordered Star Trek to be retooled, with every actor replaced except for Leonard Nimoy as Mr. Spock. When Star Trek premiered in September 1966, William Shatner was the series lead as Captain James T. Kirk of the USS Enterprise.

On X, William Shatner replied to a post from Anson Mount about Captain Pike's replacement on Star Trek. Mount started the exchange by sharing a funny meme of Jeffrey Hunter's Captain Pike in "The Cage" telling Spock, "Next episode I'm being replaced by a dude whose overacting could probably make even you laugh out loud." Anson tagged Shatner, joking "Not sure who this one is aimed at." Bill cheekily replied, "I'm sure it's about you." 

Who Really Replaced Captain Pike In Star Trek?

There Are Two Ways To Look At It

Both William Shatner and Anson Mount can claim to be Jeffrey Hunter's replacement in Star Trek. Shatner succeeded Hunter as the series lead of Star Trek, replacing Captain Pike with his character, Captain James T. Kirk. In Star Trek canon, Kirk took over the Starship Enterprise from Pike. Star Trek: The Original Series' two-parter, "The Menagerie," repurposed footage of "The Cage," and revealed that Fleet Captain Pike was seriously injured by delta-rays and confined to a wheelchair.

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.