60 Years Later, Star Trek’s Best Classic Episode Almost Got a Sequel (With William Shatner’s Return)

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As a huge Star Trek fan, I was amazed to learn that one of the best episodes ever – “The City on the Edge of Forever” – almost had a follow-up! It originally aired about 60 years ago, and the team behind the new Strange New Worlds series – Alex Kurtzman and Akiva Goldsman – apparently wanted to revisit it. For those who don’t know, the episode sends Kirk and Spock back to 1930s New York to find McCoy, who accidentally messes with time after taking a risky drug. It’s a classic, and it still holds up today. Plus, it’s the episode where Kirk falls for Edith Keeler (played by Joan Collins) – and it’s a really heartbreaking story!

In a recent interview with Polygon, Strange New Worlds showrunner Kurtzman shared his biggest regret for the series: not being able to bring William Shatner back for a guest appearance. The idea was to create a follow-up to the classic time travel episode, with Shatner playing a version of Kirk who altered history by saving Edith Keeler—the same character saved by McCoy in the original story—and choosing to stay in 1930s New York. Kurtzman explained that the team tried to make this happen every season, even writing multiple scripts, but it ultimately didn’t work out. Despite the missed opportunity, he remains optimistic, stating that a truly satisfying show should leave viewers wanting more, rather than feeling completely full. He’s proud of every episode they’ve created.

Star Trek Could Have Paid Off the Original Ending of One of the Best-Ever TOS Episodes

The popular Star Trek episode “The City on the Edge of Forever” was written by science fiction author Harlan Ellison, but its creation wasn’t smooth. Ellison and the show’s creator, Gene Roddenberry, disagreed about the story’s tone. Roddenberry felt Ellison’s original version was too bleak and revised it, particularly the ending. In the final aired version, Captain Kirk makes a difficult choice: he allows Edith Keeler to die, even stopping Dr. McCoy from saving her, prioritizing the greater good over his personal feelings. This aligned with Roddenberry’s vision of Star Trek as a show about morally superior humans. Ellison, however, preferred a more complex and emotional ending where Kirk failed to make the right decision, and it was Spock who had to step in and ensure Edith’s death. Ellison has consistently expressed his disappointment with the changes made to his story.

The original script differed significantly from the final aired episode. In my version, Kirk actively tries to save the character, driven by his love for her. He’s willing to risk everything – the ship, the future, everything – to prevent her death and moves to intervene. Spock, always logical and restrained, physically stops him, and she ends up being hit by the truck. The actual television ending, where Kirk passively allows it to happen, felt completely wrong and undermined the entire emotional core of the story. It ruined the artistic integrity, the dramatic impact, and the profound human tragedy I was aiming for.

Kurtzman and Goldsman had a compelling idea: showing what Kirk’s life would have been like if he’d stayed with Edith. It would have been a fascinating “what if” scenario, exploring an alternate timeline where the Federation didn’t exist. While it’s unclear how this story would have unfolded – hopefully, a script will be adapted into a comic – it’s a shame we won’t see this different side of Kirk. It feels like a significant missed opportunity.

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2026-05-29 00:10