Paul Wesley star of The Vampire Diaries to join new franchise

Paul Wesley - who famously portrayed Stefan Salvator in The Vampire Diaries - is set to be joining a new franchise! The 39-year-old actor is joining the cast of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2 as James T. Kirk, the iconic character originated by William Shatner in Star Trek: The Original Series.

“Paul is an accomplished actor, an astonishing presence and a welcome key addition to the show,” executive producer Alex Kurtzman and showrunners/executive producers Akiva Goldsman and Henry Alonso Myers said in a joint statement. “Like all of us, he is a life-long Star Trek fan and we are excited by his interpretation of this iconic role.”

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds follows Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount) and his crew in the years before Kirk rises to the Enterprise’s captain’s chair. Other cast members include Rebecca Romijn as Number One and Ethan Peck as Spock.

Season two has recently started production, with season one set to premiere on May 5 exclusively on Paramount+ in the United States, Latin America, Australia, and the Nordics.

Check out the teaser for the upcoming season 2 below!