At 95, William Shatner is swapping the final frontier for a full-blown metal meltdown at Riot Fest. William Shatner became a pop culture fixture through Star Trek, where his turn as Captain Kirk helped define one of science fiction’s most enduring heroes. Decades later, he is still finding new ways to surprise audiences.

Moving from the bridge of the Enterprise to a very different kind of stage, William Shatner's next project quite literally screams for attention.

At 95, William Shatner is preparing to launch The *uckers, a new heavy metal project set for its first live performance at Riot Fest in Chicago on Sept. 20. The appearance marks a long-awaited breakthrough for the festival, which says it spent more than a decade trying to get him to perform.  The performance is not just a one-off celebrity stunt.

Shatner’s band includes veteran rock musicians Marcus Nand on guitar and musical direction, Phil Soussan on bass, Britt Lightning on guitar, and Fred Aching on drums. The set will reportedly rework songs from across Shatner’s music catalog while also previewing material from his upcoming heavy metal album, 'What the F Is Heavy Metal'. 

What makes the announcement especially memorable is the theatricality around it. Riot Fest revealed an intentionally wild rider filled with over-the-top requests, including fire breathers, a DeLorean, and even an assortment of adoptable puppies backstage. For a performer whose career has already spanned television, film, music, and spoken word, this next chapter feels perfectly in character.

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From metal riffs to timeless storytelling, Shatner’s legacy continues to echo far beyond the stage.

William Shatner’s Star Trek legacy helped define sci-fi for generations, and that same franchise still shapes how newer writers think about adventure, character, and spacefaring optimism. One of them is Andy Weir, who has said that Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan left a lasting mark on his storytelling and narrative style. Weir discussed the film in a recent conversation with GQ.

“I think most people would agree that it’s the best Star Trek movie. I’m sure it had an effect on my concept of narrative style,” Weir said.

The comment helps explain why The Wrath of Khan stands out for him. That connection may also help explain why the ending of Project Hail Mary feels familiar. The story’s emphasis on communication, sacrifice, and the bond between Ryland Grace and Rocky echoes the emotional weight that made The Wrath of Khan so memorable. 

There is also a broader Star Trek context here. The author of Project Hail Mary is firing a photon torpedo at Paramount’s Star Trek efforts, having criticized modern Trek shows while appearing on the Critical Drinker podcast last week. That makes his admiration for The Wrath of Khan even more interesting, because it shows he is not rejecting the franchise, but arguing for the kind of storytelling he believes it does best.

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What do you think about William Shatner stepping into heavy metal at 95 and the lasting impact of Star Trek on storytellers today? Let us know in the comments.