The Perfect Actor To Play Kirk’s First Star Trek Enemy Is Paul Wesley’s TVD Brother

Published Sep 7, 2026, 12:30 PM EDT

John Orquiola is a New & Classic TV Editor, Senior Writer, and Interviewer with a special focus on Star Trek. John has over 5,000 published articles at SR, and he has interviewed the biggest names in Star Trek on the red carpet and VIP events, among other beloved shows, movies, and franchises.

Captain James T. Kirk's (William Shatner) first Star Trek adversary was Lieutenant Gary Mitchell (Gary Lockwood). Although NBC aired other episodes before it, Star Trek: The Original Series' second pilot episode, "Where No Man Has Gone Before," saw Kirk face off against Mitchell, his former friend. Paul Wesley already shares a past with an ideal actor to play Gary in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.

In Star Trek's "Where No Man Has Gone Before," the USS Enterprise crossed the Galactic Barrier, which affected Lt. Gary Mitchell with its strange energies. Mitchell's eyes turned silver as he rapidly developed psychic powers like telepathy and telekinesis. Evolving into a "superior being," Mitchell became a threat to the Enterprise. Captain Kirk attempted to strand Gary on the planet Delta Vega and was ultimately forced to kill his former friend.

Lt. Commander James T. Kirk is First Officer of the USS Farragut in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, but as the prequel heads into the end of season 4 and its 6-episode fifth and final season, Kirk's destiny as Captain of the Enterprise is rapidly being set up. Lt. Gary Mitchell is part of Kirk's Enterprise crew before his heel turn, which makes Gary a prime candidate to be recast in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Should Cast Ian Somerhalder As Lt. Gary Mitchell

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The Vampire Diaries' Ian Somerhalder would be a tremendous Lt. Gary Mitchell if he appears in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. Of course, Somerhalder starred opposite Paul Wesley for eight seasons of TVD, with the two playing undead brothers, Damon and Stefan Salvatore. After TVD ended, Ian and Paul literally stayed in business together, launching their own bourbon brand, Brothers Bond.

Star Trek's "Where No Man Has Gone Before" established that Kirk and Mitchell's friendship began long before Jim met Spock (Ethan Peck), his eternal best friend. Mitchell and Kirk became thick as thieves at Starfleet Academy, and Gary even aimed "a little blonde lab technician" at Kirk, whom James "almost married." (This could potentially be Carol Marcus, the mother of Jim's son David.)

With his deep blue eyes, Somerhalder physically conveys what will eventually happen to Gary Mitchell when he becomes a superpowered menace. Along with his run as Damon Salvatore, Ian's previous genre roles as Adam Knight in Smallville and Boone Carlyle in Lost are a foundation to the kind of internally troubled soul Gary Mitchell was, despite being a loyal friend to Jim Kirk before he was mutated into a fearsome psychic threat.

Somerhalder and Wesley's on-screen chemistry and real-life history are already proven on The Vampire Diaries, one of The CW's most popular series, and a cultural phenomenon in its own right. Like Trekkies and Star Trek conventions, TVD has legions of fans who attend cons to honor their favorite vampire show. The bond between Paul and Ian is exactly what Jim Kirk and Gary Mitchell should have on-screen.

How Gary Mitchell Could Fit Into Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds has yet to confirm Lieutenant Gary Mitchell's whereabouts, although he is likely serving on a starship in the early 2260s. Mitchell may be aboard the USS Farragut with his friend Jim, but First Officer Kirk hasn't mentioned him yet. Or Gary could be on a different starship until Captain Kirk requests his old buddy to serve on the Enterprise.

Lieutenant Gary Mitchell may already be stationed aboard the Starship Enterprise.

However, Lieutenant Gary Mitchell may already be stationed aboard the Starship Enterprise as part of Captain Christopher Pike's (Anson Mount) crew. After all, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 4, episode 6, "Off-Hour" revealed that Dr. Phil Boyce (Brian Markinson) and Lieutenant Rahda (Abinaya Sivakumaran) are both already on Pike's ship.

As James Kirk's friendship with Lieutenant Spock deepens in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, bringing in Gary Mitchell could test the bond between the Vulcan and his "human best friend." Spock may already perceive Gary's negative aspects that Jim is blind to. This would set up Mitchell's inevitable turn into the enemy that Mr. Spock (Leonard Nimoy) cautions Captain Kirk against.

Lieutenant Gary Mitchell is one of the more significant characters tied to Captain Kirk who is waiting to be cast in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. It may seem like stunt casting, but Ian Somerhalder has the acting chops and rapport with Paul Wesley to be the Gary Mitchell to his James Kirk.

And, if Star Trek: Strange New Worlds wanted The Vampire Diaries hat trick, they should also cast Nina Dobrev as Carol Marcus.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 4's new episodes premiere Thursdays on Paramount+

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  Captain Christopher Pike

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  Spock