William Shatner Boldly Goes Metal: All-Star Album Announced for 2026

In a move that proves he is far from finished exploring new frontiers, 94-year-old cultural icon William Shatner has officially announced his foray into heavy metal. The legendary actor, best known as Captain James T. Kirk, is set to release a star-studded metal album later this year via Cleopatra Records.

The as-yet-untitled project is described as a "heavy metal extravaganza" and features a staggering roster of 35 handpicked metal icons. Confirmed collaborators include:

Zakk Wylde (Ozzy Osbourne, Black Label Society)

Ritchie Blackmore (Deep Purple, Rainbow)

Henry Rollins (Black Flag, Rollins Band)

Edgar Froese (Tangerine Dream)

Wayne Kramer (MC5)

The album will feature Shatner's signature dramatic spoken-word delivery over heavy arrangements, including covers of classics by Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, and Iron Maiden, alongside original material written specifically for the project.

Shatner revealed that the inspiration for the record came after he voiced an intro for the upcoming album Black Flame by the metal supergroup Nuclear Messiah (featuring ex-Megadeth guitarist Chris Poland). "When Nuclear Messiah came to life, something clicked," Shatner said in a statement. "It wasn’t just a track—it was a doorway. It made me want to go all the way in, bring in the best metal players I could find, and create something fearless."