Ben Stiller Will Moderate William Shatner at Comic Con
Actor Ben Stiller will host a 60th-anniversary Star Trek panel featuring William Shatner in New York City.
Updated on Oct. 7, 2026 in Science Fiction
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On 10 October 2026, Ben Stiller will moderate a conversation with 95-year-old William Shatner at the Javits Center. The event coincides with the 60th anniversary of the Star Trek franchise and includes a preview of the second season of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy.
Why it matters
The panel serves as a major commemoration for the Star Trek franchise, which has maintained significant pop culture influence for six decades. It also provides fans with a rare appearance by Shatner, who previously missed the 60th-anniversary event in San Diego this past July.
The Star Trek franchise has produced three original series seasons and six films featuring the original cast. Paramount+ has confirmed that Star Trek: Starfleet Academy will conclude after its second season, while Strange New Worlds will end after its fifth.
The players
Ben Stiller
He is an American actor, comedian, and filmmaker known for his work in both comedic and dramatic roles.
William Shatner
He is an iconic actor best known for his portrayal of Captain James T. Kirk in the original Star Trek television series.
Paramount+
It is a subscription-based video streaming service that produces and distributes content from the Star Trek franchise.
The details
Scheduled from 3:15 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. ET, the panel will take place on the Empire Stage at the Javits Center. Stiller and Shatner have a shared history, with Stiller appearing in the documentary The Truth Is in the Stars and Shatner appearing in the film Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story.
Timeline
New York Comic Con begins on 8 October 2026.
The Star Trek panel occurs on 10 October 2026 at 3:15 p.m. ET.
New York Comic Con concludes on 11 October 2026.
William Shatner missed a prior event in July 2026.
Industry Dynamics
The industry continues to leverage legacy science fiction intellectual property to drive event attendance and streaming engagement. High-profile moderated conversations with original cast members remain a key strategy for studios managing aging franchises in an era of intense streaming competition.
Fans attending the Javits Center can watch the panel in person during the designated hour. Those following the series from home can expect the sneak preview to provide insight into the final season of the Starfleet Academy storyline.
The takeaway
Legacy stars like William Shatner continue to draw massive crowds for milestone franchise anniversaries at major fan conventions. Readers can look forward to upcoming franchise conclusions as studios move to wrap up long-running narrative arcs in the Star Trek universe.
Further reading
For more on upcoming events in the genre, visit the Science Fiction section.
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