A Star Trek: Strange New Worlds storyline for Lt. James T. Kirk (Paul Wesley) can set up a major Wrath of Khan moment for his older self. The SNW season 2 trailer has already teased that, unlike her ancestor, La'an Noonien-Singh (Christina Chong) will find herself attracted to Kirk. Meanwhile, it's expected that Kirk's friendship with Spock (Ethan Peck) will begin its first tentative steps during SNW season 2, a friendship that will lead to the Vulcan's heroic sacrifice in Wrath of Khan. However, it's another major element of the acclaimed Star Trek movie that will seemingly factor into Kirk's SNW story arc.

In Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, Admiral James T. Kirk (William Shatner) was forced to confront both his future and his past through a reunion with his old flame, Dr. Carol Marcus (Bibi Besch). Star Trek II was a movie about getting older and reflecting on the regrets of youth, and one of the biggest regrets of Kirk's life coincides with the SNW timeline. Interviewed by SFX Magazine, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' showrunner Akiva Goldsman confirmed that Kirk's SNW season 2 love interest is Dr. Carol Marcus, setting up the birth of the couple's son David Marcus (Merritt Butrick), and their eventual estrangement.

Strange New Worlds' Kirk Is Dating Carol Marcus In Season 2

Kirk and Carol Marcus look on in the Wrath of Khan

Lt. James T. Kirk will be a recurring character in SNW season 2, rather than a fully-fledged regular, so it's unclear how often Carol Marcus will be featured on-screen. Hopefully, like Spock's fiancée T'Pring (Gia Sandhu), Carol Marcus can have a recurring guest role that sheds more light on such an important Star Trek character. Kirk's relationship with Carol and David plays a major part in the Star Trek: The Original Series movies, so it feels right that SNW will explore how Kirk's Starfleet ambitions eventually drove a wedge between them.

One of the joys of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is how it finds new stories to tell within the confines of established canon. The story of how Jim and Carol's relationship fell apart feels like a watershed moment in the story of James T. Kirk. Faced with the choice of being a committed husband and father or an intergalactic adventurer, he chose the latter. While the galaxy was undeniably better off as a result, it will be fascinating to see what exactly drove Kirk's decision to leave Carol, and their newborn son behind for his destiny as Captain of the Enterprise.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 3 Could Show The Birth Of Kirk's Son

Paul Wesley as Kirk, Bibi Besch as Carol Marcus and Merritt Butrick as David Marcus

Michael and Denise Okuda's official Star Trek Chronology dates the birth of Kirk's son, David Marcus, to 2261, two years after the events of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 1. This creates the very real possibility that a future episode of Strange New Worlds season 3 could depict David's birth and Kirk's difficult choice. Kirk put his career before everything else, which would add a bittersweet tone to the birth of David Marcus in SNW, as the audience knows what Kirk's ultimate decision will be.

Now that Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount) has taken an active interest in the young Kirk as a potential successor, it could add tension to his relationship with Carol. In Wrath of Khan, it's revealed that Carol knew Kirk could never settle down so asked him not to be a part of David's life. Despite the outcome already being written, Kirk's dilemma over whether to pursue promotion aboard the USS Enterprise or become a father will allow Paul Wesley shed new light on the enduring Star Trek legend when he joins Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2 premieres Thursday, June 15, on Paramount+.