Actor Wil Wheaton, who plays Wesley Crusher, talks about fans’ late “love”
Wil Wheaton, best known for his role as Wesley Crusher on Star Trek: The Next Generation, has seen the perception of the character change dramatically over the years. In a recent interview with Collider, Witten talked about the late recognition and love fans now have for Wesley, especially after his appearance in the animated series Star Trek: Prodigy.
Wil Wheaton reflects on the love of fans
“When I was a kid, and I was 14, 15, 16 years old, my home life was terrible. “I was sad and abused, and the only place I felt happy and safe was at work,” Wheaton admitted. “I loved my Star Trek family, and they loved me. But the work we have done has received a lot of criticism. Strangers attacked Usenet and sent hate mail to Starlog. I was brutalized at conventions in a way that is unacceptable today.
For a long time, Wheaton lived with the idea that nobody likes Wesley Crusher, a narrative in the early days of The Next Generation. I think there’s a narrative embedded in “Nobody Likes Wesley.” That is factually false. The children were meant to worship Wesley. “A lot of them grew up and worked on Star Trek,” Wheaton said with a laugh.
Slow cooked love
Young fans, who loved Wesley, had no way to express their appreciation at the time. “The kids you love don’t write letters, they don’t use Usenet. “They didn’t even have modems!” Wheaton explained. Lacking this positive opinion, the young actor did not know how much he was appreciated until decades later.
“It took me 30 years to hear them and get to know them, and I know that I’m not who my father was or who the fans led me to believe. I inspired a generation of kids. Whitten expressed his relief and joy to his younger self, wishing he could have told his then-teenager: “My friend, I know how much it hurts right now, but I promise you that there will come a day when everything will be alright.” You don’t even remember this.
Wesley Crusher’s influence on Star Trek
Wheaton returns to voice Wesley Crusher in the second installment of Star Trek: Prodigy, a series that brought the character to a new generation of fans. Prodigy’s positive response to Wesley is a welcome change for Wheaton, who is now getting the love and recognition he didn’t get as a teenager.
Star Trek: Prodigy allows fans old and new to see Wesley in a new light. In this context, Wheaton’s voice not only resonates with nostalgia, but also strengthens the connection between generations of Star Trek fans. Wheaton shows how this series was important in evaluating Wesley and how it helped change the general understanding of his character.
Character inheritance and current relevance
Wheaton describes Crusher’s change in attitude as a reflection of how the Star Trek community has evolved and become more inclusive and understanding. “Nowadays fans are more vocal and have platforms to express their love and support,” he said. “It’s beautiful to see how Wesley has been rediscovered and celebrated by a new generation.”
The impact of Wheaton and his character on Star Trek: Prodigy is not only for the fans, but also for the actor himself, who finally gets the recognition he always deserves. This late acceptance of Wesley Crusher highlights the importance of looking beyond criticism and considering the positive impact a character can have, even if this recognition takes time to come.
Star Trek: Prodigy is available on Netflix, giving fans a new opportunity to connect with Wesley Crusher and the rich history of Star Trek.