William Shatner wanted to resurrect Captain James T. Kirk after Star Trek Generations, but producers passed in favor of making Star Trek: First Contact. Following the successful $120-million worldwide gross of Star Trek Generations, which killed off Captain Kirk in the end, questions remained whether audiences came to the film to see the cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation or if the real draw was William Shatner playing Captain Kirk for the last time." Shatner concocted a story about Kirk coming back to life, which was published as the Star Trek novel, "The Return."
https://screenrant.com/star-trek-william-shatner-kirk-resurrection-first-contact/