Shatner Out of Trek Film, And Not Happy About It
Sunday October 28, 2007
William Shatner has been excluded from J.J. Abrams's forthcoming Star Trek film, and the veteran actor is deriding the decision in no uncertain terms.
"I couldn't believe it. I'm not in the movie at all," Shatner told the Associated Press. "Leonard, God bless his heart, is in, but not me." Leonard Nimoy was announced as one of the first castings of the film, reprising the role of Spock he originated in the first Star Trek pilot opposite Jeffrey Hunter as Captain Christopher Pike.
Shatner said his exclusion will hurt the film. "I thought, what a decision to make, since it obviously is a decision not to make use of the popularity I have to ensure the movie has good box office," he told the AP. "It didn't seem to be a wise business decision."
Shatner has apparently had unsuccessful meetings with Abrams over the possibility of the actor's involvement, which suggests either that Shatner and Abrams had different visions for the older Kirk's role in the plot of the film, or Abrams wasn't that interested in using Shatner in the first place.
There has been rampant internet speculation that delays in signing Shatner were a lot of hot air, but Shatner's new public remarks and his other recent statements regarding the film "should really put to rest any lingering doubts that his lack of involvement is some form of publicity stunt," wrote Anthony Pascale of TrekMovie.com. "This seeming tension between Abrams and Shatner is not the kind of thing that Paramount publicity want." Pascale noted that Abrams, who at this summer's ComicCon said he was "desperately" wanted Shatner in the film, has yet to make a definitive, final statement on Shatner's involvement; so Shatner's sniping to the AP may not be the last word.
I dunno. Shatner would be an asset to the film, and it will certainly be odd seeing Nimoy-Spock without Shatner-Kirk. It was odd seeing Kirk without Spock in Generations. But Trek fans will see the film regardless, and having Nimoy on board will be enough to draw in fans skeptical of the new cast. The real need is to draw in non-Trek fans, and I've talked to more non-Trek people likely to skip the film because it doesn't have Paul McGillion in it than because of the presence or absence of original cast members.
"I couldn't believe it. I'm not in the movie at all," Shatner told the Associated Press. "Leonard, God bless his heart, is in, but not me." Leonard Nimoy was announced as one of the first castings of the film, reprising the role of Spock he originated in the first Star Trek pilot opposite Jeffrey Hunter as Captain Christopher Pike.
Shatner said his exclusion will hurt the film. "I thought, what a decision to make, since it obviously is a decision not to make use of the popularity I have to ensure the movie has good box office," he told the AP. "It didn't seem to be a wise business decision."
Shatner has apparently had unsuccessful meetings with Abrams over the possibility of the actor's involvement, which suggests either that Shatner and Abrams had different visions for the older Kirk's role in the plot of the film, or Abrams wasn't that interested in using Shatner in the first place.
There has been rampant internet speculation that delays in signing Shatner were a lot of hot air, but Shatner's new public remarks and his other recent statements regarding the film "should really put to rest any lingering doubts that his lack of involvement is some form of publicity stunt," wrote Anthony Pascale of TrekMovie.com. "This seeming tension between Abrams and Shatner is not the kind of thing that Paramount publicity want." Pascale noted that Abrams, who at this summer's ComicCon said he was "desperately" wanted Shatner in the film, has yet to make a definitive, final statement on Shatner's involvement; so Shatner's sniping to the AP may not be the last word.
I dunno. Shatner would be an asset to the film, and it will certainly be odd seeing Nimoy-Spock without Shatner-Kirk. It was odd seeing Kirk without Spock in Generations. But Trek fans will see the film regardless, and having Nimoy on board will be enough to draw in fans skeptical of the new cast. The real need is to draw in non-Trek fans, and I've talked to more non-Trek people likely to skip the film because it doesn't have Paul McGillion in it than because of the presence or absence of original cast members.
Comments
An online petition for Shatner has already started, it can be signed on www.wewantkirk.com
No Shatner! Then it’s a no go for me I’m afraid and about a million other Trekies if not more. It’s like having the peaches with no cream! Abrams might not be thinking too straight here. We all love Leonard but salt without the pepper is simply a non starter for me. Shatner is an icon so please re-think this decision and let us have our cake and eat it too!!!
It is kinda sad seeing Old Kirk not get the role. Not even a Cameo?
I may be like Shatner having to finally deal with the reality of his mortality.
Kirk dealing with the concept of death and the Kobayashi Maru.
Read my blog about Star Trek and listen to an audio podcast analyzing the original episode Specter of the Gun
http://www.hotconflict.com/blog/2007/10/j-j-abrams-pick.html
We don’t know what the issues were between Abrams and Shatner, but since there are so many ways Shatner could have enhanced the new film - even in a cameo - one has to wonder what Abrams was thinking. Barring unreasonable Shatner demands, this seems like an uncharacteristic Abrams error - and a big one.
I agree that since Shatner is still alive, he should somehow be in the film if Nimoy is. One of the most endearing, enduring things about Star Trek is the friendship between Kirk and Spock.
That said, there are two problems I can think of, one hypothetical and one real.
Hypothetical: maybe Shatner just wanted too much money?
Real: Kirk is dead. Granted, people don’t always *stay* dead in Star Trek, and since Kirk’s essence is still on that energy ribbon it could be theoretically peeled off again, but explaining that would probably take a whole movie in and of itself. It wouldn’t be impossible, just difficult to do without detracting from the story they’re trying to tell.
If the movie is going to have Pike in it, Spock and Kirk have not meet yet.