Entertainment Weekly had a Comic-Con round table discussion with Star Trek director J.J. Abrams and his Spocks: Leonard Nimoy and Zachary Quinto. When asked why to include Nimoy in the film, Abrams gave some insight into the film’s story:
The story needed his participation for a number of reasons. One, the plot. In many ways, the story revolves around the character of Spock. Two, I think it’s critical if we’re going to look at reintroducing these characters — I didn’t want to disrespect what had come before, for those who care about that. But we’re making this movie for people who don’t care about Star Trek too. This isn’t about pleasing the fans, this is about making a great film. And to do that, you have to both please the fans and please the people who’ve never seen Star Trek. So having Leonard in the film shows that this film exists in a continuum of Trek history, as opposed to an absolute, page 1 reinvention.
Abrams was also asked if he was ready to take on this project and such a big franchise…
I’d like to think so. But again, I’m not looking at it that way. If you’re going to climb a mountain, looking at the whole mountain is probably pretty intimidating. I’m just looking at the story and the characters — I’m looking forward to realizing that. The specter of this massive fan base and their expectations… Look, there’s no way you can please everyone. But we’re going to do our best to make a great movie, and I hope fans of the series will appreciate the respect and awareness that we have of the thing they love. One of our writers [Roberto Orci] is a Trekker, so it’s great to have someone who can speak for that world. I feel like this is a world I want to enter, almost despite that kind of level expectation and fandom. But I couldn’t be more excited.
Nimoy and Quinto said many of the same things from their interviews with TrekMovie.com, but did have a couple nice quotes:
looks like no shatner..
Outstanding, I think the film is going to be great and I still say the Shat will be in it.
I would not assume that there is no Shatner. Kirk’s relationship with Spock is very important and chances are they will find a way to fit him into the story but in a way that makes sense. We just have to wait.
Any chance this could have something to do with Romulan/Vulcan Reunification, since they have an old Spock?
I hope not, MrBoston. I always found those NG eps boring, and it seems an awfully convoluted plot point when they’re trying to attract non-fans.
Get KIRK in there! Make it so!!!
#5: agreed
This movie is going to have to be basic trek essence. Not the minutia of the plot. The movie won’t be about the Romulan Wars, Vulcan reunification, V’Ger, The Enterprise-C, or The Human Uprising in the Mirror Universe.
It’s got to be about a passionate man and a logical man, their friendship and their understanding that they are stronger together. It will deal with the wonder of the unknown, and maybe. just maybe. will have a Klingon.
I think the story will deal with TNG era Spock mindmelding with someone, perhaps his Katra before he passes away. Similar to how Sarek did with Picard in Unification. WHICH by the way was a GREAT EPISODE #5!
8. The SAREK episode always brings tears to my eyes. One of the best episodes of TNG, by far.
7 Bill
Well said.
Gotta have Kirk for this film to be a complete success.
Nuff said,
TTM
The problem with Unification is that the Vulcan in it just happened to be Spock. Aside from a few lines, any actor could have played that role, which could have been any Vulcan.
Hopefully this will not involve Spock’s death in anyway. That would be a downer, and end up making things worse when it comes to Kirk and Spock.
Spock alone will not make this a good movie. Kirk has to be the star.
It sounds to me like this might be more of a “Spock’s journey” type of film, following Spock from Vulcan through his years in the Academy, to the Enterprise– basically putting us in his shoes and showing all the challenges (and prejudice) he had to face along the way. And then of course we’d see his early friendship with Kirk.
I think it would be a cool idea, and of course it would be very accessible for the average viewer.
I agree with you Bill, there’s a certain je ne sais quois about the original show that just wasn’t echoed in the next gen, or any of the other spinoffs as far as I’m concerned. It was like, “Here’s Jim Kirk and the Enterprise, we’re all going to be saved!” It was a certain brand of heroism that seems to ahve been all but forgotten in the newer shows. Let’s see if it can be recreated in the new film.
As wonderful as it is to see Nimoy at the center of this much press attention, one cannot help but feel the absense of Shatner. These guys have been and ever shall be viewed as a team. Let’s hope that a month or 2 from now, we’ll see JJ doing another roundtable interview with new AND old Kirk! Other than that, great interview.
Must have Kirk AND Spock at the heart of the story. And, somewhere in the mix, Shatner.
The reports from JJ etc are starting to be repetitious. Time for them to stop talking for a bit me thinks??.
Interesting concept. Remember that Roddenberry kept the character of Spock (and only Spock) after “The Cage” failed and he made “Where No Man Has Gone Before”. Even though he “tweaked” the character, he clearly intended the audience to believe the “Pike-era” Spock was one and the same as the “Kirk-era” Spock.
IMHO, the best “Spock stories” in TOS were those that cast his character against Kirk’s as they complemented one another. So it is hard to for me to envision a good Spock story, whether he is young or old, without Kirk.
Guys, the film does not need Shatner to be a success. It needs to be GOOD to be a success. If they were to hinge the success of the film on the cast alone, then they might as well not even try.
Funny how young Nimoy looks in that ST-TMP picture now. I remember when it first came out and everyone was saying how old he looked.
Time is all relative.
How about a GREAT story with the RIGHT cast?
#17
Shatner doesn’t have to be in the movie for Kirk to have a very large and central role in the story. In fact it’s almost guaranteed the character will be front and center– he’s the freakin captain.
If we don’t get to see Nimoy and Shatner interact on screen one more time, it’s not going to ruin the movie.
Shatner desirable but not essential.
Good casting for young Kirk (ie. someone Shatner-esque) important.
Continuity: I;d say keep a ship, characters and visual style that is consistent with TOS, but have the story revolve around aliens we dont know yet, in a setting that is new and unusual. The Enterprise should be familiar, but the strange new worlds it takes us to, not.
(Oh, and as an aside, I don’t feel the need to lock them into using Cage/WNMHGB uniforms. The Black-necked, bright coloured ones are iconic. I would happily think up a retcon to explain them wearing TOS-era shirts, as they do look much better than the pilot versions.)
Hope they can have old Archer on this STXI like DR.Bones was on TNG first episode
This film needs William Shatner to be complete.
Shatner is absolutely essential. Nimoy without Shatner, or vice versa, just doesn’t work right. It could still be about Spock’s journey, with the prize being Kirk’s return. Shatner’s absence has overshadowed everything else. If Abrams seriously wants to work Shatner in, he needs to just do it.
#23 “Hope they can have an old Archer on this STXI”
Say, you have a really dry sense of humour! Er, you were kidding, right? I mean, Bakula seems like a nice guy, but he registers ZERO on the Star Trek charisma meter!! No way, no how!!
#25
But the problem is Shatner wouldn’t want just a glorified cameo, and to just show up at the end of the movie back from the dead. He’d want a substantial part, which would mean putting him in the movie earlier and completely restructuring the story probably.
#23
Please, let’s not. McCoy was endearing and charming. Archer is, well, a very very poor imitation of Kirk.
#24
Shatner does not NEED to be in this movie. I find all these presciptions for the movie infuriating.
Its prescriptions like these that ruined Generations (Kirk and Picard MUST share the screen; Kirk MUST die; the Enterprise MUST be destroyed; there MUST be Klingons … and so on). The more you try to prescribe a story before it is allowed to evolve organically, the more likely the plot is going to become a convoluted mess.
KEEP IT SIMPLE. Have a theme. Stick with SPOCK.
They’re doing it right.
#27
I concur.
does every single thread need to devolve into a shatner debate. The film makers and Shater will work something out if it can all be agreed on and work with the story. The intent is there so as long as it makes a better film and isnt just ‘shoving him in’ as Abrams said….then it will happen. If it cant work it wont, but the reason will be to ensure a better film.
The film makers know it is important to many fans…but it is by no means a consensus and making multiple posts over and over will not change that.
Nimoy’s in it because he’s central to the plot, according to Abrams.
If they stick Shatner in at this point, they’re just doing it to pander and that will show through.
It can be a great movie either with or without Shatner.
Back in the day, when “Star Trek” was on NBC, Spock was the character that galvanized the fan base. Spock was the most popular guy on the series, much to Shatner’s chagrin – the stories about the problems this caused on the set are numerous and have been told by just about every major participant. So a rather Spock-centric storyline is certainly a return to the earliest days of “Star Trek.” :)
#23 & #26:
Even so, it would be nice if there was at least a historic reference to something that happened on Enterprise (whether it’s an event or a character). With the exception of T’Pol, I don’t think anyone would still be alive during the TOS-era.
It probably won’t happen, but it would be nice.
always assumed itd be more ‘Kirk Begins’ oh well..i guess it is Spock who is the slightly more ‘startrek’ character. as meyer says on the TWOK commentary something about the opening shot being of spocks ear as that was the most powerful trek image in his opinion. btw just seen Transformes – what about the army captain as Kirk? oh and an Archer cameo? LOL
Anthony:
You are correct.
On the other hand this is clearly THE flashpoint topic in Star Trek fandom. Doesn’t the fact that every topic becomes a Kirk/Shatner story say something?
It seems clear the fans want Shatner to return as Kirk.
I understand that they are making a film + Shatner is secondary, but wouldn’t this franchise that has one foot in the grave be wise to listen to it’s once huge fan base by giving the fans what they want?
Remember when the fans saved Star Trek all those years ago? Without them there would be no ST today. It seems the same may be happening now with Kirk/Shatner.
His end was so weak it demands to be fixed.
What you’ve got is not a huge fan base that cares about Shatner. What exists are the remnants of a fan base, and some of the hard core who are left are fixated on Shatner – both for and against.
That’s not a foundation to build a rebirth of anything on.
no it is not ‘clear the fans want shatner to return as kirk’
it is clear that some fans do and some can think of nothing but…and at this point I think it is bordering on trolling for those that come into every thread and just say the same thing. Other fans like myself want him, but dont think it is essential and dont want it to get in the way of the film. Others dont want him at all. There is no consensus, but it is clear that the ‘shat or nothing’ crowd feel the need to repeatedly post in order to make it look like there is….it wont make a dif it there were a thousand ‘shat or nothing’ posts.
the film makers want him in…but he just doesn’t fit into the current script and they are working on that.
so let them work….they are not going to be intimidated by people posting over and over here…it isnt like they are reading and counting. And I am getting a bit fed up with the repeated derailments.
he will be in it or not….the decision will be one that is best for the film based on the story. You just have to have faith in that. It appears some really do want them to just ‘shove him in’…but Abrams will not do that.
I think the film will be set in the 24th century. Something major happens in the 24th century and it’s a result of something the Enterprise encountered on her maiden voyage. They need to explore what happened so they seek out spock who was on that mission. Spock then proceeds to detail what happened all those years ago, and he basically narrates the movie.
That’s what I think.
Anyway, *if* that’s the basic premise of the movie, I don’t see how putting an old Captain Kirk in the movie will be even possible!
Dennis, I agree. What I hear are a lot of people who simply want to see Shatner put on a Starfleet uniform again– they don’t care how it’s done or how much Abrams has to break apart his story to make it work.
Hell, here we actually have an example of Abrams RESPECTING the canon that people seem to cherish so much (by acknowledging that Kirk has died) and people still aren’t happy!
#23 Archer cannot appear because canon (being his service record in a Mirror Darkly) says he died the day the Enterprise Launched with Kirk being about 12.
“I think the film will be set in the 24th century. Something major happens in the 24th century and it’s a result of something the Enterprise encountered on her maiden voyage. They need to explore what happened so they seek out spock who was on that mission. Spock then proceeds to detail what happened all those years ago, and he basically narrates the movie.”
If the century in which “old” Spock appears is even referenced, I will be surprised. After the bomb of Nemesis and the collapse of Enterprise, the last thing anybody wants for this film is to remind anyone of the preceeding bland era that the new team is trying to run completely away from.
Well said Anthony #36!
The STORY is the guiding principle here. And that’s what they are focused on. I personally do not care who is or is not in the movie as long as there is 1) good story telling that is meaningful and poignant and 2) a good team of actors that can play it real.
And I don’t know about the rest of you… but Dec. 25 2008 cannot come soon enough!
Peace!
JJ: ” I hope fans of the series will appreciate the respect and awareness that we have of the thing they love”
We appreciate and presuppose it. They have to have that awareness. Otherwise they could make any other movie but not a STAR TREK film.
Oh so now it’s “trolling” to comment on wanting Shatner back on a website dedicated to Star Trek – amazing.
wouldnt havin old spock set in the 24th century sorta make a TNG film? i dunno…sort of agree with 40
I had an idea that perhaps Spock’sl return from Romulus would have something to do with his recieving news of the death of Kirk. Spock’s Jouney back to Earth with Kirk’s body could be a fantastic frame for a flashback of their first encounter and early adventures together.
Just my pet idea. Abrams is welcome to it if he hasn’t already thought of it.
@billy #40
One bad movie doesn’t spoil the 24th century.
How would an old spock be in the movie *without* having something set in the 24th century? Especcially since it’s common knowledge that kirk’s death is what’s causing the problems for shatner. It seems a given to me that the 24th century is in.
Unless it’s set sometime in the 23rd century after the Enterprise B. I suppose they could get away with leonard nimoy playing spock in that timeframe, if he’s not too old looking. They’d have to youngify him or something.
#40:”If the century in which “old” Spock appears is even referenced, I will be surprised. After the bomb of Nemesis and the collapse of Enterprise, the last thing anybody wants for this film is to remind anyone of the preceeding bland era”
Nope. No one is concerned about people remembering the modern Trek shows and no one at Paramount wants anyone to forget them – quite the contrary, they’re making big money hand-over-fist on those and in fact are looking for ways to “remaster” them as well so that they can *keep* them playing to the public.
The studio has made far more money on “Star Trek” since its return to TV in 1987 than it ever made on TOS. :)
#40: “After the bomb of Nemesis and the collapse of Enterprise, the last thing anybody wants for this film is to remind anyone of the preceeding bland era that the new team is trying to run completely away from.”
If the movie will indeed fit into the established canon of the Star Trek universe, then they can’t just ignore what happened on Nemesis or Enterprise, no matter what people think of them. Bad or not, they are still part of Trek canon.
And I never thought that the last season of Enterprise was “bland”.
HMMM. Why can’t Shatner play Admiral Komak, if not Pappy Kirk???
Anyway, besides the Shatner stuff, more and more promising every day!!!
Can’t wait for the leaked production art, set, costume, photos ect. Let the Leaking begin!!!!!!!!!!
I’m still thinking we will see Spock’s first love, Leila Kalomi.
And I’ll keep saying it til we see it.