Shatner: Not Putting Me In Is Not Wise October 26, 2007
by Anthony Pascale , Filed under: ST09 Cast, Shatner , trackback
It seems the ‘Shatner not in the new Star Trek movie’ story has worked its way into the mainstream media. The AP talked to The Shat today and he let it be known that he is not pleased that he has not been asked:
I couldn’t believe it. I’m not in the movie at all. Leonard [Nimoy], God bless his heart, is in, but not me. 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. It didn’t seem to be a wise business decision
Shatner of course is not hard up for work, with a spot on Boston Legal, a new book out (Collision Course) and narration on the upcoming Christmas Spoof “Stalking Santa” due on DVD on Nov. 6. “I’ve got a lot to do,” says the original Captain Kirk. However his disappointment at not being in the new Trek film seems genuine, saying:
Having been in on the creation of it, I was hoping to be in on the re-creation.
Of course there is still a ray of hope. As noted before, co-writer Roberto Orci stated that they still may decide to put Mr. Shatner into the film and that the decision may come after shooting starts in early November (the film will be in production all the way to March). Of course Shatner’s critiques of the film makers are likely not doing him any favors, and may become a self-fulfilling prophecy.
J.J., please end this
The above statements and Shatner’s 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. News reported here or at ShatnerVision works its way around the ‘geekopshere,’ but AP articles end up in newspapers around the world and likely on TV as well (CNN, E!, etc). This seeming tension between Abrams and Shatner is not the kind of thing that Paramount publicity want. The AP article also discusses how at this summer’s Comic-Con J.J. Abrams left many in the media with the impression that Shatner would end up in the film. AP states that J.J. Abrams said Shatner would ‘probably’ end up in the film, but for the record Abrams didn’t actually say that. He said “We are desperately trying to find a way to put him in this movie.” However most reports took that as a ‘yes,’ which is why TrekMovie.com is on record recommending that Abrams himself make the final and definitive statement regarding Shatner…and hopefully do it sometime soon.
(source: AP)
UPDATE: Shatner on TOSR and the past
In an unrelated new article regarding Shatner’s new “Stalking Santa” DVD, there was this tidbit where The Shat was asked about the upcoming release of the digitally remastered Original Series on HD-DVD. Shat didn’t seem to know much about it, but went off on quite a tangent about the past:
I recollect them saying they were going to do that. You know I don’t collect those things. I’m sure they’re around somewhere but I never look back at those things. I don’t even take pictures. I’ve got all kinds of cameras, I love cameras but I find myself reluctantly taking pictures because what’s past is past. You can’t recapture it and I hear these heartbreaking stories of people who lose everything in a fire and the thing they most care about are pictures and I’m thinking, “Why?” The pictures remind you of something that can never be recaptured, the time is gone, the only thing you know is the present. That’s all that’s knowable and even the present isn’t knowable. The present becomes the past… so you really don’t know anything. Least of all, either seeing a picture of you when you were younger which is somewhat horrifying, or someone you love who was younger. I’m kind of trying to discover the answer to the mystery of why pictures.
(source: Movieweb)
Comments
LoL!
Get the Shat in there…(in my opinion all the original cast should’ve found a spot in the movie)
If it fits with the film, get him in.
However, the film has to come first.
The man has appeal at his age. I do not think there is a sole on this planet who does not know who he is. He definitly would bring in box office reciepts more than Cruise would.
Put TWO tractor beams on that actor!
This is such sport for them. Lots of the fans would just like to know for sure. But, what do we matter?
QUIT PLAYING GAMES WITH MY HEART
Even in my heart I see
You’re not bein’ true to me
Deep within my soul I feel
Nothing’s like it used to be
Sometimes I wish I could
Turn back time
Impossible as it may seem
But I wish I could so bad baby
Quit playin’ games with my heart
Quit playin’ games with my heart
Before you tear us apart
I should’ve known from the start
Before you got into my heart
I live my life the way
To keep you comin’ back to me
Everything I do is for you so
So what is it that you can’t see
Sometimes I wish I could
Turn back time
Impossible as it may seem
But I wish I could so bad
You better quit playin’ games with my heart
Quit playin’ games
Baby, baby the love that we had was so strong
Don’t leave me hangin’ here forever
Oh baby, baby this is not a lie, let’s stop
This tonight
Baby, quit playin’ games
Sometimes I wish I could
Turn back time
Impossible as it may seem
But I wish I could so bad, baby
Quit playin’ games with my heart
Quit playin’ games
Baby, baby the love that we had was so strong
Don’t leave me hangin’ here forever
Oh baby, baby this is not a lie, let’s stop
This tonight .
best song for topic.
The issue that’s pre-occupied us has finally escaped into the mainstream. And as someone earlier pointed out, the question the general public will focus on is “Why not?”. JJ & Co. - you’re out of running room on this issue -
OMG, not again…………..
I couldn’t watch this film if Shatner wasn’t in it. God bless Nimoy… I love that he will be in the film, but without Shatner, I would feel hard pressed to go out and see this. It just wouldn’t feel right, and I would end up feeling angry that Shatner wasn’t in it.
Don’t get me wrong… I firmly believe this is a “one shot deal” for Nimoy, as it would be with Shatner if he is in the film. Any future movies should be with the new crew only, and not involve the original actors. But this film is clearly a passing of the torch, and to do it properly, I feel it needs both Shatner and Nimoy. This really is the last chance to get them both in a Trek movie together again. To only have one in the film is a cheat to the audience.
I want my Shat Attack value meal.
For the most part I dont get emotional about movies. In thi scase, I’m so upset I can’t find words.
Please put Willian Shatner as Kirk in this movie.
Paramounts got my money for tickets multiple times over if he’s in it. Do the right thing!
Peace.
Well…CNN put the AP story on their entertainment page…I have a feeling the question might have to be answered by JJ & Co. sooner than later..just to stop the questions from being asked so they can move on and make their film.
JCool — we haven’t had a good Friday night video on this site in a long time. This spoiled-rotten fan would like to see a new one.
hint-hint-hint
Doesn’t anyone else see this form of public lobbying as tacky and distasteful?
I love Mr. Shatner (Yes, love, I grew up with the man as my hero. Along side Christopher Reeve), and I know he (and his ego) is deeply hurt by the fact that the film can go on without him, but this public whining is so befitting of him and his character.
I am not use to seeing Kirk beg for anything, and this is a pathetic sight to be seen. If James T. Kirk can take falling off that bridge like a man then Mr. Shatner should be able to take the consequences of allowing that action to happen in the first place, like a man.
If this were Patrick Stewart or Brent Spiner lobbying for a part, you all would be having a field day shooting them down.
For all of you proclaiming that Shatner should be in TREK XI… or ELSE… please explain to the rest of us how you can adequately include Shatner’s Kirk into this new film without wasting pages and minutes of exposition about GENERATIONS and the Nexus, without making the general public’s eyes glaze over and the film itself grind to a screeching halt like a 2-ton mack truck of technobabble. I’m all ears.
14. DRE
I agree. I think that if this is going to be a Spock-centric story, and Shatner is anywhere near the set, it will become Kirk-centric. I love the Shat, but I think he should give Leonard his own spotlight.
Looks like the ’shat’ has hit the fan now.
I’ve been reading these threads for awhile, but haven’t yet been compelled to comment. However, I must at this point go on record as being in support of William Shatner being in the movie.
Shatner must be in this movie. And, although I would settle for him playing Kirk’s dad or grandpa, it would be even better if he played the old Kirk. Others have put forth good arguments about why he should be in the movie, but I believe I have an argument that has not yet been offered…
I have high hopes that Chris Pine has the potential to be a good Kirk, and that he and the new cast can competently guide the Enterprise on to great new adventures. But… whenever I watch Chris Pine’s Kirk get in any danger, I will know that he will survive and live on… so that he can later die a meaningless death falling off a bridge.
You see, when Shatner made the mistake of agreeing to be in the flawed Generations movie, he agreed to kill Kirk… not just his Kirk, but Chris Pine’s Kirk as well.
If they don’t somehow undo Generations, then Kirk (whether it is Pine or Shatner) still dies at the hands of stupid Soran. Although Generations had some cool things about it, and had some potential, it is deeply flawed. Consider these facts, for example:
- Soran, Guinan, and Kirk originally get into the Nexus in a ship, yet Soran ridiculously thinks that the only way to get back in is to have the Nexus come to him on a planet.
- Soran’s rocket hits the sun as if the sun is an object just a few hundred feet up in the sky. The rocket doesn’t leave the atmosphere, go through space, then strike the sun. No, it just hits the sun in the blue sky like a bullet from a rifle might strike a flying duck. And of course, the nexus, which also appears as an object no farther from the surface than a cloud, immediately has its path changed by the absence of the sun’s gravity. All of this is absurdly stupid.
- Picard decides to risk Kirk’s life by pulling him out of the nexus at a time and place that is extremely perilous. Why didn’t Picard pull Kirk out a little earlier, so that they could destroy Soran’s rocket before he was about to launch it?
These are the things I think about when I think about Kirk’s death. And in the future, whenever I see Chris Pine beat the odds and come out on top against a nasty villain… I will always think: Okay, so he managed to get out of this one, but so what… The idiot Soran still makes him fall off a stupid bridge and die.
By no means do I think that they should refilm any Generations stuff… that should be left behind for good. But there are various ways to explain old Kirk being alive. The simplest way? … have a Snake Plissken moment. Someone could say, “I heard you were dead.” He could respond with a Picard comment: “Reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated.” That would do it.
Please, I don’t want to think of Chris Pine’s Kirk as a guy who will one day fall off a bridge and die.
Lets clear this up! He took the part in Generations because he was trying to give the character a proper send off. Paramount, in their not so infinite wisdom, had decided to retire the Original cast. Berman and Co. decided to finish the job by killing off Kirk. Shatner, and everyone else, was led to believe that this was the end of the line for the Original Cast.
Now is the time to rectify this horrendous error in judgement by Paramount:
BRING BACK WILLIAM SHATNER AS CAPTAIN JAMES TIBERIUS KIRK!!!
shat is awesome but needs to let it go- agreed with 14 and 16.
Whatever pretense folks were making last week that the Shat is not campaigning in the press are thoroughly flattened by this story.
Doubtless someone can construct a superficially logical defense for the actor managing somehow *coincidentally* to go on in two interviews within two weeks about how he ain’t and how he oughta be in the Trek movie, but it failes the smell test. One really has to be drinking the Kool-Aid to buy into that.
There’s a bigger, more immediate, and more essential question created by this latest interview, however - and it’s one that we as fans can actually influence. To wit:
Will this be the Trekmovie Shatner thread that actually hits 1000 posts?
Shat-NER!
Shat-NER!
Shat-NER!
15 - If they put old Kirk in this film, they DON’T HAVE to explain it. Let that 500 page techno-sleeping pill be shunted to some lame-ass book tie-in. JUST let the movie be the movie.
Here we go again… I’m bowing out of this one early, as I can’t imagine that anything new can be said on this topic since 2 days ago…
This really bums me out. This could be our last chance to EVER see William Shatner as Captain Kirk. Please put him in this film.
For a man who spent half his career trying to distance himself from Trek, Shatner seems to be suddenly concerned about the franchise. I think he should just relax and enjoy his well-earned Emmys and keep kissing a*s on Boston Legal. Denny Crane is perfect for Shatner now; Kirk isn’t.
#14 “Doesn’t anyone else see this form of public lobbying as tacky and distasteful?”
No, you’re reading too much into it. I’ve you seen many Shatner interviews, you know his answers are always about 50% truth mixed with 50% hyperbole for effect. He’s not begging. He’s not boycotting. The man qets interviewed EVERY WEEK. People ask. He answers. He adds a bit of drama to make it all more interesting (recall his “screw Leonard, let’s get Shatner!” speeches at conventions during summer). And that’s it.
Mark my word … even if he isn’t in the movie, come X-mas 2008 he’ll be right there on the red carpet, mugging for the cameras with Pine.
#14 — I agree. Whether it would or would not be a good idea for Shatner to be in the movie is neither here nor there. But for Shatner to be lobbying like this — especially framing it as a “bad business decision” on Paramount’s part, which strikes me as disingenuous at best — just seems, well, sad.
OK,
I love the Shat as much as any Trek Fan, and would like to see him in the new movie if it can be done in such a way that we don’t waste precious time undoing what was done in Generations.
But with this movie we have a chance at a true return to the Star Trek that started it all–the original series. We’re going to see a new take on the legendary ship and crew that’s been with us for 40+ years and there are fans out there saying they won’t see this film if the shat isn’t in it?
PUH-LEEZE
We’ll all be there, and everyone knows it.
The answer is obvious: write in a scene in which Captain Pike has to be defended against court martial charges stemming from the Talos IV incident.
His defense attorney? “Denny Crane!”
[…] Shatner: Not Putting Me In Is Not Wise | TrekMovie.com Zitat: […]
#25 “For a man who spent half his career trying to distance himself from Trek…”
I don’t think that’s been true since about the 1970’s.
I knew this would happened. Abrams casting Nimoy in this movie an not Shatner was a mistake. He scould have hired them as advisors nothing more.
What’s up with Shat? It has appeared all along that this is going to start off as Post TNG, because of Nimoy being in it, going back in time to the beginning of their friendship. Kirk is dead Post TNG. I have a feeling that THE SHAT will appear in this movie in the end. It would only be logical if Spock has to go back in time, he will make certain Kirk will not be on the Enterprise-B. What do they say “Even bad publicity is better than no publicity at all.”
The Big Giant Head earns his name
I honestly think that the only thing more pathetic than the masturbating Shatner-worshippers crying about how ‘the Shat’ isn’t in this movie… is Shatner himself crying in the press over not being in this movie. It’s the equivalent of stamping your feet and screaming in the middle of the shopping mall until Mommy gives in and buys you your favorite toy. Doubleplus ungood, Billy; bad form. Have a little dignity, for God’s sake.
I said it before, just have Kirk show up with old Spock at the end and have so reprise of the aren’t you dead, I’ve been dead before line from ST2.
Never explain how Kirk was brought back from the dead, just have him there!
ShatFan
seriously? is that what you are going with here? He was asked? Did he have to answer? Did he have to attack Abrams? Do you really think he and his agent don’t know the decision is still pending? Of course he is lobbying and more importantly he is defending himself and HIS EGO.
cant he just say “no comment” or “I had hoped it would work out” and not all this ‘unwise’ crap? Does he really think this would help?
I love the Shat…I want Kirk in STXI! But this is just unseemly!
I’ll say this if there is no Shatner in this movie, then it BETTER BE AN ASBOLUTELY MIND-BLOWING SCRIPT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It WILL HAVE TO BE BETTER than anything we have seen in the movies and TOS COMBINED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It just will not work. Not as Kirk at any age, as Kirk died much younger than any Kirk Shat could pull off. The only way to avoid canon inconsistancies is to make use of the mirror universe, which has been well established through episodes in TOS, DS9, and Enterprise. Of course Kirk then would be a screaming, angry, and insane charactor, as he was in that universe. Much as Shat seems to be lately with his wining about the writers not wanting to throw in every cheap wink and nod to the audience, which would bring down the credibility of the whole film.
Leave it to Bailey to slice like a phaser beam right to the heart of this issue.
Of course, Bill wants in the movie, just like Leonard wanted into ST:TMP thirty years ago. The difference is that thirty years have passed and a number of bad decisions have been made regarding the franchise. Notice that word: franchise. As Paramount told Lucas in the seventies, “We have a space franchise”. This is (a rather large $) business decision.
We are fans. We can moan about it all we want. But in the final analysis this will be a business decision. It was made as certain way, Bill was out and he is playing the only hand he thinks he has. My opinion is that it is a bad one.
This recasting is what has been needed for a long time. Let’s wait and see. Can it really be any worse than “Q Pid”?
At the time of posting: only 973 to go, Dennis!
Shatner did one without Nimoy. Why can’t Nimoy do one without Shatner?
3 - I agree with you 100%. If it doesn’t work with the film, then I’m sorry, as much as I want it to happen, it shouldn’t happen.
Well said, DaddyTodd! Leonard and De bowed out of Generations because they didn’t want to play backup. Walter and Jimmy were all too happy to step in as I recall.
958 to go, Dennis.
38 ^ very happy I bought into ‘!’ stock.
I hope Shatner is in this movie, but wont cry if he isn’t
Oh no….another thread creating the false dichotemy of shat lovers and shat haters. The real debate is between the tiny group that feel that shat MUST be in the film and the rest of us who would like it, but can live without it. Does that make us ’shatner haters’ because we dont dictate to the film makers.
They have said they will try and work it out…and so that is good enough. Clearly none of us have read the script and so if he isnt in it, then he just didnt fit…enf of story. That should be enough for everyone…including Shatner himself.
I have to say that the way he has handled himself during this has lowered him in my eyes. I still love him, but jesus Bill….calling Abrams names…come on
THIS TOPIC IS GETTING REALLY OLD!!
I don’t get it. The have a finished script, Shatner is not in the script. So, how are they going to put Shatner in the film after all? Mmmmm……. my bet is that they have more than one script in case Shatner is in.
Bill, you shouldn’t have accepted the part where they killed you off if you weren’t ready to stop playing the character.
That said, he’ll be in it.
46- Soup Nazi
what did BIll call him? I didn’t see that in the interview….
Personally I think Shatner’s getting way too greedy. He’s been the star of 7 out of 10 Star Trek films, isn’t that enough?
Kirk is dead. He should get over it!!
JJ and his team shouldn’t screw up their chance to re-launch the franchise just to appease Shatner and his fans.
I love Shatner (which ST fan doesn’t?) but come on everyone you’ve got to think with your head and not your heart.
It already reached CNN.
http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/Movies/10/26/people.williamshatner.ap/index.html
How arrogant of the Shat.
Bill, your days of camo\hogging is over. Get a life!
Begin the movie with Spock entering the Nexus to kill Picard before Picard can lead Kirk to his death. Then Spock & Kirk go about their merry little way and we even have a convenient time travel device.
In the meantime, later when they inevitably decide to recast the TNG crew and do a prequel, Patrick Stewart can argue with the production team about not being in the movie because of what Abrams did “way back in Trek XI.”
Really, come on.
JJ get Shatner !
I’m bored of this s**t now.
This doesnt look good on Shatner or the new movie. I agree with Anthony. Make the decision for crying out loud.
Either way I dont care.
I honestly dont care any more.
How desperate Bill is.
*sighs*
Also I’d just like to point out, the MASS AUDIENCE (of whom this movie will be aimed at) honestly dont give a s**t either. Whether or not a few Trek fans have their panties in a bunch wont affect the bean counters.
Not one bit.
Frank Welker didnt play Megatron in Transformers. Boy, was that a mistake…
Movie patrons who are not mainstream Trek fans will likely go see the movie based more on the character names (cultural icons) rather than the actors themselves. That will be good for opening weekend.
However, I do believe that not including Mr. Shatner will reduce the repeat business of the core audience.
Personally, having watched ST since it premiered on NBC, I will be less inclined to go more than once or purchase the DVD if Mr. Shatner is not featured as Kirk.
Putting Shatner in the movie will only cause the stench of the franchise’s rotten corpse to infect the new movie.
Please its time for a new direction. No more creating bad stories to get around previosuly seen events - James T. Kirk is dead. Let the franchise breathe with new life and new ideas, and not having to clean up the stench of Paramount’s bad decisions over the last 20 years.
He’ll be in it. It would be monumentally stupid not to.. kindof like if they made a Star Wars movie about the origin of Vader that didn’t have him slingin the blade.. oh wait.. stupid hollywood.. all I got was the stupid NOOOOOOOOOOOO!
I’m really tired of the debate. Either put him in or don’t. I don’t care anymore. I just wish the site would start posting reviews of the new remastered episodes again. I miss them.
46 - Exactly. We’re looking for the best possible film and the best possible future for the franchise. If Shatner’s in it, wonderful, but it has to be worthy of James T. Kirk and not something that kills the movie. I seriously doubt any of us hate Shatner.
If I was making this movie I would keep Shatner’s cameo at the end of the film (which if the plot rumour is to be believed is about Spock saving young Kirk and “re-booting” the time-line, in which Kirk doesn’t die in Generations) a big secret. Shatner would then play along pretending to be greatly offended, thus creating lots of publicity for the movie. Genius.
1. The AP is reporting this, just as the AP was publishing the story last week about Shatner having a cameo in the film. Nothing about this, but I just wanted to point this out.
2. The story has now way beyond played itself out. TIme to put this one to rest once and for all, before Shatner destroys further any chances he has of being in this film at all.
The story’s made it to the front page of Yahoo.
Actually…it can be done.
Kirk was (or will be) born in 2233. He vanished into the Nexus in 2293 at the age of 60. Inside the Nexus he doesn’t age.
He finally exits the ridiculous plot device in 2371. Physcially he is still 60.
Spock was born in 2230. His last appearance is in Unification, 5th season of TNG making it around 2369…so at that time Spock is 139.
Unification took place in 1991 our time, so Nimoy has aged 16 years.
So, let’s say the “current” time frame for Nimoy is 2385.
If he does something during his time travel to warn Kirk about the bridge
and Kirk lives…then Kirk would be physically 14 years older than he was when he went into the Nexus. 60+14=74…Shatner is 76 I believe. Close enough.
At LEAST get him to help advise the new actors!
Its not Shatner’s fault that Paramount screwed the franchise - but unfortunataly trying to unwind a decision made a decade ago will only cause the NEW story to suffer.
Please don’t do it.
Mirror-universe stuff was fun, but anytime use Mirror-Universe to right past wrongs is just stupid and confusing and leads to narrative dead-ends.
I’m not even that big of a fan of Nimoy being in it, because that dictates time-travel..and guess what Star Trek is NOT all about time travel. Some of the great stories have been because of time travel…..but you have to work to establish foundations before you start screwing with time. Look no further than Enterprise.
#59- I’ll second that. This is all a big publicity stunt.
And the more I hear this stuff, the more I want him to STAY DEAD.
I meant to say “not befitting of him and his character” sorry.
#26, you may be right in that. But, he is obviously trying to force JJ’s hand by doing this out in the open, and that’s just not a Kirk maneuver. Kirk would corner JJ and give his own ideas on how to bring him into the film, and if JJ declined then that meant a few chops to the neck and a couple punches.
We all know Mr. Shatner has an enormous ego, and that’s part of the charm, but if he can’t sit on the sidelines and allow his friend and equally important co-star Leonard Nimoy have this moment, then that reflects rather poorly on him. For all we know, the story could be written so that Nimoy’s scenes actually depend on the fact that Kirk is dead, and to undo that would undo the narrative flow of the whole story.
Would it be fair to Nimoy to alter the course of the story just for the purpose of bringing Kirk back? I believe that is the real question to be answered.
CNN : Shatner: How come I’m not in new ‘Star Trek’?
LMAO!
Hilarious! Love it!
The best he could get would be a flashback cameo, which he most likely would turn his nose up at.
Sadly the Shats inflated ego is making him look like a big ass.
64:
AP did not report that shat would have a cameo…WENN did. And this site has repeatedly stated that WENN wire service cannot be trusted…they were merely using a single comment by an editor (not a story, but a forum comment) as their source. Plus AP is actually quoting Shatner.
Could it be that they want to surprise us when we see the movie? Imagine the audiences reaction seeing Shatner in their and they thought he wouldnt be. Could he play Kirk’s father or wasn’t their still a Federation Captain to be cast? Maybe he could play an Admiral giving Pike or Kirk their orders?
#66
I’m sorry, but no.
Any mention of the Nexus or Veridian III or falling off a bridge and this movie will be dead. Stone dead.
People will walk out the movie theatre going “what the f**k was the end about?”
As for Shats ego.. Its not like he doesn’t have anything attached to the character.. he DID write all those books.. and they weren’t bad.
“You see, when Shatner made the mistake of agreeing to be in the flawed Generations movie, he agreed to kill Kirk… not just his Kirk, but Chris Pine’s Kirk as well. ”
Well, not if Pine is playing Kirk before he took command of the Enterprise. How do you reckon he’s killed his younger self?
Yes! And my same analyis goes for using the Nexus/Time Travel - don’t use that cop out! It wasn’t done well in Generations…and going back to it is just asking for trouble…
73 - Sorry, Anthony. I was going from one of the Shatner cameo links last week, that credited WENN and the AP for the story.
The Shatner article is now the second most popular article on cnn.com!
This is Shatner being Shatner. Remember before new Kirk was cast, when the question he was always being asked was who should succeed him? He would reply, ‘He needs to be very handsome, and have lots of women, and be very rich…’. Bill has fun with interviews.
Does he feel that he’d be a boon to the new film? I’m sure he does. As do many of his fans. But people are really over-reacting if they say he’s begging. Please. They forget that for the past few years, Shatner’s popularity HAS eclipsed that of the franchise. He’s been on top of the world while Star Trek has been six feet under, killed off by you know who. Bitterness is not what’s in store here. It’s only a matter of time before Shatner and Pine meet and then appear together somewhere all buddy/buddy, be it a convention, talk show, or whatever. Does anyone really think that’s not going to happen?
#57 “Frank Welker didnt play Megatron in Transformers. Boy, was that a mistake…”
Nor did anyone in the general public even know the name Frank Welker. Not the case with Shatner.
And I’m not worried. I’m betting he WILL be in there.
Anthony: Here is a link that has WENN as the source, and AP listed below as the source, as well:
http://www.newswatch50.com/entertainment/story.aspx?content_id=930c34c8-fdb4-4522-887e-226b30dfd056
Maybe when it comes out on DVD there will be alternate ending with (Old Kirk ) Shatner.
With articles like this, it really distances Shatner from his character of Kirk. While I admired and looked up to Kirk all my life, I now find myself in complete disbelief of the tasteless approach he has taken with this film. It’s just wrong. I really hope that paramount and JJ’s crew don’t buckle under this type of schoolyard bullying.
#81
“Nor did anyone in the general public even know the name Frank Welker. Not the case with Shatner”
Perhaps, but its hard for us, as trek fans, to get a sense of perspective on an issue such as this. We have an inflated sense of Trek popularity.
Ask someone who ISNT a trek fan whether they care about William Shatner in the movie or not, and honestly, they dont care either way. The only question is
“Is the film any good?”
Personally I don’t think Paramount or the production team is pissed about this at all. In Hollywood, any publicity is good, and this back and forth keeps STXI in the news, and Trekers everywhere debating…well okay, they’d be doing that anyway…
If the money is right, if the part is more than a walk on cameo, if the explanation of dead man walking makes sense…then Shatner is probably in it.
I would like to see the original Kirk one more time, especially in a scene with the original Spock. Shatner should be in the film.
On the other hand, if it doesn’t work out, and the Shat isn’t in, I’ll still be there to see if Pine & Company can fill the original cast’s shoes or if
it turns out to be Butch & Sundance: The Early Days.
shatner simply must be in this movie. it will seem incomplete without him abrahams said that he’ was desperately searching for a way to get him into the film’. so whats happened? where there’s a will theres a way. something would be missing if he werent. in this. it wouldnt be right.
come on guys make it happen. star trek needs shatner and nimoy in this movie to hand over the baton properly and not like the half baked effort that was generations.
cheers
greg
UK
I’d like to share one distinction that may be holding back Shatner’s involvement. It would seem that with the new movie being a Spock-centric story, the main thrust of the film is to have an old Spock interact with a young Spock sometime in the past. This is the “spine” to the story. That being said, it would then be more effective to have Shatner appear, if at all, near the very end of the film. The reason being that the storyline of the movie is not about rescuing old Kirk from dying, but that the “icing on the cake” is that he doesn’t die in an altered timeline. In other words, the symmetry of the Star Trek saga comes full circle and provides effective closure for all fans who ever lamented Kirk’s passing. The movie isn’t about saving old Kirk, it’s about some other major event, but it just happens that we have Kirk being brought back to life as an added bonus!
Now, here is where I think the producers are having great difficulty with that idea. Since the new film is, in effect, attempting to relaunch a franchise of Trek movies showcasing the “new” young crew, then the movie, by sheer necessity, has to “fade to black” at the end with the audience watching THAT world, not the old one. Probably, as it stands now, you’ve got Nimoy having some dramatic discussion with Quinto at the climax of the film, before disappearing forever. It would be tremendously jarring to have the audience “ripped” from the new world they just came to accept, simply to switch back (at the very end) to the old Trek world so we can have the Christmas present of seeing old Kirk walk off into the sunset with Spock. That punchline scene would diminish what is probably, at this point, an airtight crackerjack script ready to film next month….anybody think I’m close with this guess?
No need to rehash Generations. You can handle his revival in two lines of dialogue as an accomplished fact and move on with the story.
Unfortunately for the film, if Shatner is not in it, his absence very well could remain the dominant “Star Trek” story throughout 2008.
And for many years to come, people will be wondering why, with one last chance to reunite Nimoy and Shatner, the opportunity was missed.
#75 Jon1701—
I said it could be done…not that it could be done well.
So much for his lack of being in the movie NOT being mainstream news…
It’s a bad decision, and given that they strung it out, the bad publicity is going to cost them money.
I know I won’t pay to see this movie without him.
And the idea that SHATNER is being tasteless is laughable. He’s not the one who got everyone’s hopes up. He’s not the one who had the control and did nothing. The finger of blame can only point at the producers.
I agree with Anthony–it’s time for Abrams to either put him in, or just own up to the fact that he was just using the name for publicity.
The Shatner article is now the most-viewed entertainment article on Yahoo News.
RaveOn
that seems to be an artifact of that site. see this link:
http://www.hollywood.com/news/Shatner_to_Appear_in_New_Star_Trek_Movie/4949771
that story was from WENN. The difference is quite apparent, just do a google news search for shatner now and choose \’remove duplicates.\’ you will see this new story listed in dozens, maybe hundreds of places from CNN, to Forbes, to various news papers, to even places like NewsMax.
WENN and AP are not in the same league…not even in the same sport. The other \’cameo\’ story was from WENN and not AP for certain, and it is pretty clear they used the filmsy comment from AICN as their \’source\’. The AP are quoting Mr. Shatner. It may be possible that WENN use AP\’s infrastrucutre to distribute their stories….but AP never reported that Shat had a cameo
So I really dont see your point. Are you saying this story is just as believable as the previous one….because I can guarantee you that it is not…the other one is BS and this one is genuine. I guarantee you that Shatner is not currently in the film
Frank Welker was not in Transformers, and I can honestly say I have not seen the movie.
totally agree gallifrey1983. well put. however i do agree that shatner should never have agreed to do generations. i still to this day dont know why he agreed to have kirk killed off.
your right, this would a be fantastic opportunity missed and probably the last time it could happen. time is ticking on.
Oh please Bill give it a rest! It’s not all about you. He’s just sounding pathetic at this point.
I can’t believe the religious devotion to the actor who played Kirk. Kirk died get over it people. Shatner is not Kirk.
Shatner over the years has mocked the franchise, said he is sorry, and made a lof of money off of it. Now he is just a old man who can’t let go..can’t understand that Trek was never just the Captain Kirk show. \
It was a show about the human condition. Yes, a lof of that human condition involved Kirk, Spock and Bones, but Kirk was not the alpha and omega.
Yes,Shatner’s acting and overacting is what has kept the show funny and refreshing, but in the end, he is just an actor.
Don’t let Shatner dictate the future of the Trek franchise.
Regardless of whether Shatner SHOULD be in the film or not, I agree that JJ needs to settle this question sooner rather than later.
For one thing, too much of the fan chatter is centered on the Shat when I would rather hear their views on the many other elements of what appears to be a promising production. All the Shatner talk is distracting from what I care to hear more about.
Might I add that it does seem a little disrespectful to Bill not to have given him a definitive answer at this point.
“the main thrust of the film is to have an old Spock interact with a young Spock sometime in the past. This is the “spine” to the story”
Harry — Are we really sure XI is the Spock-squared show?
I honestly hope that Nimoy has a somewhat longish and classy cameo, but I would feel silly watching two Spocks have lengthy scenes together. That would just have too much of a comic book feel to it. Likewise, while I hope Shatner’s in the movie, I want the torch passed in the early minutes of the film. And no backsies. Let the new cast carry the story. This is not TOS, it’s a new Trek based on TOS.
imho
ps- Now, can we please get back to speculating on the design of the new E and the length (or lack thereof) of Rand’s skirt?
I don’t buy the idea that there is a plan to keep Shatner’s appearance a secret. Not only would Shatner’s involvement be a big marketing boost for the film, you can’t keep that big of a secret in this day and age.
The Generations script hit the net in March 1994, 8 months before release. The Nemesis script, complete with commentary, was out about 10 months before release. In the Star Wars arena, extremely detailed plot outlines were floating around for Episode II by January 2001, over 16 months before release. Once shooting starts, spoilers abound.
The longer this drags on, the more it will hurt the marketability of this reboot if Shatner is not in it.
#40:”We are fans. We can moan about it all we want. ”
Yes, we can! We can and we will! And as proud ShatNerds, it’s our job to keep the all-day, all-night Dancing Vigil alive.
“At the time of posting: only 973 to go, Dennis!”
We can do it!
I’m sorry he won’t be in it, think it’s a mistake for the film. I don’t understand how people think he’s singlehandedly manipulating multibillion $ CBS Paramount or acting selfishly. Anyway, I hope people enjoy the movie for their money when it comes out. What is it about Kirk that gets him into trouble with anybody but Roddenberry running this show?
Wow #101–
One might think that calling people names like that would be considered flame baiting.
ShatNerds?
If De Kelley were still alive I’d sooner see him in the movie interacting with Nimoy “one last time” instead of Shatner to be perfectly honest. Given that Shatner stopped ‘acting’ more than a decade ago I wouldn’t be particularly jazzed about seeing him as Kirk. Did you see his smarmy ‘performance’ as Kirk in the Star Fleet academy game. Christ, let old kirk remain dead, Please.
#88…Well Harry, try this on for size…
What if the Shat-as-Kirk cameo happens at the beginning of the film?
What if Spock (Nimoy version) finds out about this Romulan time travel plot and seeks out the advice of a friend about what to do. The friend…
not McCoy, not Picard…turns out to be Kirk. His resurrection could be explained by some brief dialogue — Spock went back to rescue him in 2372 say, and brought him back. The age thing still works and when Spock explains the Romulan plot Kirk could joke, “I’m going to die…again?”
Anyway you slice this it’s not pizza. As much as I want to see Nimoy and as much as I would like to see Shatner, the more I think about it, the more I wonder whether the right choice would have been to recast, reboot and forget about including anyone from TOS.
It wouldn’t matter if it were the beginning, end or middle. The point is that he would be in it. I’m thrilled he’s speaking out.
All Abrams has to do to fix this is put him in the movie.
I think it comes down to the fact that Shatner “allowed” Kirk to be killed off in Generations. It took an entire movie to bring back Spock. This new adventure will be about the young crew That leaves no time for a major plot concerning the resurrection of the good Captain.
82 - Here’s a better way to look at this:
AP = respected, independent news organization
WENN = tabloid
End of story.
It would be wonderful if having Shatner as Kirk worked and enhanced the story, but it sounds like the story they came up with has an integral, relevant part for the older Spock, but not Kirk (he is dead after all). Shatner says that since this is science fiction, they can do anything, but I think resurrecting one main character is plenty. The filmmakers in this case seem more interested in making decisions for cinematic purposes, not on how much money they can make. That will pay off down the road. A great movie without Shatner is a lot more appealing than a bad movie with him. And I don’t particularly want to see some stupid contrivance just to get him in the film.
OK people….lets try for once not to turn this into flame fest. too many of these things devolve into wars. I hate to sound like a dad….but I will close this thing down and start banning people if it goes bad again
#97 “Now he is just a old man who can’t let go..can’t understand that Trek was never just the Captain Kirk show.”
Yes, it’s amazing how he can hang on so desperately while he’s appearing on tv daily, making millions and winning Emmys. Please. Like I said, Shatner’s answers may not be humble enough for some, but the man hardly needs to beg. He wants to be included and he should be. He probably will be.
As for Trek not being the Captain Kirk show, he WAS the main character. And Paramount has had to go back to the TOS well since people stayed away in droves from Enterprise and the last few films. So in a way, yeah, it kinda IS the Captain Kirk show. If it weren’t for Shatner and TOS, there’d be no Star Trek 2008!
#105 - “What if the Shat-as-Kirk cameo happens at the beginning of the film?”
That has me thinking. And I know many would be up in arms at this, but…
What if Kirk’s presence at the beginning of the film (i.e. Kirk as a very-very-old man) were actually the clue that led Spock to try to “fix” history–because Kirk was *supposed* to die? IOW, what if this were Spock’s “City on the Edge of Forever” — in order to restore history, Kirk must die?
No, I really don’t want that — way too fanwankish. But people wouldn’t see it coming….
This is why I don’t think they should have brought back Nimony either - either bring back everybody or no one….Shatner is using Nimoy’s appearance to whine about his lack of apperance..Guess what Shatner - you decided to participate in the murder of Kirk because you needed the cash…..Nimoy was smart enough to say no.to Generations.
106 - StillKirok, that’s way easier said than done. It would have to be done in such a way that it doesn’t disrupt the rest of the movie. I mean, what would you rather see - a choppy movie with Shatner as Kirk in it, or a tight movie without him? I’d love to see a tight movie with him in it, but the options are very limited for that happening. If it disrupted the rest of the film’s flow to have him appear, I’d rather he wasn’t in it, and for it to be the best film it can be. He can’t be shoved in haphazardly - it needs to be done the right way.
They did bring back Nimoy. And Nimoy, the guy who’s judgment everyone agrees is top notch, has said that the movie would be better with Shatner in it.
Nimoy–the guy who actually MADE a successful Star Trek film.
Couldnt agree with Anthony more, in fact i’ve been saying it myself: Time for JJ or Mr Orci to definitely break silence.
As for the, only if it works for the story etc. Nimoy is the ultimate authority as far as im concerned re: quality control, and he said the movie WOULD be better with Shatner in it. He’s read the script. He knows better than anyone.
And it didnt take a whole film to bring Spock back. It took ONE torpedo tube crash landing and one mind meld. The rest of the movie was about them FINDING Spock, not ressurrecting him, it had been done in the prior movie. Just like Generations had given the non-sensical nexus formula in Generations in which Kirk can still live. In fact Kirk could come out of the Nexus and be the one that warns Spock that the timeline is being changed as anything happening outside the Nexus wouldnt affect Kirk.
Shatner stabbed Nimoy in the back with his comments today. How Shatner could ever look Nimoy in the face again..I don’t know…
dreaming of Rand… not thinking of Shat… dreaming of Rand…
I wonder if Shatner is aware of the significance of the words “God bless his heart” in Southern culture. Down here, it’s been referred to it as the Southern Belle Slam. It carries a lot of meaning, not always meant as a blessing. It can mean anything from “that boy don’t know any better” to “damn you/him/her/it!” to “f-off and die.”
Bless his heart.
Peace. Live long and prosper.
The Vulcanista };-|
peacefull thoughts of Rand… checkerboard hairdo…. red velour underoos… mmmmmm
Gee ummm…Get Shat…You know I just want a cool fun and adventure filled TREK film. I can live without Mr. Shatner is in it. I have nothing at all against him. But whether he is in it or not is not the end of the world. Looking back I do have to wonder why he went and did the ST:GENERATIONS now. Oh well the past is the past. But it is STAR TREK where anything can happen.
Beam me up.
Anthony -
Sorry, I really didn’t have a point to the AP listed on both. It was merely an observation.
Actually, I have more faith in this story actually from the AP than the rumor last week, simply due to the truth and detail in this one.
All I want is a good Trek movie, and to see TOS era put on the big screen in all its glory!
does TOS have sonic showers?
Shatner didn’t stab Nimoy at all. That’s ridiculous.
The guy is absolutely upset that he was used. Don’t kill the messenger. He’s saying the same things his fans have been saying. And he’s right. Shatner would do more for this movie than Nimoy, who has been out of acting. And Nimoy is an OUTSTANDING addition.
Nimoy brings a lot to the table, but he’s just not in Shatner’s league in bringing in money.
#114–HOW to get Kirk in the movie is the easiest part. The idea that they CAN’T do it is a copout. And the thought that Kirk could HURT the movie is ridiculous, especially if there’s a time travel thing going on.
There is absolutely NO WAY that this movie would be worse with Shatner as older Kirk in it.
And again, Nimoy–considered by many to be the ultimate judge–who has actually SEEN the script–said it would be better WITH Shatner.
Nimoy is on our side.
As far as I am concerned the original crew era ended at the end of Star Trek VI when the whole cast signed their names on screen to the original theme music.
I would like to remember Kirk and crew as they were sailing off into the unknown to what awaited them.
I don’t want to remember Kirk’s last words being: “It was ….FUN….Oh my!” The acting was cheesy and the death of Kirk did close the door on any future movies involving the younger Kirk convincing us he was in mortal danger.
The only answer is a new time line with it’s own canon. Not to drag the remnants of the original crew back for one last bow! They had their time. I’m not crazy with Nimoy being in it and I hope his part is more outside the timeline than interacting with it. As has been said I don’t want to see too much of him with the younger Spock.
After the shameless tactics Shatner is using to force his way into the picture I am convinced I don’t want him in it.
And to those who keep saying that Shatner deserves an answer–has it dawned on you that the answer was probably NO and he can’t swallow it?
#125
Actually Shatner’s saying NO I havent been asked. Im not in the film.
The producers are saying MAYBE we havent made that decision (for too long now).
And the Trek Movie readers are saying YES we want him in it (a recent poll of a few hundred had an overwhelming majority wanting him in the film with only 1/10th not wanting him in it).
It’s time for the definitive YES or NO from the MAYBE crowd, the Shat and the fans have spoken again…. and again…. and again….
Jessica Alba? Not Kate Bosworth, no. Maybe Scarlett Johansson? Who will be Rand?
Ways Not to Bring Back Shatner
Anything involving Q
Anything involving the Guardian (City on the Edge of Forever)
As a holodeck program with Riker and Troi
The last 90 years were just a dream.
Cloning
Shatner as his father, grandfather, uncle or god forbid, mother.
Shatner as April.
Shatner as a ghost.
Shatner as a hologram.
Shatner as narrator.
Shatner as a flashback.
Shatner as created by Dr. Soong
Shatner as the Alternative Universe Kirk
shatner IS capt kirk. he played a major part in making the show what it was. we need a definate answer so we can all get excited if hes in it or if hes not then we can start to hopefully try to get used to it. all this speculation isnt good as its dividing the trek nation.
he apparently wants to be in it, the fans want him in it. it makes sense for him to be in it so what the problem!
greg
UK
#117 … “Shatner stabbed Nimoy in the back with his comments today. How Shatner could ever look Nimoy in the face again..I don’t know…”
LOL. Now I’m convinced you’re just kidding around with us. Every Star Trek fan knows those two are best friends and always will be. Stop being silly. :)
#125 “After the shameless tactics Shatner is using to force his way into the picture I am convinced I don’t want him in it.”
Whether you agree with what he says or not, he’s merely giving his honest answers to questions posed to him. And, yes, playing it up a bit for added effect. Like he always does. He’s not trying to force anything.
His comments about Nimoy are condescending ..if you can’t see that I’m sorry. he threw him under the bus. “bless his heart” as someone mentioned earlier is the equivalent of saying “I know he means well but..or he is a little slow” or some other condescing feature.
The fact is that Shatner, for whatever reasons - maybe his insatiable need for cash, or him being tired of Kirk and ST in general, agreed to have Kirk killed. He could have prevented that by not being in the movie. I’m pretty sure Nimoy was offered a small role and said forget it.
So Kirk is dead. Spock is not. End of story.
Star Trek is bigger than William Shatner.
Time for some new blood.
This ongoing development reminds me of the troubles that the movie studios had with another well-loved television franchise that tried to re-invent itself. Does anybody remember the Lone Ranger?
The producers made the bad decision to not only ignore the original star of the television series, Clayton Moore, but forced him to wear wraparound sunglasses instead of his famous mask in public.
What does this have to do with Shatner? Does anyone remember “The Legend of The Lone Ranger” or have it on their DVD shelf?
Let’s revisit “Star Trek (2008)” in 25 years and find out if they continue down this path.
If there’s a way to logically fit Mr. Shatner in, I would ask JJ Abrams to consider it. The movie would do better with him than with. Comments?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Legend_of_the_Lone_Ranger_(1981_film)
dalek, please do not misrepresent TrekMovie.com polls….only around 30% stated that he ‘must’ be in the movie and about 10% said he should not be in the move with the rest somewhere in between.
it is true most trekkies who visit this site and vote in the poll want him, but not true to say most fee it is a requirement.
anyone can visit the poll achieves to see for themselves (link below current poll)
By the way the current poll shows that this shatner issue actually ranks below questions about canon and the design of the enterprise as ‘big questions’ about the film
Picking Scarlett Johansson as Rand
Would sure draw a line in the sand
Her beauty’s renowned
casting her would be sound
Anyone else would seem to be bland!
This is tired.
Just put Shatner in the film.
I noticed that about the poll to Anthony. Glad to know that others aren’t so shatcentric. I mean who can’t wait to see Enterprise!? I”m more concerned how the chacter of Kirk is treated.
I understand why Shatner feels hurt that he isn’t in the film, but I’m getting real sick of his hubris. If you want to say you are personally disappointed at not being in it, that’s fine and I’m sympathetic, but don’t try to tell me that you must be in it to “ensure good box office” when this is going to be a huge-budget, massively-marketed, extremely-high-production values film that is, not to mention, supposed to appeal to new audiences not just Trekkers.
It’s like when someone breaks up with their girlfriend or boyfriend and instead of admitting they feel rejected and hurt they instead say something like “I don’t care, I’m just sad because I know you are making the wrong choice.” Anyone ever know someone like that? It’s horrible…
I think I lost my sympathy for the Shat-in-Trek 08 cause when he said in that one interview that he would absolutely not accept a cameo in it, that he’d have to do a big role. This has nothing to do with the film’s box office prospects and everything to do with the Shat’s ego.
Rand is grand, she makes me feel like a man.
Rand? Yeah, in this movie she’ll crash a shuttle craft into a Vulcan’s head, killing Spock’s predecessor, and kicking the movie off.
I would agree that J.J. needs to make a decision on Shatner. Are they simply stumped on how to fit him in? Are they short on budget? Are they fighting with Paramount? Comic Con was months ago, and they keep making statements that they are working on a way to get him in there.
Honestly, however they get Shatner would just feel forced, waste valuable character time for the others and be pointless. Unless the whole movie was about reanimating Kirk, just let him be. He really ought to Shat-up.
#133 i didnt misrepresent the poll
Must Have (33%)
Would Prefer (33%)
Thats 66% which is the majority, who said they want him in the movie.
Must Have and would prefer = want him in the movie.
only 10% said they didnt want him in.
There is nothing infactual about what I said. The majority in that poll want him in the film. The minority don’t.
The other poll isn’t about Shatner its about a multitude of things.
Shatner should really be in the film — it’ll be more fun and make a lot more money!
In fact, Grace Lee Whitney should make a cameo at the start of the film, passing the torch to the ultra-smokin’ new Rand.
Danya, J.J. Abrams said he wouldn’t even ask Shatner to do a cameo, because it wouldn’t be fair to him or the fans. Also, Shatner again is not initiating these videos he makes. Articles are being posted on major SCIFI websites or in regular print saying he is in the movie, and he is responding to them.
If there are no red velous underoos and go-go boots in this movie, I will not go… more than ten times.
#116: “Couldnt agree with Anthony more, in fact i’ve been saying it myself: Time for JJ or Mr Orci to definitely break silence.”
It would seem to be to their advantage to do so. There may be reasons for them not to that can’t be reasonably discussed in public, or there may be unresolved issues.
The truth is if this movie turns out to be any good people will go and see it with or without Shatner. That’s pretty much a fact.
I understand Generations wasn’t that much of a hit comparatively, and that included Shatner.
#144:”Also, Shatner again is not initiating these videos he makes. Articles are being posted on major SCIFI websites or in regular print saying he is in the movie, and he is responding to them.”
No excuse. There’s no reason for him to go on and on, and self-dramatize, when asked simple questions. Most performers who are passed over for roles in films or who do not negotiate deals to their satisfaction don’t make public shows of themselves over it.
For the love of Pete! Enough already. Is this going to stop?
How many times do we have to listen to this same broken record. Mr. Shatner is sounding like the only kid in town who didn’t get an ice cream from the ice cream truck.
A few weeks ago I was indifferent one way or the other about Mr. Shatner being in the film. My main concern is a good story since the last two movies sucked! With all Mr. Shatner’s public whining now, this is becoming silly and adolescent. Someone please tell this man to shut up!
This is not an election, he’s not a politican, he’s not running for office and I’ve had it with his self righteous rhetoric.
As Pete Townshend once said “Who the @#$%^ are you” Bill?
426 dtST
Actually, there is a reason for him to go on and on.
He’s a public figure constantly being asked the same question. Since Abrams isn’t talking, he’s answering the question and telling the truth.
This isn’t most performers. This is legend in a legendary role, where the producer told the world he was desperately trying to get him in the movie.
Yet despite that public comment, he didn’t bother to actually contact Shatner.
Abrams, to date, has botched this major issue big time.
It’s going to cost him dollars, and it’s going to cost him good will.
And now it’s mainstream news, big time.
There’s still time to fix it, but he needs to speak.
This should put to rest the speculation that Shatner is not in the film due to negotiation issues, i.e. him holding out for a meatier role or more money.
To persist with such speculation, after Shatner’s statements in the above AP article, would be to call him a liar.
Further, implicit in Shatner’s statement that he has “not been asked to be in the film” is the justification for the statement, itself:
In order to apprise us of the facts, Shatner has had to open his mouth and state them plainly. Thus, the additional speculation about the purpose of Shatner’s talk — that he’s been talking as he has in order to achieve a better negotiating position, for example — is also dispelled.
The situation with Shatner vis-a-vis the new Star Trek film would seem to be as it has appeared on its face all along. Shatner has not been asked to be in the film, and he is disappointed by this because Trek is meaningful to him and he feels left out.
No conspiracies, no collusion, no lies within lies, no angling….just a guy who feels left out and has been saying as much.
My two cents:
Don’t mess up the film in order to include Shatner. But, if it’s possible to include him, and have it be meaningful to the film (imagine the brave, new film ending with one final scene of Shatner and Nimoy, not seen together on screen as Kirk and Spock for almost 20 years, waxing philosophical about their long, adventurous lives, in the heart-felt coda of the film, after the young cast has been hitherto battle-tested and run from pillar to post) — if it’s just a matter of tweaking, imagination-jogging and logistics-massaging — do it one more time…
For the Gipper.
#150. “Yet despite that public comment, he didn’t bother to actually contact Shatner. ”
I’m afraid I’m convinced Shatner is holding back. He was maybe offered a cameo or some kind of deal he didn’t like. When asked what was said at his initial meeting with Abrams he claimed to not remember. Sounds a bit weird doesn’t it?
If they cant work Shatner AS CAPTAIN KIRK into the film (which is understandable if they cant ) then they should just cast him as J T Kirks old man (as he played his bro in Op Annihlate ) and if Shatner is offered that role he should say YES
I hope we hear of Pikes casting AND of Shanters involvement in the next couple of weeks…
There is not one bit of evidence that Shatner was contacted.
He hasn’t seen the script.
“Shatner: Not Putting Me In Is Not Wise”
No, it’s not ‘Wise’, it’s ABRAMS. First thing to do if you want the job is keep your directors straight!
Ah… the Shatnerphobia rages while the ShatNerds (luv that one Dennis) immune as they are, continue to look for the cure.
I just hope the pressure works. And there is a lot of pressure now that this has hit the mainstream. Damage control must now come into play. Will the bean counters give Shat what he wants? Will the bean counters say “NO”, and pressure JJ into making the announcement that Shat is not in the film and release the studio from blame by saying that they just couldn’t find a way to “write him in.”..despite the likely scenario that a “Shat is in” version of the script likely existed before they even talked to Leonard and BIll a year ago.
Or will the bean counters agree to Shat’s requested salary, allowing JJ and company to announce their deep regret at not finding a way to get Shat in the movie…only to deliver the surprise of the century rivaling the remastered TOS that snuck up on everyone last year.
Interesting times indeed.
“And again, Nimoy–considered by many to be the ultimate judge–who has actually SEEN the script–said it would be better WITH Shatner.”
Man, this gets tiresome. Nimoy, class act that he is (unlike some, it’s not always about him), makes a nice generic comment to the effect that he’d prefer his longtime friend and colleague to be in this movie if possible, and some just have turn it into a virtual testament to the idea that the script must be better if Shatner’s Kirk were in it. But if Nimoy truly felt strongly that was the case, he was certainly in a position to offer his suggestions for such a rewrite, and barring the producers’ cooperation, decline to appear in the film at all, just as he did with “Generations” a dozen years ago. Since that didn’t happen, I have to assume that he’s just fine with the script the way it is, however much in theory he would like to re-unite with Shatner one last time.
Honestly–if Kirk could reach as far as some of his fans, having that bridge fall out from under him would have been no problem at all.
Frankly, if Nimoy was “essential” to the script, but Shatner isn’t, Abrams has no choice from a budgetary standpoint but to say “we’d _like_ him in the movie” because they won’t want to pay him a jillion dollars to do a cameo.
If the Shatner/Nimoy favored nations clause still holds, they may not have a choice on not paying Shatner exactly what they pay Nimoy, even if he is only in the movie for 2 minutes. If that is true, they certainly aren’t going to unload the same amount of bank to get Shatner in a cameo versus Nimoy being “essential”, but, frankly, they SHOULD, because he’s Captain Kirk!!
Anthony, you often call out the pro-Shatner crowd for spamming, flame baiting and other evil internet things. But what about this new term, coined by Dennis Bailey, ShatNerds? Now used in the post above?
Why is it that the anti-Shatner crowd is allowed to do that? I choose not to respond in kind.
The strength of my pro-Shatner argument speaks for itself. I could stoop to the level of the anti-Shatner crowd, but it’s not necessary. Not only that, based on history, you would ban me.
I don’t want that.
But wouldn’t it be consistent to delete posts that flame bait from the anti-Shatner crowd? I’ve been warned by you for much less.
Just curious, because like you, I do not want to see the anti-Shatner crowd drag this thread into the mud, nor do I want to be banned.
re: 155
lol!
Abrams, Orci, and Co. must LOVE the press this movie is getting.
They are still a week or two away from starting production and everybody in Hollywood and in the industry is talking about Shatner, Nemoy, the new cast, and the fans!
I smell a hit….
Abrams just needs to make a statement reminding the general public that Kirk died in a previous movie and that putting him back in would be silly and disrespectful to the credibility of the project and all will be golden.
The press is negative. Upsetting your fan base is not a good way to get people to show up. This movie is going to tank.
162. “This movie is going to tank. ”
I really can’t take statements like this seriously.
#161–that wouldn’t work at all since:
1. This is sci-fi, and even the Yahoo article acknowledges the ease in Kirk’s return.
2. Abrams said he was trying to get Shatner in the movie–desperately. Kirk’s death was there when he made that comment.
So basically, he would have to think the fans are pretty dumb to buy into that reasoning.
What Abrams needs to do is give the people what they want and sign Shatner to this movie.
Guaranteed the fighting and negativity would stop, but the buzz would keep going.
can anyone tell me why its not good to have shatner in this movie?
greg
UK
152
I remember!
Get THE SHAT in the movie.
If he is not in the movie then after all this I am not bothering with it. I’ll take TOS remastered on DVD.
If he is there then JJ and co will have so much good will from me they can do what they like in the re-boot, pre-boot or whatever you want to call it.
WE WANT SHATNER!!!!!!!!!!!!
“can anyone tell me why its not good to have shatner in this movie?”
Isn’t he seen as something of a figure of fun these days? The new movie presumably wants to be taken seriously.
Lets hope that Abrams makes the film he originally intended to make and does not yield to the pressure of an actor or his fans. I can’t imagine Kubrick, Wells, or any other great director for that matter, changing his vision for “needs of the few, or the one”!
i just want to see him one last time, that’s all!!
Can ‘t we just have him appear at the end, walking somewhere with Spock, talking casually, those of us who know what happened in Generations will certainly go “what? why is he alive?” but who cares? the fan fic writers can come up with multitudes of explanations, multiple versions of novels can be written, Pine and Quinto can do a movie on what happened betweeen generations and XI in what, 30 years time if they want. leave it a mistery for years to come.
gotta say i’m with the ones who suggest that the needs of the film outweigh the needs of the shat. and um, just because we can do something doesn’t mean…
still, the debate is heart wrenching. people here make great passionate points about how much they want to see our original JTK, if only to wave a proper goodbye.
nevertheless, i’ve always felt shatner was pretty lousy in generations. i’m certain he spent more effort depicting kirk as an equestrian than keeping the character alive. i wasn’t keen on our heroic captain living out his nexal fantasy as a solitary kaczynski, snatchwhipped by a waving silhouette in the distance that we’d never heard of.
now his behavior is an embarassment to me. i do hope that this doesn’t get “the bean counters” to force an apearance that weakens the film.
# 166 In regard to The Shat having a decent offer to be in the movie and letting his ego get in the way, then Leonard Nimoy, JJ, and you Mr Orci should kick his arse and get him to see sense.
My protestations about Shatner are based on the notion that he has not been offered anything.
If he has, and he is being a dick, then someone he respects, like Nimoy, should tell him that.
All concerned need to work this out quickly or there are going to be some very negative feelings associated with this project for some of us, which it probably does not deserve.
My interest at a new Trek film has given way to this whole big hope that I might see Shatner as Kirk once more and see something that mends the wound of Generations.
That may well be an expectation that JJ an co. never wanted this film to have on its shoulders, but now, for many of us it has it.
If it IS Shatner who is being the arse in all this then it should be made public.
If on the other hand it is Shatner who is being treated badly it should also be out there.
You all need to just clear the air, get it out there and reach a damn conclusion.
Keep the faith.
#166–this was a mainstream media report on basically everything that’s been said to date. How much longer before JJ makes a statement or does something to actually get him in the movie?
#163–it doesn’t really matter if you take it seriously. They are coming off a movie that grossed $45 million domestically. People are down on the franchise. And now, they seem to have turned their back on Shatner, despite claiming that they were interested in him.
I don’t buy the whole, “it’s not good for the movie” argument. If they can’t figure out a way to write him in, they are not the right people. And I don’t believe that they can’t do it. They definitely have the ability. They just haven’t chosen to do so.
But this whole situation has been botched.
But not to the point where it can’t be fixed. Hell, if they could reshoot the ending of Generations (even if they still got it wrong), they can still write Shatner in.
1.) If it’s a reboot, having Shatner in it - while I love the guy - isn’t a necessity. In fact, if canon is observed, Kirk is Dead. Get over it.
2.) If the rumors regarding the story now leaking are true, young Kirk doesn’t play a major part until the last half of the movie.
3.) Old Spock is operating after Kirk died, but where not sure when. (Pre Generations, or Post). In either case, to old Spock Kirk would still be dead.
Look, I like Shatner. He will always be ‘my Captain’. But I am looking forward to seeing someone new take up the mantle. Good God - don’t force the issue and write something just for him to be in it!
Shatner’s whining - and yes, it’s embarassing - in my opinion is just spoiling the moment. If he had any grace, he’d stay quiet. If Abrams had any professionalism, he’d share the script with Shatner and risk his response.
*imagining the conversation*
“Look Bill, it just wasn’t written with an old Kirk. You’re kinda dead. And Spock’s alive.”
“uhm ok, JJ. But isn’t this sci-fi?”
“Hell yes. But we stated, and we firmly believe we need to honor canon. The fans are smart Bill. They notice that sort of thing.”
“why? we made it up as we went along. Couldn’t we just fudge it a bit for old times sakes?”
“sorry Bill They did that with Enterprise, and look what that did…”
StillKirok - Shatner has had contact with Abrams. He says so in the AP article:
“But while Shatner said he had a couple of meetings with Abrams, nothing came of it.” It’s the end of the fourth paragraph.
And hey, Roberto, since you were privy to the Shatner-Abrams meetings, you wouldn’t perhaps be able to divulge what was said, would you?
red velour underoos….
“What Abrams needs to do is give the people what they want and sign Shatner to this movie.”
Nick Meyer’s riposte to the notion of an artist “giving the people what they want” is so well-known–or should be–that I’m not even bothering to repeat it here.
And Mr. Orci, I know y’all have to be enjoying the hell out of this “controversy,” and must find the notion that it’s “bad publicity” even funnier than I do. But seriously, some of these folks are your fanbase, for better and worse, and I’m getting the feeling that until this is resolved they’re not going to get a whole lot of sleeping done. So please, be kind (like Spock or Kirk would do), and for their sake, put this matter to rest once and for all.
These are my speculative ideas about what is really going on:
1.Shatner has been offered a scene or a cameo, but he’s not happy with that. It wouldn’t be hard at all to write one in, so we must assume he doesn’t like the idea of a small cameo.
2. If he’s in the film his role must be equal to Nimoy if not moreso, these are his demands, maybe.
3. He hates the idea of another TOS cast member, even his beloved friend Leonard, taking center stage in a Trek movie without him.
I would pay good money to see a video of that first meeting between Shat and the Abrams Posse. Bob…please tell me someone recorded it! It can be on the third or fourth special edition that Paramount are bound to put out
175 —
Sure — Damon, Alex and I pitched him the basic version of the story we pitched J.J. and the studio, which we eventually went on to write.
Sadly, that’s probably all I can tell you until my Trek memoirs.
If this were my project, I would have given cameos to both Nimoy and Shatner to pass the torch, and I would have avoided time travel like the plague it has become. But what the hell do I know.
The way I look at it is, Old Spock is likely written to have some sort of companion or whatever, characters from the 24th century. Why not just take them and convert the lines to Shatner? I just don’t see how Abrams is going to get a part fitting for Shatner or comparable to Nimoy’s. Then again, Shatner has been so outspoken about being in it, they could probably get him to play Janice Rand.
179-
hell no it wasn’t recorded…although I did transcribe it from memory immediately following.
I agree, Shat…not wise at all! With all due respect, Roberto…
I’ll still go see the film, but it won’t be the same without THA SHAT!
177 –
Sadly, we don’t enjoy this publicity because if it were up to us, no one would know a thing about this movie until much later.
Also, we take no pleasure in WS’s distress.
I’m not really sure how to view this growing imbroglio, partly because I don’t think we have all the details; for all we know, Shatner may have wanted some epically disproportionate recompense (points on the gross, points on the merchandising, a Gulfstream jet, whatever) and Paramount and Bad Robot just didn’t think it was worth having him in the film for what he asked.
Roberto, since you’re here, I have a question I’d love answered - who wrote Optimus Prime’s opening monologue in Transformers, you or Alex Kurtzman? Because personally, I thought it was extraordinarily well-written.
187 –
Thanks. Generous of you. We write everything together.
I’ve visited this site daily for a long time and have never felt the desire to post feedback. But this lack of Shatner in the new flick really ticks me off.
If there was no Nimoy and no Shatner, fine. But to connect us to one of my childhood heroes to pass the torch and not the other frustrates and saddens me and will leave me wondering if I need to even partake in this re-boot.
It was bad enough that the Kirk character was killed in such a stupid meaningless manner. To think that *maybe* this could have been corrected (just speculating) in cannon and before the actor is incapable of performing further ticks me off.
I want my connection to the past in this damn reboot. I want my childhood heroes in this reboot. I want it to feel like they (Nimoy and Shatner) bless and handoff these new people in the iconic roles. If I don’t get what I want, Par won’t get my money…
Get the shat in this movie, now Please!!!
#168 shatner can laugh at himself and thats one of his endearing qualities. for me he IS captain james t kirk and always will be. i love the look of the new guys but lets hand this torch over properly shall we.
abrahams should give the fans what they want shatner as KIRK!
bring it on.
greg
UK
Thx for the comments to Roberto O., great to see the gang behind the new one stopping by. Look, I love the Shat’s protrayal of Kirk as much as the next fan in his early forties who grew up with him but hey, if it’s not meant to be then…… Captain Pike is there!!!! can not wait!
I will be taking my son a couple of time min. if the movie is great!! I expect it will be as long as the script is as good as the writers have described. For gods sakes, their fans of the show too, it has to be good! Enjoy the next year of pics interviews etc., If WS can get in there it’s icing on the cake, if not enjoy the heck out of LM and his aged pointy ears, I will be.
182 Greg2600: “Then again, Shatner has been so outspoken about being in it, they could probably get him to play Janice Rand.”
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!
Get me a spoon to gouge that image from my brain!
Anyone else find it amusing that the director of Star Trek V is giving business advice to guys behind Lost and Transformers?
OK, Roberto., you heard our Grand Wazir - put a bullet in this shit(ner) and sent it to the glue factory. LOL :D Seriously, if you were a gambling man, straight up, what sort of book would you make on getting him in front of the camera? 50/50? 30/70? 10/90? Or Ron Paul getting elected? LMAO :D
Mr Nimoy read the script for Star Trek Generations and thought the script was not up to snuff–it needed work. There were problems and reservations he had and he made that known to Rick Berman. Mr Berman said there wasn’t any time to address Mr Nimoy’s concerns so Mr Nimoy smartly passed on the film.
Mr Shatner read the same script that Mr Nimoy read. And he DID NOT have any problems or issues with the script. Or if he did, he did not make them known. I would wager that if he said, I won’t be in Generations until you address these concerns and these issues that Berman would’ve been up a creak with out a paddle - they needed him in the film. Shatner had a big roll to play. It was, after all, the death of Kirk film.
Mr Shatner agreed to be in Generations–a stinker of a movie if you ask me–and he agreed to the death of Kirk as envisioned by the writers. He did not ask them to change a thing. It took a test audience to make them reshoot the horrible death scene, and it still stunk. The time for Mr Shatner to speak up was when Mr Berman handed him that terrible screenplay where his character was killed. The time to speak up was when the studio started talking about the next Next Generation movie–First Contact. Mr Shatner could’ve brought his idea of resurrecting Kirk to the table then.
The new movie is not a RETURN OF THE OLD KIRK story. It is not a story like the Search for Spock, where the character is brought back to life. Why? Because that is not the story Mr Orci and Mr Kurtzman wrote. For Mr Shatner to except them to REWRITE their script in an effort to PUT him into the movie is an act of hubris on his part. It’s shamful. And as much as I love what Mr Shatner brought to the role of Kirk and to Star Trek (minus Star Trek V), he needs to shut up. Period. He needs to bow out gracefully. He needs to respect that the story Mr Orci and Mr Kurtzman wanted to write is not the story that he wants: The resurrection of Kirk. He wrote that story. It’s called The Return. And, sorry, it’s not part of canon.
I’m okay with this. I just want to a good story. And I want it executed properly. And I believe that is what I will get come December 2008.
Thank you for reading. Now stop surfing the internet and go read a book.
One wonders if the Transformers fan base had this level of passion or if it was a different kind. I wonder how it compares in Mr. Orci’s eyes.
Mr. Shatner’s distress is unfortunate.
#128 RDL “Shatner as his father, grandfather, uncle or god forbid, mother”
Hey, RDL, I think you may have hit on the solution regarding Shatner being in the film when you listed the roles you WOULDN’T want to see him portray!!
William Shatner could play a young Jim Kirk’s GRANDMOTHER!!
Think about it!! Movies like Some Like It Hot, Tootsie and Mrs. Doubtfire were very entertaining with this theme!
Oooh, the Shat in a flower print dress and a grey curly wig (no, not one of his earlier ones) waddling after a young James, who’s packing to go off to Starfleet…..”now Jimmy, don’t forget to pack your undies!”
Now we’re talking!
You laugh, but do you know how many people would pay good money to see THAT??
Please people….Please.
This is all about Money…MONEY!
Of course they have offered him a part, of course!
He is holding out for more money than they want to pay him. That is why he is talking about it all the time, to build pressure on them to give him what he wants.
Who will cave first?
#4:” I do not think there is a sole on this planet who does not know who he is.”
There are billions.
” He definitly would bring in box office reciepts more than Cruise would.”
The day that there’s *any* evidence that Shatner can bring in a sizable *fraction* of Cruise’s audience he’ll be able to get a leading role in a non-Trek movie.
Hasn’t happened yet. :lol:
195 - re: Generations, btw Nimoy wanted Generations changed not because he thought it not up to snuff, but because he wanted a larger role. As it wasn’t changed he said “No” because he wanted more than just the cameo that James Doohan got in his place.
Re: 200
That was not Mr Nimoy’s only concern with Generations. But, yes, it was one of his concerns. He was not interested in a Spock cameo. He was a meaningful role to play. But he also thought the basic premise, the villian, the Nexus plot device and how they handled Kirk’s death needed serious revision. He said so in an interview.
i shall pray to jesus tonight to make shatner appear in the movie
just kidding! - (although i might actually do it)
Like any other classic trek fan i hope he appears - but if not I’ll understand…
i mean he was killed off and all in Generations so it aint gonna be easy at all to have him back as Capt Kirk like the way Nimoy is back as Spock (it’d be difficult even if he hadnt been killed off in VII as Nimoys Spocks scenes are - initially - probably either TNG or post TNG era)…and this movie is first and foremost about the return of ‘Star Trek’ - not the return of William Shatner as Kirk
However it would be wonderful if he appeared somehow - even if it were as Kirks father…(if Kirks father is in it)
Mr Orci - a quick Q regarding Transformers - was that Nichelle Nicols
of today or a sample from TOS voice cameoing ?
you guys need some good publicity
1. the Simon Pegg casting news…
2.the recent LA TIMES article :fans are “Cautiously Optimistic”
3. Finding Nero…..
4.William Shatner
Yikes!
IMO
I have faith in you guys….Do whatever.
#151:”This should put to rest the speculation that Shatner is not in the film due to negotiation issues, i.e. him holding out for a meatier role or more money…
To persist with such speculation, after Shatner’s statements in the above AP article, would be to call him a liar….\he additional speculation about the purpose of Shatner’s talk — that he’s been talking as he has in order to achieve a better negotiating position, for example — is also dispelled.”
Sounds like there are negotiation issues, and that these interviews are intended to achieve some leverage.
Or maybe not. No way to tell.
Re: 200 part Two
But you’re missing the point. The point is, that the time for Shatner to speak up was then and not now. Shatner agreed to Kirk’s death as envisioned by Braga and Moore and Berman. Why can’t Shatner agree to Mr Orci and Mr Kurtzman’s vision of a Star Trek movie–one that does not involve the “course correction” of resurrection for his beloved character?
hey Roberto,
you can see the fans have been polarised by the Shatner issue. I already wrote #51 where i think we should use our heads not our heart (thus keeping him out)… but seeing the hysteria, if you can find any way to give Shatner even the tiniest of cameo’s, please do it. It won’t please everyone but it’ll appease enough of the fans in favour of Shatner.
If not, then someone else on this website mentioned Shatner doing the prologue. I think that’s a very good idea and one you should seriously consider.
#206:”…if you can find any way to give Shatner even the tiniest of cameo’s, please do it. ”
Wonder how much that would cost? ;)
Gee I have been reading through these posts and there seems to be this obsessive demand that they know if Shatner will be in this film or not. It is like if they know then they will object or just not see this film or support it full steam. Seems nuts to me. It could be a great film even without Shatner. Maybe it will be a great film with him in it. Either way I will look forward to seeing what they come up with.
I don’t need to know either way if he is in it. It might be a nice surprise to see him pop up in it. Why not let it be that way. If he isn’t and it turns out to be a good film. Well I will be satisfied either way. I