As for not being in the upcoming movie, he won’t be missing nuch, given what I’m guessing. He’s better off staying out.

I actually agree with most of what you said except:

“I am an original TOS fan, and a fan of Shatner’s work as Kirk (at least from 1966-1986). However, to say that William Shatner is Kirk is as ridiculous as saying George Reeves is Superman. The character was not created by him”

It is true that Roddenberry came up with the idea, but it was Shatner’s work as Kirk that made Kirk the icon he is. I don’t think you can compare someone who brings a comic to life (Reeves) to someone who developed a character from scratch. He may have had a script, but he “made” Kirk. When people think of James Bond, they think of several different actors. When they think of Indiana Jones they think of Harrison Ford and when they think of James T. Kirk – They think of William Shatner.

Spock is as big a part of the original Star Trek as Kirk. In fact, he was the one character which was a part of the original pilot and remained a part of the show through the second pilot and even TNG. I also must point out that the character of James T. Kirk IS in the movie.

#71–”and Shat is Kirk, absolutely.”

I am an original TOS fan, and a fan of Shatner’s work as Kirk (at least from 1966-1986). However, to say that William Shatner is Kirk is as ridiculous as saying George Reeves is Superman. The character was not created by him, nor is he the owner of the rights to that character. If he were, there would either be a lawsuit in progress right now, Shatner would be appearing in the film as Kirk, or there would be no STXI.

The character of JTK was created by Gene Roddenberry when the studio’s reaction to Chris Pike was lukewarm at best. Gene felt that, in order to give the studio what they wanted, a new captain played by Bill Shatner back then was needed. Paramount owns the rights to the character. Bill just happens to be the only actor we have yet seen portray him.

“STV, despite its weaknesses, contains some of the most moving moments I have ever seen in cinema, the religious nature of which I have commented on in other threads. The film has obvious weaknesses-but it has a lot of heart. Those who call it the great trek turd are mistaken-that infamous & dubious honor belongs to the most recent Trek film.”

If you enjoy STV, good for you. For my part, I have never been so disappointed and embarassed in a Star Trek film.
Nemesis was bad, but I have never expected much of anything from a TNG movie, so I wasn’t exactly disappointed. In fact, I have never paid to see one. Only the original movies could get me to do that. I cannot stand STV, and to me, it IS The Great Trek Turd…and for these reasons:

–The very thought of Sarek having a child with a “Vulcan Princess”
–Klingon warriors who put their heads down like dogs and apologize
–An Enterprise that doesn’t work
–The notion that Starfleet sends Captain Kirk (who is in charge of a lemon) to execute this mission despite the fact that his ship doesn’t work
–Scotty and Uhura flirting like middle-school kids
–Uhura’s embarassing fandance
–Spock, McCoy, and Kirk’s equally embarassing rendition of “Row your Boat” while “toasting a marshmelon”
–numerous instances of forced humor that disrupt the flow of the film
–bad special effects
–the very thought that the benevolent Federation would allow this Planet Of Intergalactic Peace to suffer such neglect and utter deprivation in the first place
–The Romulan ambassador who is so frightened that the Federation represenative has to “hold her”
–The Enterprise is not only hijacked by a crazy Vulcan in a bathrobe and his merry band of hooligans, but Kirk never regains control by his own action
–Spock betrays his Captain
–Shatner really starts to play James Kirk as Bill Shatner, rather than the other way around
–The ship’s navigator and helmsman are “lost in the woods”
–McCoy is reduced to making “fart jokes”

I’m sure that I am forgetting a not-so-memorable moment, but I make a good effort to avoid that travesty…

Yeah, I’d say it had “it’s weaknesses”!

Once again, STV: The Great Trek Turd…always and forever.

Reality is May 2009. All else, whether he is in the movie (which I hope he is) or not in the movie (as a few seem to wish for) , is sheer speculation. Nothing more.

“I’ll say it again. Just because we’ve been told he’s not in it, is no reason to believe that he is not in it. Welcome to Hollywood.”

Say it as many times as you wish… I’ll be surprised if he manages to SEE the film, let alone appear in it. Because some fans want it, does not mean it happens. Welcome to Reality.

if true i suppose shatners cameo will work ok as the shatner of today looks noticably different to the shatner of 1994…so could pass for JTKs grand-dad (kirk genes)

also maybe Patrick Stewart appears in a cameo as ‘Admiral’ Picard speaking to Nimoy on a viewscreen at the beginning

Also it makes sense as itd be difficult..near impossible (as Abrams has repeatedly said) to include him as old James Kirk due to canon and continuity violations..at least this way hed be actually in the movie for the fans..

plus Paramount are pouring $130 – 150 million into the new film and are gonna want every little bit of help they can get to make it a success..so itd make sense to give shatner and stewart fan pleasing cameos

or
what about if they have Shatner doing the ‘Space..the final frontier’ speech at the end of the movie a la Spock in Trek II? (as you just know they gonna end the movie with that speech)