They haven’t greenlit a Star Trek film with that kind of budget behind it since the late 70’s, and the past 4 films were based upon a series that was never really feature film worthy to begin with, IMO.

Well Closettrekker, I’m guessing we are just going to have to agree to disagree. I still don’t get why it’s just an issue with you that some of us feel Shat/Kirk would have been a plus but that’s life.

“My point is that if Paramount believed Shatner would make them more money, they could easily have insisted that he be cast in the film. Studio executives get paid alot of money to make those decisions, and they do not doll out $150 million without thinking about things like that. They obviously did not feel that way, or perhaps they believed his absence would convince broader audiences that this isn’t the same ole’ Star Trek. That is, after all, one of the objectives…”

But I did have to comment on this. Paramount executives don’t really have a good track record in the Trek films they’ve greenlit so far so I’m not sure this is valid. Personally, JJ was interested, his films have made money and that’s all they cared about in my opinion of events. They are desperate to have a tent pole franchise.

I don’t disagree. I simply hold the opinion that it is a reach to conclude that his appearance would mean a bigger box-office draw for STXI.

“As for Paramount and business decisions. I really think they just put it in Abrams hands. He’s had success and that’s a pretty sensible decision viewed that way.”

You’re probably right, but they didn’t have to. Studios have made specific castings in films a prerequisite for directors alot more established than JJ Abrams. My point is that if Paramount believed Shatner would make them more money, they could easily have insisted that he be cast in the film. Studio executives get paid alot of money to make those decisions, and they do not doll out $150 million without thinking about things like that. They obviously did not feel that way, or perhaps they believed his absence would convince broader audiences that this isn’t the same ole’ Star Trek. That is, after all, one of the objectives…

“…actually Spock is my favorite character… ”

Mine as well–Spock is absiolutely the most interesting character in all of Star Trek history, IMO.. If only one of the original actors was to be included in the film, Nimoy was the best choice, IMO. His character’s presence does not present any dilemmas or handicaps to the story, and is alive and well post-Nemesis (the era the filmmakers wish to tie together with the pre-TOS years). I’m looking forward to seeing him (Old Spock) again on the big screen.

It’s quite simple. I don’t, and I’ve never taken that position. I see it as a handicap to following the story which is already written, given the fact that Shatner’s Kirk was obviously not a part of it to begin with. I just believe that it should be left to Abrams and co. to decide if it would benefit or not, and we will not know if it would or would not until we see it. Therefore, it is unfair to say it was a mistake.

Katie — I don’t know about you but I’m not sure I can survive until next May! LOL. It was bad enough just waiting until Christmas. ah, but speculation is fun for me.

Frankly I don’t get why some people on this site have such a problem with people like me who choose to do so. Which leads me to….

“So how can you determine that Kirk’s resurrection would have any benefit to the story? Abrams apparently does not believe it would. And if Paramount (who we all know wants to make money, above all) believed that Shatner’s involvement would garner more profits, why would they not make his involvement a prerequisite to approving the project? Why would they throw $150 million at it and decide later (after it was clear that Shatner could have no role) that STXI would be their signature film of 2009 (the Summer movie)? I think you are overestimating Shatner’s box-office draw, and I think he does too. If he were in such high demand, he wouldn’t be stuck doing a televisioon show. ”

Closettreker — Well, I’d ask the you the same question in reverse — how do you know that it wouldn’t? You seem pretty entrenched in your veiwpoint to the point of trying to minimize Shatner’s current career. Slice it anyway you want, whether you watch his show or his commercials, he IS very popular now. He is relevant to people now or at least widely known and as I said in post, he does manage to generate a lot of press. Personally, while I have watched some episodes of Boston Legal, I’m really not a regular viewer. I work in the legal field and frankly, don’t want to spend my free-time that way. As for Paramount and business decisions. I really think they just put it in Abrams hands. He’s had success and that’s a pretty sensible decision viewed that way. I’m also not judging the film. What would be the point? I will judge it on its own merits when I see it (or a script leaks!). However, I am free to feel they missed an opportunity. No matter how much I enjoy the film, this won’t change.

Before you just write me off as a Shatnerbot, actually Spock is my favorite character but I feel what made his character so special was the relationship WITH Kirk. I didn’t like Generations for 2 reasons — Kirk died a stupid death AND there was no Spock ,which didn’t seem right. I also find it curious that so much is made out of Shatner saying he doesn’t do cameos. Nimoy refused Generations with the same sentiment. I don’t blame him and I don’t blame Bill Shatner. They’ve both earned more in the Trek Universe.

And yes, having portrayed the iconic James Kirk for so long, he IS an entertainment legend. His work is a big part of why I love TOS to this day. But that is rather irrelevant to what he can bring to the table now in STXI, with regard to younger audiences. That is the context from which you drew my comments.

Yes, JJ has chosen to tell Orci and Kurtzman’s story, and while some old-guard fans wish he was telling a Shatner’s Kirk story, those fans will likely see it anyway, even if just to arm themselves with the material needed to criticize it. The point is, Paramount was unwilling to commit $150 million to a resurrection of Shatner’s Kirk story. They were, however, willing to give Star Trek that treatment for the script that WAS approved…and that one doesn’t include Bill. So either Bill and his fan club are right and the box-office experts are wrong, or it’s the other way around…I know where I’ll put my money.

Stuck doing a television show, huh? Give me a break! Stuck at age 77 (an age when most people are retired if not dead!) being watched by millions of people every week in a brilliantly written, Emmy-winning (tv’s highest honor) role? Doesn’t sound so bad to me!

I have to take issue with you trying to minimize Bill’s current career. I’m reading his autobiography right now, and the early chapters really drive home that Shatner has been a star since the Golden Age of television. He is one of the last survivors a bygone era; he was already a big name in tv in the 50’s, holding his own against the likes of Steve McQueen. And not only is he still here while most of his peers have vanished, he is thriving, by anyone’s standards. His show is popular, it has a 5th season coming up, and just because you don’t like it or get it doesn’t mean that millions haven’t thoroughly enjoyed it. It’s biting, it’s smart, it’s topical, it’s political, it’s hysterical. And a large chunk of the success goes to Bill, who helped lift Star Trek up to the stratosphere 40 years ago.

Yes, he is a bigger name than anybody else in the cast of Star Trek XI. Ask the average person on a city street who Chris Pine is, no one would know. A few younger people might know who Eric Bana is. But mention the name Shatner, and I daresay most would instantly know who you’re talking about. Now I know you love to say Shatner doesn’t = box office dollars, and I’m not saying he does. Only a small handful of actors (Clooney, Depp, Pitt) have the kind of enormously high profile that makes audiences curious about everything they do. In the end, I tend to believe what Nick Meyer said about movies: People only care about one thing – is it any good? All I’m saying is that Shatner is an entertainment legend. Whether you like it or not, he is more popular than ever today and still known the world over as Captain Kirk. If he’s being interviewed every week about a movie he’s not even in, think about the press he could generate if he WAS in it!

JJ “didn’t want to tell that story”? Fine. We’ll all see how it turns out a year from now. But many fans wish he would have.