Q: How do you react to William Shatner's ire at not having a role in the movie?
A: It was very tricky. We actually had written a scene with him in it that was a flashback kind of thing, but the truth is, it didn't quite feel right. The bigger thing was that he was very vocal that he didn't want to do a cameo. We tried desperately to put him in the movie, but he was making it very clear that he wanted the movie to focus on him significantly, which, frankly, he deserves. The truth is, the story that we were telling required a certain adherence to the Trek canon and consistency of storytelling. It's funny -- a lot of the people who were proclaiming that he must be in this movie were the same people saying it must adhere to canon. Well, his character died on screen. Maybe a smarter group of filmmakers could have figured out how to resolve that.
A: It was very tricky. We actually had written a scene with him in it that was a flashback kind of thing, but the truth is, it didn't quite feel right. The bigger thing was that he was very vocal that he didn't want to do a cameo. We tried desperately to put him in the movie, but he was making it very clear that he wanted the movie to focus on him significantly, which, frankly, he deserves. The truth is, the story that we were telling required a certain adherence to the Trek canon and consistency of storytelling. It's funny -- a lot of the people who were proclaiming that he must be in this movie were the same people saying it must adhere to canon. Well, his character died on screen. Maybe a smarter group of filmmakers could have figured out how to resolve that.
Paramount will is set to release Star Trek in theaters May 8, 2009.
Star Trek was released May 8th, 2009 and stars Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Leonard Nimoy, Eric Bana, Bruce Greenwood, Karl Urban, Zoe Saldana, Simon Pegg. The film is directed by J.J. Abrams.
Comments (14)
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dont_text_intheaters
i read somewhere that Abrams is making this film for fans of movies and not necessarily fans of star trek. being a star trek fan, im eager to see this fresh new cast and a new style of film making. hopefully this can give the everlastingly popular film saga (or a couple sagas really) a boost and introduce this great concept to this new generation.
3 years agoby @dont-text-intheatersFlag
T.Clark
Hey man, i like those commercials. "I'm william shatner and i'm a shaman"..."NOW you're negotiating!" lmao
3 years agoby @insertusernamehereFlag
The Narrator: The Better Man
lol. Nice one.. Shatner is okay, but now he's only in cheap lame commercials, and movies. He needs to stop acting and retire. lol. No offense.
3 years agoby @narratorFlag
Err
that's the problem with death.
when someone dies you never see them again.
3 years agoby @err2005Flag
ed_wood
Not a Trek fan but I'll check it out because of Abrams.
3 years agoby @ed-woodFlag
Raoul Duke
Hey, at least we got Nimoy.
3 years agoby @raoulduke33Flag
Rufio
no need in putting shattner's kirk in... all you have to do is watch any of his other shows or movies to see kirk over and over again...
that's all... he... knows... how to do. lol
3 years agoby @rufioFlag
...YeahButTheBookWasBetter
Abrams knows what hes doing no one will be complaining once the movie comes out
3 years agoby @theboywhocriedsequelFlag
CelluloidDreams
Whoppie....I think the only people who would really ..I mean 'REALLY' care about why William Shatner is not returning to his role of Captain James T. Kirk is the "Star Trek" geeks!!
I'm not a fan of "Star Trek", never have been, never will be...I have seen the "ORGINIAL" "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" from 1979, So it will be interesting to see how the So-Called Redux/Reboot/Re-Make will do!
3 years agoby @2movieguysFlag
The Dark Knight
what Shatner said he was shocked that he wasn't in the movie and this totally disproves it ,someone is lying
3 years agoby @thedarkknight23Flag
Tronticon
Oh my.....
Oh my.....
It was fun!!!!!
Or maybe it was the other way around!!!.. LOL Whatever.. I'm excited to see this new Star Trek!!!
I just remembered.. Shatner can come back... There is an echo of him trapped in the Nexus I'm sure!!! Whoopi's explains this in Generations (I think)
3 years agoby @tronticonFlag
The Kwisatz Haderach
I think this has potential with abrams directing. Star Trek always had potential to be really cool, it just got lame, reall really lame. I still like the old movies with Shatner and crew. so Im hoping this will be pretty cool.
3 years agoby @the-kwisatz-haderachFlag
T.Clark
I can't wait for abrams' "Fringe" tonight. Been gettin a lot of buzz
3 years agoby @insertusernamehereFlag
The Narrator: The Better Man
Way to go J.J. Show those whining bitches!!!
Still iffy bout this, but it's comin along good I hear.
3 years agoby @narratorFlag