William Shatner has a message for J.J. Abrams

Bill Shatner sat down for coffee with the Hero Complex a few days ago and made it clear that he feels left out because he wasn't invited to be in the new "Star Trek" film. So I was surprised when I read this quote from J.J. Abrams, the director of the new film, who was asked about Shatner's ire during an interview with AMC.com.

"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."

This quote got back to Shatner and he has responded via video in an interview with his daughter, Elizabeth:

Clearly, Shatner is smiling through gritted teeth. He's trying to chide Abrams but also sweet-talk the director into finding a last-minute spot for him in the film. I don't think it's going to happen (principal photography was completed in March) and it's going to be an awkward situation for Abrams, who certainly doesn't really need a 77-year-old Shatner in a film that follows young Kirk and his crew in their earliest adventures when they are fresh from Starfleet Academy.

-- Geoff Boucher

July 2008 photo of J.J. Abrams by Dan Steinberg/Associated Press

Comments

[Patrick - Hemet, CA]

J.J., Bring him back for at least a small cameo. He's an icon and a wonderful person that deserves no less. You can do it without jepordizing the direction of your film.

[Khhhhaaannnnn!]

Bill! Come on now. This film isn't big enough for you AND Nimoy. JJ will get around to you, even if, by that time, your molecules have to go through that scrambler doohickey and they pull the lever on the right to get you going again.

[Mike]

Well, his character died on screen. Maybe a smarter group of filmmakers could have figured out how to resolve that.">>

Answer:

Parallel Universe theme. It would have been no problem to have figured out that in the movie in which he died that movie actually took place in a parallel universe.

The other idea would be that the movie in which he died actually took place in a time warp and that the Enterprise crew now needed to go back and correct that time travel error and once they did Kirk would be still be alive.

Get with Abrams. You are copping out.

[relm]

I LOVE Captain Kirk, I also love William Shatner and I love J.J. Abrams. The bottom line is, the writer felt it would be a disservice to the story being told to just "stick in" a scene where it feels contrived. That is a completely reasonable answer and well within the storyteller's rights. I suppose it would have been nice if Shatner was at least asked, but how would he have felt if the scene was edited out? He would have been just as upset. Ultimately, I believe we've not seen the last of Captain Kirk but its great that Abrams has such high standards and constantly questions "is this the best for the project"? His record speaks for itself and his process doesn't need any adjusting.

[Carlos]

It's too bad Shatner won't be in the movie, but what Shatner doesn't get is that people loved Capt. Kirk of the 1960s show and the Capt. Kirk of the 80s movies. And to see Shatner now as Kirk in a leading role in the movie would be ludicrous. Shatner should enjoy his emmys and his big fat paydays from Boston Legal and chill.

[Andrew]

It's the 21st century. TOS was mid 20th century. Shatner needs to move on and leave the new generations to go bolder where no others have gone before.

[John Johnson]

When Kirk dies in "Star Trek: Generations" the last words he utters are "Oh my." I thought the clear implication there was that he was seeing something beyond his death. Maybe the after-life-- the bright light at the end of the tunnel-- or something else totally unexpected. It could have been a residual effect of being in the Nexus. Who knows? Whatever the case, Shatner is dead right. There are numerous ways that the Kirk character could have been brought back in this new film, and the film won't be as good as it could have been because he's not in it.

[Richard Blaine]

It would have been entirely appropriate to have Shatner do a cameo in the new film. After all, to a large degree, he and Nimoy were Star Trek. Abrams is not a fan of the television series. He's just another unremarkable, strictly by-the-numbers Hollywood director (think Brett Ratner, Peter Segal) helming a big-budget movie geared to a contemporary audience which, admittedly, would be hard-pressed to define the word Vulcan. And even if he is directing a reboot of a pop culture legend, unfortunately geek cameos are the last thing on this guy's mind.

[rich]

uh, isn't hollywood built around the concept of bringing anything back to the screen......i think that is shatner's point, he was saying even shatner was able to do it in his book (granted a stupid way), i think he was just pointed out, any bozo with half a drink can write a way to bring a character back......let alone a JJ Abrams.

[Brion]

William Shatner has become a parody of himself, or in other words, A Joke. With a huge ego. He did it to himself by prostituting himself to any cause or product with cash in hand. Like Gary Coleman, he cannnot be taken seriously. JJ is a seriously talented person with a normal mans ego. I've met them both. No question about who I would want to have a conversation with. JJ brings a freshness and new perspective to the Star Trek Franchise which was well needed. I'm sure William Shatner thinks that he should have Directed this one also, and written it. He just wants the glow of the limelight. JJ just wants to entertain.

[Bradley]

I actually find the fact that we have to revisit Kirk and the gang again in a movie very annoying. The Next Generation crew was left with a horrible film. TNG revived the whole Star Trek franchise and was instrumental in making Sci Fi into the credible genre it is today. I'm not discounting the original ST, they were indeed ground breaking, but why... why do we have to go backwards?

[katywon]

The Shatner video is very funny and very real. I enjoyed that more than if he had a small cameo in the movie. He knows who he is..

[C Henderson]

I am not a Trekkie at all, but I did watch the show as a kid, and will stop and watch if I'm flipping. But understand this, for the film to be a box office hit, it will need more then the convention goers and die-hards. Simply stated, Mr. Shatner and Mr. Nimoy ARE Star Trek to fans like me. There really is no film without them involved in some capacity. .

[DaveK]

Trust me Bill. You don't want to be anywhere near this stinker. If Paramount wanted to do Star Trek right, they would have hired a real movie director and an A-list cast. Instead, they want to do Star Trek on the cheap (and then they complain when the box office tanks).

[Bo Zobrane]

One Cameo of Shatner as Old Kirk will drive the crowds WILD!
LET HIM IN! LET HIM IN! LET HIM IN! LET HIM IN!

[mstruk13]

He should have absolutely been the one to say "Space the final Frontier...." at the end of the film instead of Lenord Nimoy. That would have been sort of a cameo and it would have tied it into The original Star Trek TV series.