Open Forum Friday: Did William Shatner Get the Shaft in Star Trek?

Posted by on May 8th, 2009   Filed under: Open Forum Friday

openforumshatnershaft

As many people are no doubt aware, J.J. Abrams’s Star Trek is a prequel of sorts, going back in time to tell the tale of the young Enterprise crew members as they make the transition from Starfleet Academy to active service. However, despite the fact that they wanted to reinvent the franchise and distance it from all the previous movies and TV shows, the new movie still has one major connection to the past: Leonard Nimoy. While his role makes sense due to the story’s focus on the Romulans and Vulcans, I’m sure a lot of people who will see the movie are going to ask, where was William Shatner?

During development of the film, there were a lot of rumours saying that Shatner was pretty angry about being left out. I guess that’s understandable, but I’m wondering if J.J. Abrams had a good reason for not writing him into the movie. It’s true that Kirk died in Star Trek: Generations, so based on the original timeline, it wouldn’t really make sense. On the other hand, if they really wanted him there, I’m sure they could have made it happen since the back story isn’t really fleshed out (aside from the Star Trek Countdown comic). It’s interesting to note that Spock was not in Generations, so maybe they felt it was only fair to give the role to Nimoy this time around. Then again, maybe they just didn’t want Shatner and his ego to overshadow the whole movie. What do you think? Should they have included Shatner in the reboot somehow, or would it have been out of place? Does the inclusion of Nimoy add to the authenticity, or does it work against the idea of a reboot? Give us your thoughts here on Open Forum Friday.



  • Garcia

    Why is Abrams obligated to include any of these old actors into the new movie? He’s not. Plus, it’s pretty well known that Shattner is a world class cocksucker while Nimoy is a pretty decent guy. Why would anyone want to deal with such a egotist uberdouche?

  • John

    “During development of the film, there were a lot of rumours saying that Shatner was pretty angry about being left out.”

    There ya’ go! Shatner really doesn’t give a rat’s ass. I mean, really. He said over and over at all those conventions that he just wanted to put an end to Kirk, so he killed him off. Finito. OTOH, Spock will never die. He is like a cockroach with pointy ears and logic. Buzz Buzz Buzz. Look at me! I’m in another movie. I can travel through time! I’m logical!

  • 1138

    Personally I would have preferred none of them being in the prequel. It’s a reboot so make it a reboot. if you want to cast them as different characters that’s cool, sort of like Richard Hatch did on the new BSG.

  • Maarten

    Why is everyone always searching for what is wrong with a movie, in stead of just giving the director a pad on the shoulder for their work… Because that is what Abrams deserves at least… I am somewhat of a purist concerning the series, but movies always have been a bit different… And what Abrams did, is show everyone that it still a lot of fun to watch ‘Star Trek according to Abrams’… I am sold.. :)
    Oh, and I’m the kind of guy that would like seeing Shatner in his old roll… I don’t care wether or not he is arrogant in real life, I don’t know if he is…

  • I think it was a good idea just to have older Spock. Leonard Nimoy brought great grace to his scenes which were an important part of the story. His role was no cameo as he had alot of screen time. I really enjoyed the film but almost wanted more. I guess that is a good thing as the sequels have tremendous possibities. This cast was very solid and had real good chemistry.

    chuck

  • mark winston

    Shatner made Star Trek…..he was the Main force behind it and without him there would be no Star Trek today…lets not kid ourselves….he was made for the role!

  • WolfMan

    The comments about who’s an asshole and who isnt and who said what and who is this religion come on people. Do you study every characters real life to see if you would like them in person or not and then void their movie because of something you heard. Who cares and if we could get past this junk and judge only on what actors do on screen man isnt that really what its about. Its not like you have a chance at being their friends so how\why can you judge them not knowing these people in person. Lets rid the world of supermarket gossip magazines and crap ET type shows and just enjoy the movies. Yikes and cheers to the new chapter no matter who they cameo…

  • Eric Barkley

    I’m something of a stickler of the old addage if it ain’t broke don’t fix it. I agree that who cares what a person is or isn’t like, it’s their work that counts. And for me Abrams and the writers didn’t do enough homework, especially in the makeup department when dealing with the Klingons and the Romulans. Neither this movie nor the Scott Bakula series portrayed those aliens as they should have appeared in a prequel to the original series. As all fans of the Kirk/Spock show know, bothe the Klingons and Romulans were not as heavily made as in the movies and subsequent tv shows. And that for me kills the film. And when one is used to certain actors playing certain characters it is hard to see other actors portraying the said characters. My question for Mr. Abrams is if you invited Mr. Nimoy why not the whole surviving cast. It’s the only polite thing to do. I mean they did ask Majel Barrett to do the computer voice for the movie. By the way when did she die?

  • Ian

    We just did our Futile podcast about this one. We agreed that connecting this movie to the existing Star Trek cannon was probably something they needed to do, so as to speed through the origin of the characters but that it was kind of “gut-less”. I’d say including Shatner would have been superfluous at best. Maybe next time around if they can come up with a story that supports it and he’s still alive.

  • Having seen Star Trek (2009), I think it is as it should be. Nero’s intervention changing the timeline from the moment of Kirk’s birth (for starters) makes it almost an anything goes while still allowing us to see a couple of moments we’ve only head about. Nimoy neatly fits into the well-focused story. A Shatner scene would have been a tangent. His imprint is there in subtle nods via Chris Pine. Apparently Shatner brought Kirk back in a novel he wrote using the stored transporter data. But even then, years have passed for the actor since Generations.

    Is he a jerk? The stuff about George Takai’s wedding loses him some sympathy, but even then it is likely he is self-involved. He is friends with Nimoy, whom he may could as a character reference. Soft-ball interviews by his daughter notwithstanding. But he does make fun of his ego in Third Rock, Free Enterprise, and Fanboys to name a few. I think more is made of Shatner’s “feeling left out” than actually exists.

  • Jim D

    Too much is being made of Shatner’s absence from this film. Nimoy had a chance to be in Generations but declined because his character would have been basically irrelevant to the overall film (as Checkov was in Generations), whereas Shatner was pivotal to the storyline. Besides, you cannot remove the past from Star Trek any more than you can remove smile from the Mona Lisa. Any spinoff or reboot in this case benefits greatly from acknowledging the past. Dr McCoy in The Next Generation? Don’t tell me you didn’t enjoy that! The fact that Nimoy was in it at all made more people see the movie who otherwise would not have. JJ Abrahms did a bold thing in bringing in Nimoy. And, yes, it was the right thing!

  • Bob The Slob

    He COULDN’T be in the film…they were staying true to continuity…abrams even said that…Kirk dies in Generations which happens BEFORE Romulus is destroyed. END. OF. STORY.

    If anything it is cool they were that worried about not conflicting with continuity. In many ways it’s more respectful to the character of kirk.

  • Air Dock

    For all of you out there looking for reasons why Old Kirk wasn’t included, there are two:

    1. He died in Generations. Dead and buried, before Romulus is destroyed.

    2. Spock tells us the the destruction of Romulus takes place 126 years from the ‘now’ of Star Trek 2009. The Enterprise under Kirk was originally a 5 year mission, and young Kirk is in his early 20’s. That would make Kirk, even if he survived Generations, at least 146 years old. Vulcans have a 250 year life span. Would anybody really want to see what ‘old Kirk’ looked like at 140+? Maybe Alzheimers Kirk in a wheelchair?

  • Damndirtyape

    >>Would anybody really want to see what ‘old Kirk’ looked like at 140+? Maybe Alzheimers Kirk in a wheelchair?

    Which begs the question – are we to believe that in the time of Trek mankind will travel to the stars and interact with countless alien spieces yet something like natural human lifespan extension will not exist? Or a cure for Picard’s baldness ;)

    I would expect humans to live well beyond 200 or so with their mastery of genetics and medicine.

  • Maggie Bolton

    just want to know what Spock said at the end of the credits of the new Star Trek movie.
    Thanks,

  • Louis Wap

    Captain Janeway used to use a hollodeck to get advice from great people who had passed on centuries earlier. Spock could have used a primitive hollodeck to talk to Kirk. It could have made for some fun (Denny Crane style) comic relief..

  • cathie_bigissue

    Check out the big issue website. Star Trek director JJ Abrahams and Simon ‘Scotty’ Pegg talk about relaunching the Enterprise:

    http://www.bigissuescotland.com/features/view/57

  • Just FYI to Damndirtyape, Patrick Stewart commented on his baldness when asked why it wasn’t cured in the future. He commented that by then no one cares if you are bald.

    To Eric, who gives a crap about being polite. Make a good movie. Everyone who said that adding Shatner would have been a weak tangent at best are absolutely correct.

    Air dock, spot on.
    cp

  • Susan

    That “death of Kirk” in Generations was idiotic, and it would have been very easy to sci-fi around that one. And wouldn’t have to be all that old looking–they did it with Scotty in TNG.

    If we based our liking of characters on every actor’s perceived personality flaws, we wouldn’t watch any of them! I find it hilarious that Shatner is called an egomaniac. What actor isn’t? At least he has a sense of humor about it.

    They dissed him, and if they do a sequel, they should make it up to him.

  • Robbie

    Having just seen the movie, I think it would have been cool at the very end to have had Shatner and not Nimoy do the “Space, the final frontier….” voiceover. At the end of the movie, Kirk is taking over the Enterprise and it would have been a nice and very subtle gesture…….

  • paulm

    Shatner should have been there too. No question.

  • Anne

    I have just returned home from viewing the new Star Trek movie and although I found it to be a wonderful experience I must say that the absence of William Shatner left an enormous void in both the thread/integrity of the movie… and my heart. He is so much the essence of Capt. Kirk (and such an excellent actor) that the film simply screamed for his presence in some form. That, Mr. Abrams, was the true “Black Hole” you created in your new Star Trek endeavor!!!

  • Stupid people say stupid things, why can’t they get along with each other?

    MicheleN

  • did I just get told off in Klingon?

  • Jake

    Bill Shatner is a notorious egomanic who was never liked by his peers. And this may be why he got snubbed in the new film. He even dissed Star Trek fans telling them to get a life. His mouth is his own worst enemy. The man will go down in history as a B TV star. He passed on studio film contracts or matinee idol status to work for peanuts on TV. He’ll always be a little man of the small screen whose head is too big for his body, his talent and star power. Go retire and play golf, pig head!

  • Jake, you’ve inadvertently answered the question of why Inglourious Basterds and Avatar did poorly at the Oscars. People don’t like egomaniacs like Quentin Tarantino and James Cameron.

    Personally, I don’t have a problem with egomaniacs because I don’t have an inferiority complex like most people do. :-)

  • Bibble Smog Bobble

    Hey Jake,
    Did William Shatner steal your wife of something?
    You are so upset.
    I really think you should have a rest, or get a life.