ROTTEN TOMATOES: Shatner Upset Over Star Trek Exclusion

Shatner Upset Over Star Trek Exclusion

"Abraaaaaaamms!"

by Alex Vo | October 27, 2007

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It appears the friendly rivalry between William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy is going to extend beyond Priceline commercials. While Nimoy is reprising his role as Spock in the Star Trek reboot, Shatner has not been invited back to play Captain Kirk and he's feeling the sting of being the odd man out.

''I couldn't believe it. I'm not in the movie at all," Shatner reportedly said on Thursday. "I thought, what a decision to make, since it obviously is a decision not to make use of the popularity I have to ensure the movie has good box office. It didn't seem to be a wise business decision.''

Shatner met with Star Trek director J.J. Abrams several times to discuss the film, but ultimately nothing came out of it.

"Leonard, God bless his heart, is in, but not me," Shatner said, ''Having been in on the creation of it, I was hoping to be in on the re-creation.''

Plot details remain closely guarded for the eleventh Star Trek movie. Casting news, on the other hand, spills out from Paramount frequently, including Zachary Quinto as young Spock, and Chris Pine as lord of the Enterprise manor, Captain Kirk.

Star Trek is scheduled for a Christmas 2008 release.

Source: Associated Press

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(1-20 of 38 posts) | Reply

Bardego writes:
on Oct 27 2007 06:50 PM

That sucks. Oh well, at least he can still fall back on Danny Crane. Nimoy pretty much has nothing else.

(Reply to this)

thereign writes:
on Oct 27 2007 07:26 PM

Actually, Nimoy has his very successful photography to fall back on, along with enough money to never have to work again unless he chooses to. Unlike Shatner, he didn't go through 3 or 4 divorces and have to keep working just to pay off all his alimony.

(Reply to this)

Drunken Mastermind writes:
on Oct 27 2007 07:46 PM

wow,that sucks that the guy who made the show famous isn't in the movie.

(Reply to this)

alohajoe1007 writes:
on Oct 27 2007 07:54 PM

I too think this sucks. Wanna bet they didn't hire him because of his weight?

(Reply to this)

See-Jay 420 writes:
on Oct 27 2007 08:01 PM

In reply to this comment (#1228357)
That's exactly what I was thinking.

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Now it's dark writes:
on Oct 27 2007 08:03 PM

I agree with Shatner. As a life long Trekker, I will boycott this film.

(Reply to this)

JackHorner1979 writes:
on Oct 27 2007 08:07 PM

I don't get these fools. They complain most there lives about being type cast and always approached to do nothing more than Star Trek follow ups and the second they get their wish and are excluded from Star Trek, they cry and whine.

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lameboy writes:
on Oct 27 2007 08:23 PM

its even worse jack, so not only are they now typecast, they don't even get the benefit of being typecast and being put in a movie!

(Reply to this)

~Spirit-of~ writes:
on Oct 27 2007 08:31 PM

I can't assume to know the plot, but perhaps the Nimoy section(s) of the film take place somewhere near the end of Spock's life, long after Kirk and the crew have passed on.

Shoehorning Shatner into the movie just because he's whining about it, isn't going to make the movie better. I think I'd rather give JJ a pat on the back for having a vision and story, and not compromising it for the sake of one actor's over inflated ego.

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Daniel Aaron writes:
on Oct 27 2007 09:30 PM

mabey they can give him a cameo in star fleet command who knows im just wondering if abrams can pull it off MI 3 was lame

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Bardego writes:
on Oct 28 2007 12:25 AM

In reply to this comment (#1228293)
thereign: True, Nimoy is probably more financially secure than Shatner. But in terms of fame and recognition, what can Leonard claim fame to other than Spock?

(Reply to this)

TheAnswerMVP2001 writes:
on Oct 28 2007 01:07 AM

This film is going to be total crap anyways, I'm really surprised Nimoy wanted anything to do with it...well I guess he has nothing else to do. At least Shatner has built himself a career after Star Trek. Frankly I think Shatner is better off, this film is going to be so horrible, I'd hate to see him be a part of it, it's a total disgrace to the series. I'd rather watch a film with the crew from the Enterprise series than watch a bunch of teenagers try to recreate science fiction history. Once again shame on you Abrams, I'd rather see Trek left alone than be resurrected this way!

(Reply to this)

Segkee writes:
on Oct 28 2007 01:28 AM

Actually, never heard of Shatner worried about being type-cast. Didn't he write a series of sci-fi books to go along with his convention visits?

(Reply to this)

Zax writes:
on Oct 28 2007 04:22 AM

Kirk is dead in Generations. Obviously the parts with Nimoy in it take place after Generations.

It's logical.

*rimshot*

(Reply to this)

jasperoosterveld writes:
on Oct 28 2007 05:25 AM

So after Generation everybody died except spock? Why wasent he in that movie?

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RottenRob writes:
on Oct 28 2007 08:25 AM

In reply to this comment (#1228446)
Amen. Seems stupid to me to stick him in just because.

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Conehead2187 writes:
on Oct 28 2007 08:29 AM

Well, with the way the plot unfolded in Generations, it doesn't seem possible that (Shatner's) Kirk could have a role of any kind...unless they went into the Nexus, which would just be kind of lame. And you didn't see Nimoy complaining about not being included in that movie, either.

(Reply to this)

lostharvestmovie writes:
on Oct 28 2007 08:42 AM

tek wars, right? and tj hooker! the guy is a creative genius!

(Reply to this)

scarh791 writes:
on Oct 28 2007 08:58 AM

It actually is pretty unfair to Shatner. Nimoy isn't playing Spock, he just has a cameo with a wink and a nod. Why give one to him and not to Shatner when that one would get the biggest "up, there he is" chuckle from the audience?

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donovan675 writes:
on Oct 28 2007 09:40 AM

I don't know what Shatner is complaining about. If I'm not mistaken, Nimoy was not asked to be in Star Trek Generations and Shatner was. Don't remember Nimoy bitching about that. Furthermore, Kirk died in Star Trek Generations. Not sure of the timeline of the new film or if Nimoy is actually reprising his iconic role but Kirk being dead might be a pretty good reason for Shatner's abscence. I guess they could create a fat *** Kirk clone as a subplot but really, how bad would that suck. It...was...fun.

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