ROTTEN TOMATOES: Shatner Cameo in Star Trek XI Still a Possibility Comments

Shatner Cameo in Star Trek XI Still a Possibility

by Jeff Giles | December 18, 2007

Summary

William Shatner hasn't exactly been shy about expressing his disappointment over not being included in next year's Star Trek XI -- but, as it turns out, his protests may have been premature. Back to Article

(1-23 of 23 posts) | Reply

dahluzz writes:
on Dec 18 2007 06:40 AM

bring on the negotiator! but be sure to give him a scene where he can do some serious karate chopping... of high prices on space travel.

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citizenjames writes:
on Dec 18 2007 06:43 AM

screw bill shatner. everybody agreed they were done with STAR TREK VI with the fitting peter pan ending and everyone signing their names and shatner comes back anyway for the TREK GENERATIONS just to get killed off (lamely). shatner is that guy you went to high school with who had no trouble getting girls and when one is interested in you, he has to shoehorn his way into her, too. he did this the entire run of the series and he's been doing it ever since.

as for those who think it's sacriledge to have another kirk understand this: shatner is not kirk. pine is not kirk. kirk is bigger than the both of them. sean connery may always be the best bond but he should never be the only bond. tarzan is bigger than weismuller and superman is bigger than alyn, reeve, reeves, cain and routh put together.

if the new TREK sucks then people will forget about it like the last two lone ranger attempts but they shouldn't be shunned for the effort.

like BATMAN BEGINS or SUPERMAN THE MOVIE you might get something better.

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reavus4983 writes:
on Dec 18 2007 06:44 AM

William Shatner should karate chop Chris Pine. And then perform the double-fisted downward punch. Over and over again. And then take over the Enterprise. I'd pay 10 bucks for that... I'd pay 10 bucks for anything with William Shatner.

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reavus4983 writes:
on Dec 18 2007 06:59 AM

In reply to this comment (#1370426)
Somebody had issues in high school.... anyway, Shatner is Kirk. Pine might end up being a good Kirk, but unlike Sean Connery with Bond, Kirk was created by Shatner. Kirk is Shatner's character, Bond isn't Connery's. Bond was written before Connery and Connery wasn't even an accurate Bond based on the books. Everybody needs to stop comparing Bond castings to every other replacement casting.

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frogleg writes:
on Dec 18 2007 07:10 AM

It actually sounds to me like the quotes in the above article are saying "we'd do it if it wasn't such a retarded idea". I doubt you see him. But that's OK. This is a reboot, with young Kirk. Why would you even cast old Kirk? Maybe as Kirk's dad or something?

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AlbertBrodsky writes:
on Dec 18 2007 07:53 AM

Leave all remnets of the past in the past. Shatner doesn't need to have his ego stroked anymore than it already has. Good points by some others. Connery doesnt' expect to be in the Bond films. Adam West doesn't ask to be in the batman movies. Oh wait, yes he did in 1989, and they didn't do it. Let Shatner do the Lou Ferrigno thing like in the last Hulk flop. He can walk by the camera as an extra. No lines for that old has been.

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nycaedis writes:
on Dec 18 2007 08:44 AM

What exactly is the canon problem here? Obviously, all of the original cast cameos are going to involve some aspect of time travel. So... travel to a time BEFORE Kirk dies. Why is this complicated?

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AlbertBrodsky writes:
on Dec 18 2007 09:01 AM

In reply to this comment (#1370451)
I can't believe I'm going to ask this, since I hate star trek, but... didn't Gene Roddenberry create Kirk? Honestly, I don't know.

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AlbertBrodsky writes:
on Dec 18 2007 09:10 AM

In reply to this comment (#1370451)
I can't believe I'm going to ask this, since I hate star trek, but... didn't Gene Roddenberry create Kirk? Honestly, I don't know.

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Astr0creep writes:
on Dec 18 2007 09:20 AM

I'd picture Shatner in Kirk's goofy father. But it depends on the script. I mean, are they going for a time travelling adventure?

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reavus4983 writes:
on Dec 18 2007 10:08 AM

In reply to this comment (#1370731)
Yes, Roddenberry created the character, I wasn't being completely literal. But it became what it is because of Shatner. It wasn't like some pre-existing character that Shatner happened to take the role of like Bond or Batman. Kirk was based around Shatner and vise-versa. Same idea as Harrison Ford as Indy; Harrison Ford made Indy what it is. There is little difference between Ford as Indy and Shatner as Kirk other than the fan base, which still isn't even all that different. I'm happy about Chris Pine as the choice, but nobody could ever replace Shatner's Kirk in most Trekkies' minds. Pine will just have to do if we want Star Trek back at all. And also, anybody who calls Shatner a "has been" clearly hasn't been keeping up with the television times nor has seen Boston Legal which, with Denny Crane, is easily Shatner's biggest acting achievement.

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drawsmalls writes:
on Dec 18 2007 10:15 AM

I say Shat's time in space is over. Besides, he has airplane and hotel tickets to sell right?

So has there been any word on what the Enterprise will look like? Will the reboot include a redesign of the ship or will we be treated to a wonderous new digitized frisbee and paper towel roll space cruiser?

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rgallitan writes:
on Dec 18 2007 11:20 AM

I'm gonna have to more or less back up reavus4983 here. Doesn't mean I care if Shatner's in the movie, but... Shatner IS Kirk. Pine is playing Kirk. See the difference? Same goes for that Quinto punk, btw.

As for your question, nycaedis, the idea of simply time traveling to a moment BEFORE Kirk dies is not a terrible idea -- until you consider how you are going to get modern day Jabba-the-Shatner to look anything like the Kirk from the movies.

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iakobos writes:
on Dec 18 2007 11:36 AM

Ahh, just write in a scene between James Kirk and his dear old dad who happens to be Shatner and all will be well.

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TombstoneLawDog writes:
on Dec 18 2007 11:59 AM

I agree with most of what was written here, especially the part about them realizing that adding Kirk would likely be 'retarded' (quote to Frogleg). I'm just kind of annoyed that Shatner doesn't even have the grace to say "Hey, look- I had my run. I see what you're doing and I wish you all the best with the character."

THAT's what a non-ego-maniac would do, anyway. It's not like suddenly people are going to *forget* that he made Kirk into the icon he was. I think it's even more pathetic because he DOES have an entire other acting identity-- it's not like he needs Trek to stay in the public eye.

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punktuate writes:
on Dec 18 2007 12:11 PM

have him in make-up as a different character in the Federation like when Worf played a random Klingon Lawyer for Kirk in #6 (think it was 6?) that way he's in it.....he doesn't have to play Kirk for %$^#'s sake if that is what Shatner wants....the writers to change the whole script just to fit him in for a cameo i'd tell him to book a flight to a hotel in kiss my *** Arkansas!

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detroit666 writes:
on Dec 18 2007 12:40 PM

KIRK.........IS..........ALIVE??????????

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

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South Texas Terror writes:
on Dec 18 2007 03:14 PM

I think reavus wants to time travel back to when Shatty was cool. Shat is a joke and a loser if he thinks he can slime his way into this movie. You think his chopping of travel discounts is bad, he does commercials for local law firms where I live, and its a small market.

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reavus4983 writes:
on Dec 18 2007 04:25 PM

Shatner is still cool. Watch Boston Legal and be stupified by Denny Crane.

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OneWayFilms writes:
on Dec 18 2007 08:13 PM

I just thought of a logical way they can have Shatner do a cameo in the new Star Trek, and STILL have it fit nicely with his previous death.

Since we alrady know Nemoy will reprise Spock, how about openning the movie on a scene where Spock enters a room, like the Captains Quarters aboard the Enterprise, and finds Kirk sitting in a recliner, or near a portal looking out at the stars.

They greet each other as old friends reuniting after a long seperation. Spock sits with him and they talk briefly about the old days together. Then Spock tells Jim how he's missed him and since he died, things have changed. Kirk listens quietly and calmly and suddenly, their conversation is interrupted by a voice on the computer, requesting Spocks presence elsewhere. Spock says goodby to Kirk and ends the conversation with "Computer Out." Everything in the room, including Kirk disappears, revealing that it was all a hologram in the holodeck.

Then, let the story begin.

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TombstoneLawDog writes:
on Dec 19 2007 06:30 AM

In reply to this comment (#1372257)
On prinicipal, I say keep Shatner out (see previous comments) but I gotta say, OneWay's got a pretty decent compromise idea going there. Kudos, man.

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OneWayFilms writes:
on Dec 19 2007 06:47 AM

Thank you, it seems to be the only logical way to bring him in and not compromise the continuiety.

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magriffen writes:
on Jan 07 2008 04:29 PM

If you read the books, especially the one by william shatner himself, called The Return. Kirk is actually not dead. he was until he was reanimated by the borg and brought back to life and by the end of the book when you think kirk dies again he doesnt. its like he is with the prophets with capt sisko. that could be one way to bring him back

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