at 16:02 on October 26, 2007, EDT.
By David Germain, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS


Canadian William Shatner. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS/Rene Macura, file


LOS ANGELES - The original Capt. Kirk is disheartened he won't get to boldly go anywhere with his old pal Spock in the new "Star Trek" movie.

While Leonard Nimoy is reprising his role as the pointy-eared Vulcan in next year's science-fiction flick, William Shatner is not on board as Kirk.

"I couldn't believe it. I'm not in the movie at all. Leonard, God bless his heart, is in, but not me," Shatner, 76, told The Associated Press 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."

Director J.J. Abrams announced last summer that Nimoy would reprise the role he originated opposite Shatner in the 1960s television show and played again in six big-screen adventures.

Abrams said Shatner probably would have a part in the film, which is due in theatres in December 2008. But while Shatner said he had a couple of meetings with Abrams, nothing came of it.

Abrams's "Trek" film, whose plot is being kept under wraps by distributor Paramount, recounts an early adventure for the crew of the starship Enterprise, with Chris Pines as the young Kirk and Zachary Quinto as the young Spock.

The cast includes Karl Urban as Dr. McCoy, Simon Pegg as engineer Scott, John Cho as helmsman Sulu, Zoe Saldana as communications officer Uhura and Anton Yelchin as navigator Chekov, roles respectively originated by DeForest Kelley, James Doohan, George Takei, Nichelle Nichols and Walter Koenig.

Past "Trek" films presented an obstacle to the revival of Shatner's Kirk, who died at the end of 1994's "Star Trek: Generations."

But in science fiction, you can never truly say die. Spock was killed off in 1982's "Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan" then resurrected in 1984's "Star Trek: The Search for Spock," with Nimoy's Vulcan living on to co-star in three more films, two episodes of "Star Trek: The Next Generation" and now Abrams's new movie.

"I've got a lot to do," said the Montreal-born Shatner, whose current work includes the TV show "Boston Legal," narration for the Christmas spoof "Stalking Santa" due on DVD on Nov. 6, and the prequel "Star Trek: Academy - Collision Course," a novel chronicling Kirk and Spock's first meeting.

Shatner says of "Star Trek": "Having been in on the creation of it, I was hoping to be in on the re-creation."


©The Canadian Press, 2007

Gonna be totally honest here.

Who Gives A RATS ass bout a totally new Star Trek movie????

The original fans want to see the original cast, and that aint happening.

the ST:TNG fans doesn't really care bout what happened to young kirk, spock, and the rest.

Plus throw in the notion that this movie is a flashback episode of wet behind the ears, no matter how pointy, enterprise crew just doesn't seem all that interesting.

I think the whole idea is just stupid and paramount just brought JJ in while he was considered "HOT" now that Lost is on its way of imploding everyone is running scared. Cause if paramount thought they had a decent concept you wouldnt be hearing bout William Shatner NOT being in the movie.

Gene is not rolling, he's spinning so fast his coffin is catching fire.

Come on beam SHATNER on board!!!!!

It would be sad if Shatner never ended up on the movie at all.

That being said it just ain't the same without the original cast members, especially those that have passed on

[Beam me up Scotty edit]

Apparently, in the future when there are two types of human species, there is no room for. humans. who. talk. in. melodramatic. punctuated. enunciation. or. who. wear. toupees.

ThreadBare said:

ThreadBare said:

Well, I may be a sci-fi filmnerd, but for some reason, Star Trek never really caught my interest. I think maybe they talk too much. Not enough action.

lazycrockett said:

I´m not a Star Trek fan either but I think if they let Nimoy play a part, Shatner should get to play a part too. But I agree with you that this is a terrible idea to begin with.

Why is Lost imploding ? What do you mean ?

ThreadBare said:

lazycrockett said:

The millions of Star Trek fans WILL see this movie. What are they gonna watch Michael Clayton?????

kpowers said:

please after the horrid and box office bust of Nemesis then add the mediocre at best Enterprise series, the fans had already jumped ship. Rick Berman destroyed this franchises and as long as he has any hand in it, the series will suffer.

luv4u said:

It just ain't the same...

Karl Urban as McCoy?

What a strange choice.

lazycrockett said:

Yes millions were still watching those you mentioned.

lazycrockett said:

while I admit that Nemesis was truly boring like shit, Enterprise was flying circles around Voyager and DS9, catching a bit of the old spirit again AND having some great storylines, harmonizing it with the old timeline and episodes. brilliant. a shame it got dumped

George Lucas could learn from it how to produce non-sucking prequels,

MrSmoketoomuch said:

Nemesis was ok, like an average episode. Well I don't know if Enterprise was flying circles around Voyager and DS9 (I like ALL 3 shows here by the way). First season of Enterprise seems like they were lost. Season 2 was the worse season of any Star Trek show, boring watching Scott Backula getting captured 8 times in a season. Season 3 was good but should have been more like season 4 (which is what the show was supposed to be about).

I never understood that Voyager show. It was very... ponderous.

they'll sex it up. Slash fiction style.

actually, they will probably re-imagine it with some modern appeal. Kind like how Lord of the Rings got treated by those New Zealanders after the much hyped 70's Bakshi flop.

kpowers said:

I like Voyager and DS 9 as well, don't get me wrong. and yes, Enterprise season 4 was surely the best, but remember that it took ST:TNG also three seasons to actually "warm up" and get their feet off the ground with season 4 and upwards

there was much potential in Enterprise, it's a shame it got wasted

I think they should re-make TJ Hooker

MrSmoketoomuch said:

I thought only season 1 TNG was slow, and got even better once wesly crusher left.

jami0mckay said:

Dam. love that show. Shatner as a cop....YES!!!!!