New Star Trek To Boldly Go Without Shatner

(AP)  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 theaters in December 2008. But while Shatner said he had a couple of meetings with Abrams, nothing came of it.

Abrams' "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' new movie.

"I've got a lot to do," said 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."

[cinpdx]

I will boycott the new Star Trek movie. Simple, Shatner was crucial to the original Star Trek's success. I enjoy his acting and his humor.

I'm disappointed that forgettable actors were included and William Shatner was excluded from the new Star Trek movie. I guess there must have been the fear that William Shatner would steal the spotlight.
Makes sense, still, I feal like I am being robbed of that thrill of seeing the original, authentic and most memorable captain of the USS Enterprise.

Yep, I may pay a dollar at the red box, that is it.

[keithle1]

Does obsession with "Star Trek" have an end?

[badmofojim]

Guess i will have to pirate it. No Shatner, No Money.

STUPID HOLLYWOOD

[cool_l]

The friendship of Spock and Kirk was made legendary from the first 3 Star Trek motion pictures. Kirk is the Lone Ranger and Spock is Tonto. The two old friends should be recounting their tales of youth together. Kirk stole the Enterprise to rescue Spock from death. Leonard Nimoy should demand that Shatner have partnership in this movie. As a life long Star Trek fan, to have any of the surviving cast appearing in the film would be much appreciated. Shatner has continued to uphold the Star Trek legacy by writing books that have been on the best sellers list. Star Trek is part of Shatners soul and the chemistry that has evovled on screen between him and Nimoy is one of the most charming aspects of Star Trek. Kirk MUST be in this possibly last movie. It just wouldn''t be right. "LIVE LONG AND PROSPER." (Life Long Star Trek fan)

[cathysw]

If they are making another Star Trek movie, about the same people and subjects as in the other Star Trek movies, they should have the same characters in the movie. Well, they do have the same characters in the movie--all at least 30 years younger than the original characters are now.

So, they did the logical thing by hiring new actors to play the roles of the younger crew. Of necessity, this leaves out the older actors. Unless they play the part of close relatives who are in the ancestral lineup. That may be the only logical action for the director. There can be no other role for those people to play. Those parts may not fit into the storyline.
Cathysw

[mediapreachr]

Thank you Lord,
I had enough of this guy.He should stick to his Priceline routine.

[tnt1954]

my favorite all-time star trek episode was
''gary seven'' with robert lansing as gary seven
and teri garr as ''the secretary''. secret
agent roams universes, saving planets from
themselves, with super high-tech cat. also
i think william shatner''s best role was in
''judgement at nuremberg''. as i recall he
portrayed the american prosecutor. if time
travel is real, it has already been invented.
i feel the first person to travel through time
was rod taylor in ''the time machine'' in 1906.
when the us dept. of justice was founded. the
pirate universe star trek was a second favorite.
sire, we''ve slipped over. and the one about
the guy who keeps reality glued together through
self-sacrifice. a jekyll and hyde cancellation.

[tnt1954]

will be it be filmed ''on location'' in another
galaxy? space cadets win again.

[scottyusa]

Say it ain''t true

[oletafive]

Shattner wants to be in it. Nemoy is in it. Where are the other surviving originals? They should all be given a spot. Maybe we originals out here aren''t enough and the young have truly taken over.