1/20/08
USA Today interviews Shatner, Abrams regarding Star Trek XI
In USA Today's Celeb Watch, during interviews with Shatner and JJ Abrams regarding the new Star Trek movie, Shatner and Abrams had this to say:
Shatner: "I think they're coming toward the end... they've got another three weeks to hire me...No, I don't think you'll be seeing me, unfortunately. I don't know the reason why."
Abrams: "The only reason Mr. Shatner is not in the movie and Mr. Nimoy is, is that his character died on screen. It was very difficult, and now impossible with the writers strike, it is very difficult to find a way to put him in that didn't feel like we were putting him in just because we were huge fans of his."
The full USA Today article, which mentions BringBackKirk.com, can be found HERE.
1/5/08
Nimoy States Shatner is not in new Star Trek film.
On The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson, Nimoy stated that William Shatner was not in the new Star Trek movie. And it was because his character “was killed off like four movies ago.” When Ferguson noted that he was killed off and brought back, Nimoy replied “I was resurrected immediately, he has been moldering for quite a while.”
More can be found at Trekmovie.com HERE.
12/21/07
Executive Producer Lindelof talks of Shatner and the new Star Trek movie.
In an interview with Hollywood.com, Damon Lindelof, executive producer of the new Star Trek movie, had this to say regarding whether William Shatner will be appearing in the film:
"There are still ongoing talks. We're pretty much exactly where we were with Comic Con ... Look, the reality is Trek was up and running and in existence and iconic before we came so we've been basically invited to the party that these guys have been throwing for the last 40 years, so obviously it would be HUGE if Mr. Shatner wanted to be any part of the franchise. It's a challenge for us, though, because they killed Kirk off ... But hey, it's Trek, anything's possible, right?"
Full article is HERE.
12/19/07
Trekmovie.com states Orci was misquoted by Moviehole
Excerpts from an article by Anthony Pascale at Trekmovie.com:
Over the last few months there have been a lot of stories regarding whether William Shatner will or will not be in the new Star Trek movie. Periodically a report crops up that claims to have the definitive answer one way or another. The latest is a new report at Moviehole claiming ‘final confirmation’ from co-writer and executive producer Roberto Orci that Shatner will not be in the film. However, it appears they have jumped the gun.
Last week at the Paramount WGA Trek event Mr. Orci told TrekMovie.com that nothing has changed on the Shatner front and a decision either way was still possible. The same notion that it was still possible was in his Sci-Fi Magazine interview. In that interview Orci noted that a role for Shatner was still possible but difficult due to Kirk’s death at the end of Generations. Today Orci tells TrekMovie.com that he didn’t tell Moviehole anything different and that there is no change.
Full article is HERE.
12/19/07
Moviehole states Shatner will not be in new Star Trek movie
In an interview with Moviehole.net, Robert Orci, one of the writer/producers of the new Star Trek film, stated:
"Shatner, sadly, killed off Kirk, so it kinda ties our hands."
Full article is HERE.
12/13/07
Orci talks of the struggles of a Shatner cameo in new Star Trek movie
Excerpt from Sci Fi Magazine , in an interview with the new Star Trek movie's writer/producer, Robert Orci:
Orci: "There's two things. One, from our point of view we are still hoping to find a way [to put Shatner in the movie]. Secondly, one of the difficulties that was brought up and discussed with Shatner, when we all met him and pitched him ideas, is that Trek fans are sticklers for their canon. Unfortunately, Shatner's Captain Kirk was killed in Star Trek VII, so the difficulty there is not just ignoring that or explaining it away in an unsatisfactory way merely to get him back in. That is the struggle - the rigors of canon and not phoning it in just to have a cameo. From my point of view, it's a very long shoot, and things can change. It's just whether we can figure it out."
Full interview HERE.
10/19/07
William Shatner claims: No cameo in new Star Trek movie
In his most recent Shatnervision video, William Shatner denies recent rumors from sources such as Hollywood.com that he has been offered a cameo in the newest Star Trek film.
You can see this video HERE!
10/16/07
Ain't It Cool News claims Shatner is in Star Trek XI
From Trekweb:
AICN editor Hercules is claiming to have inside knowledge that William Shatner is in J.J. Abrams upcoming Star Trek prequel movie.
Herc, in a brief post at AICN Readers Talkback message board, told everyone not to believe the hype about Shatner not being in movie.
"By the way." Herc wrote "All publicity about Shatner not playing Old Kirk in the movie is lie. Word to your mother."
In another post, he replied to a skeptical user "I know a whole f#@*& lot about this movie that you do not. Wake up, Trekkie!!!!"
AICN was the first site to post the story about the plotline of the movie involving Romulans and time travel, so we can presume the site seems to have inside sources regarding the Star Trek film.
This information is preliminary, of course, and entirely rumor.
The original report is here.
Special thanks to GustavoLeao!
10/8/07
Star Trek XI executive producer Robert Orci talks about Shatner
Anthony Pascale at TrekMovie.com had an exclusive interview with Star Trek co-writer and executive producer Roberto Orci. Here is a relevant excerpt:
TrekMovie.com: Speaking of captains I have one more casting question which is burning in the minds of many Trekkies…what about Shatner?
Roberto Orci: What J.J. said at Comic-Con [story] is still true. We are actively perusing looking for a way to make a part that is worthy of him and that is not pandering to either his role in Star Trek or to the fans.
Full interview is at TrekMovie.com, HERE.
8/14/07
Since TrekMovie.com first announced Paramount (and MI3) veteran Stratton Leopold was going to be the unit production manager and one of the executive producers for the new Star Trek we have not heard anything from him. He did join the usual Abrams mafia (Orci, Kurtzman, Burke, and Lindelof) on stage at Comic-Con, but he didn’t say a word. Leopold is more of a behind the scenes kind of guy keeping the trains running on time, but he did give his local paper the (The Savannah Morning News) an interview where he dropped an interesting tidbit about Shatner:
Leonard Nimoy will be back as Spock, said Leopold, and studio executives still hope to convince William Shatner to suit up as Captain Kirk one more time.
Keep in mind, this is not a direct quote from Leopold.
Full article with opinions, speculations, and photos at TrekMovie.com HERE.
7/26/07
Abrams States He Still Wants Shatner in Star Trek XI
Excerpts from Anthony Pascale at Trekmovie.com:
Trek panel has just ended…here are the highlights:
Abrams stated: ""We're desperately trying to figure out how to fit Shatner, and it needs to be worthy of him and the movie. So we're on that."
Also, video can be found HERE!
7/23/07
Video: Shatner comments on Star Trek XI.
From GustavoLeao at Trekweb:
In his latest Shatnervision video interview, Star Trek star William Shatner responds to the comments and tabloid reports that he is "furious" at the Star Trek XI producers about not being in the movie. (story)
Shatner revealed that he has ‘known for a while' that he will not be in J.J. Abrams upcoming Star Trek XI movie, and that he in fact called Abrams after the recent rumors were published in the tabloids to tell him he wasn't upset. But Shatner did admit to being ‘disappointed' about not being in the movie.
The full article and video link is a Trekweb.com HERE!
7/22/07
Shatner and Nimoy at New Jersey's Creation Con
Excerpts from Anthony Pascale at Trekmovie.com:
William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy appeared today at a Creation’s New Jersey Star Trek convention. TrekMovie.com received a con report from Ky-Malairn who reports that Nimoy was pestered for details regarding his participation in thenew film, but would only repeat: "As of this time I don’t have a deal to be in the new Star Trek movie."
Nimoy seems to be playing with the ‘legalsm’ of not having a final deal, but as reported earlier it looks likely he has a part in the movie (but things can always change).
[...]
When Shatner appeared he told the audience not to believe Nimoy about the new movie because "he knows everything!." He repeated his story (reported earlier) about how he was not in the new film, but that Nimoy was. He joked with the crowd about not being able to understand why Paramount wanted Nimoy but not him since he was "so popular now." Shatner made it clear he is not in the movie: "I wish I were in it, but I’m not in it…what can I tell you?"
When Nimoy came back on stage Shatner pulled a chair up for him so that he could be questioned about the movie. Shatner (comically) yelled at Nimoy when questioning him about the film, "What’s the plot!? Who does what to who!? I want to know what happens goddamnit! and why arent I in it!?"
UPDATE: Nimoy Told Abrams Shatner should be in it
Doug (aka Frontier - Admin of The Omega Sector) sends in an update. During their joint session Shatner and Nimoy had the following exchange:
Shatner: "Did you tell him [Abrams] you thought I should be in it?"
Nimoy: "Yes, I did. I told Abrams I think it would be much better with you in it."
Shatner: "Good!"
See the full story with YouTube clips at Trekmovie.com HERE.
7/9/07
Shatner says: Nimoy is in Star Trek XI, but I am not.
Excerpts from Anthony Pascale at Trekmovie.com:
In his latest videoblog on Shatnervision, William Shatner discusses the recent rumors about tension between himself and Leonard Nimoy over roles in the new ‘Star Trek’ movie. The Shat makes a joke about the tensions, but also says that Nimoy has a part and he does not.
Transcript (of relevant bit):
Shatner: There is a Star Trek movie and I called Leonard. I said "have you heard" and he said "yes I have," I said "what do you mean?" and he said "I have read the script." I said "Is it a good script?" and he said "ya." I said "am I in it?" and then there was a pause, he said "no" and then he began to laugh. I went through the…I grabbed him by the throat. He’s in it and I’m not in it!
The rest of the article is HERE.
Looks like we may have our answer as to whether Shatner will be in Star Trek XI. Paramount hasn't given an official comment on this yet. Stay tuned!
6/28/07
Star Trek XI screenwriters want Shatner and Nimoy in the film
From Trekweb:
MTV posted an exclusive interview with Star Trek XI screenwriters Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman. Here are few excerpts from the article. [...]
There is the possibility of a return from legendary TOS stars William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy, who the writers say they "had a meeting with, just to express our admiration and promise that we would treat ['Trek'] with reverence."
But according to rumors, Shatner is reportedly upset that only Nimoy will get a cameo.
"We were very surprised about that," Kurtzman said.
"We're certainly hoping to include him in the shoot," Orci added. "Because we have nothing but reverence and awe for the man."
See more excerpts HERE.