News #shatnerforapril

[ralph]

In a interview from NYCC with IGN, was asked William Shatner what it would take to get the icon to appear on Star Trek Discovery.
"I don't know what you'd do with a character who appeared 50, now 51 years ago. You know, I am 51 years older, with all the exigencies of age".
But he thinks there are still stories to tell about captain Kirk.
“Now, he’s older, his knees hurt, his back hurts. … So here’s this aging athlete, who isn’t [what] he was in his twenties and thirties. Still carries himself grandly and has a sense of humor and all, but he’s not the athlete he was. What would Captain Kirk be like 50 years later, with the sagacity of mind, and yet the body doesn’t do what he wants it to do? I mean, it’s an interesting story.”

Well, I think to return with old Kirk is complicated.
But he could play another role, not just Kirk.
A character who could appear and be epic is April. Shatner could play the old captain April. Why not?
The hardcore fans will hate me, I know, but it would be a very good tribute to the character and Shatner.
Old Kirk would have to return through a time travel. And of course, that would have to make sense in the story.
I gave this idea to Shatner on Twitter. I do not know if he's going to answer me.
What do you think about Shatner making another epic captain?
I remember that in TAS, April is already old and he is Admiral.

 

[GeekUSACarl]

I'd rather have TNG or DS9 actors on playing some alternate characters to be frank.

Seeing Shatner on playing anyone is kinda like seeing Jordan play ball now,

which he did experiment with a few years ago after he entered team ownership. There were some videos of him working out with the team, playing, hobbling himself back to the bench every fifteen minutes being bagged down with ice. It was sad to see.

 

[F. King Daniel]

Robert April is meant to be British. Shatner doing a British accent might be hilarious.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

I suggested this in the Treklit forum:

Michael Palin for April.

And even @Christopher agreed with me. Believe me, I was as shocked as anyone.

 

[F. King Daniel]

He's gotta wear a frumpy sweater over his uniform. If Lorca can have the ship Grimdark because of an eye problem, April can be chilly all the time just like the old novels.

 

[Kor]

Shatner keeps wanted to bring back older Kirk, apparently forgetting that he was perfectly okay with having Kirk killed off more than twenty years ago.

Kor

 

[ralph]

I'd rather have TNG or DS9 actors on playing some alternate characters to be frank.

Seeing Shatner on playing anyone is kinda like seeing Jordan play ball now,

which he did experiment with a few years ago after he entered team ownership. There were some videos of him working out with the team, playing, hobbling himself back to the bench every fifteen minutes being bagged down with ice. It was sad to see.

But April would be a old capitain, with his back hurting. Shatner knows to play this kind of character

 

[guyute03]

No thanks. Like I've said before, if they want him in Discovery make him do some audio logs Lorca can read off. Nothing else makes sense.

 

[GeekUSACarl]

But April would be a old capitain, with his back hurting. Shatner knows to play this kind of character

You aren't wrong,

I guess after all this time I'm just over Shatner.

I'd Rather see someone else do it, dunno who though.

 

[ralph]

I would not want to see old Kirk back. This does not make sense anymore. If they want Shatner with special participation, then let him return in another character. Maybe even George Kirk. It would be consistent.
The old Kirk is dead.

 

[Longinus]

I really don't get why people constantly suggest Shatner playing someone else than Kirk. There is no point getting Shatner if he is not Kirk.

Two ways to do it.

1) Current Kirk. Shatner provides voice. Audio only communication with Kirk, or if they want throw extra bucks in for this, CGI recreation to go with it. It could be Kirk via holocoms, and the transparent and glowy nature of the holo would help to mask any imperfection in the CGI.

2) Time travel. 'Yesterday's Enterprise' style time travel story where Discovery ends up in alternative future where they meet alternative future Kirk. Could be combined with the option one for Kirk parts happening in the current year.

 

[uniderth]

A character who could appear and be epic is April. Shatner could play the old captain April.

No. That would not be epic.

Why not?

Because it would be a dumb fan wank.

The hardcore fans will hate me,

No, we don't hate you. Just your idea.

 

[Kor]

...
1) Current Kirk. Shatner provides voice. Audio only communication with Kirk, or if they want throw extra bucks in for this, CGI recreation to go with it. It could be Kirk via holocoms, and the transparent and glowy nature of the holo would help to match any imperfection in the CGI.
...

Shatner's voice has changed too much.

Kor

 

[ISS Enterprise]

No Thanks

Shatner will always be Kirk to me, but he's entirely too old to play a legitimate Captain at this point. Retired or not, etc

Like someone else noted, it would just be fan wank and a gimmick. Just like his appearance would've been in the rejected ST3 script

Shatner Kirk died 20 years ago unfortunately

 

[Noname Given]

I suggested this in the Treklit forum:

Michael Palin for April.

And even @Christopher agreed with me. Believe me, I was as shocked as anyone.

Michael Pailin: "Chapter 2. I am eaten by Klingons."

 

[Longinus]

Shatner will always be Kirk to me, but he's entirely too old to play a legitimate Captain at this point. Retired or not, etc

How can he be too old to be a retired captain? Do you think they euthanise ex-captain's once they turn 80 or something?

 

[uniderth]

How can he be too old to be a retired captain? Do you think they euthanise ex-captain's once they turn 80 or something?

Age 85 to be precise.

 

[indranee]

Shatner in Trek as anybody other than Kirk is a waste of his time and our money.

 

[ISS Enterprise]

I'm talking about the actor. It would be a gimmick. Shoe horned in

Euthanise? Only if he breaks a leg on an away mission lol

Now I am no Robert April expert by any means, but don't think he's 86 (think he should be early 60s) in 2256 ish, but I'll defer to others that know that.

Just my opinion

 

[CRM-114]

I don't think Shatner can do it anymore; he's such a persona that I'm always aware I'm watching Shatner as himself rather than an actor in a role.

Thanks, but no thanks. Shatner should embrace his legacy rather than keep trying to compete with it.