There are some indications (if you read between the lines) that would suggest that William Shatner MAY have turned down a cameo role in Star Trek XI.
Shatner is on record (Craig Ferguson show 11/27/06) as saying that "I met with J.J. an he wants me to be in the film". Shatner even let spoilers about the script slip when he mentioned that one issue the writers had was how were they going to get "old dead Kirk to speak to young Kirk" Why would Abrams discuss the plot with Shatner or even meet with him if he had zero interest in him?
Is it possible that Shatner was offered a small role and turned it down? Could Shatner have let his well known ego get in the way of his participation in this film because he was not the star? Or was it that Leonard Nimoy would be getting a far bigger paycheck for a much bigger role? Everyone is aware that Shatner has played hardball in negotiations with the studio, could this be his latest in a long line of tough negotiations? Think his appearance on Enterprise that never happened over a contract dispute. Did Shatner over play his hand?
A poster (TRexx) over at trekweb.com brought up some very valid points in regards to Shatner and the creative team behind ST XI.
Here are some excerpts from his well thought out arguments.
"In one Shatnervision video Shatner argues the case for "being worth the salary" Did he feel that Abrams cameo sized paycheck was unacceptable?
"A competent project manager (Abrams) avoids rousing false hope, especially among fans known to feel shafted by studio brass. Abrams did not put his creative credibility at risk- from the get go , he knew how to include Shatner in a bookend role. Nimoy alluded to this , when he spoke about the very first communication from Abrams back in autumn back in 2006"
" Unless team Abrams did fib it appears the door was left open for Shatner for many weeks after production had commenced- with Orci et al ready to include elder Kirk if Shat signed at the 11th hour"
"The evidence indicates that team Abrams larger goals were thwarted by Captain I don't do cameos"
Isn't it just common sense that such creative people found a way to get Shatner involved?
If a dope like myself can think of a million different ways to get Shatner involved in a story that involves alternate time lines and time travel, surely these very talented + creative people thought of a way to include Shatner.
Isn't it also common sense to think that they if they never wanted Shatner they would have simply said it from day one? Why string the die hard fans of Star Trek, Kirk and Shatner along? How would that serve them or this $100 million project? IT WOULDN'T.
My money says that they wanted Shatner for some type of cameo that he turned down. I'd bet that he wanted to be the star of the film or at the very least wanted to be paid the same amount as Nimoy who has a far bigger role in the film than what I think they may have offered Shatner. After all his character is dead. All of us Kirk fans would be have been thrilled with a 30 second cameo that showed Kirk was alive. Perhaps that wasn't good enough for Shatner?
In Shatner's defense I wouldn't doubt that a formal offer was never made, but they may have been so far apart from both a creative and financial point of view there was no need.
I think they wanted Shatner on their terms both financial and creative. I wouldn't be surprised if Shatner couldn't allow his ego and his pocketbook "I don't do cameo's" + "I'm worth the salary" to take the hit.
I just can't see the creative team being so public about their desire to have him in the film, but all the while knowing they had no interest in putting him in the movie. It makes no sense. These are not stupid people. They would know better than that.
Shatner claimed to want to be in the movie. The creative team claimed "desperately wanted him in the movie" So what gives?
There is more here than meets the eye. I think this is a case of where there is smoke there is fire. It will be interesting to hear what really went on behind the scenes in regards to Shatner and this film in the months and years to come. I would be very surprised to find out that they truly had no intention of including him.
Shatner is on record (Craig Ferguson show 11/27/06) as saying that "I met with J.J. an he wants me to be in the film". Shatner even let spoilers about the script slip when he mentioned that one issue the writers had was how were they going to get "old dead Kirk to speak to young Kirk" Why would Abrams discuss the plot with Shatner or even meet with him if he had zero interest in him?
Is it possible that Shatner was offered a small role and turned it down? Could Shatner have let his well known ego get in the way of his participation in this film because he was not the star? Or was it that Leonard Nimoy would be getting a far bigger paycheck for a much bigger role? Everyone is aware that Shatner has played hardball in negotiations with the studio, could this be his latest in a long line of tough negotiations? Think his appearance on Enterprise that never happened over a contract dispute. Did Shatner over play his hand?
A poster (TRexx) over at trekweb.com brought up some very valid points in regards to Shatner and the creative team behind ST XI.
Here are some excerpts from his well thought out arguments.
"In one Shatnervision video Shatner argues the case for "being worth the salary" Did he feel that Abrams cameo sized paycheck was unacceptable?
"A competent project manager (Abrams) avoids rousing false hope, especially among fans known to feel shafted by studio brass. Abrams did not put his creative credibility at risk- from the get go , he knew how to include Shatner in a bookend role. Nimoy alluded to this , when he spoke about the very first communication from Abrams back in autumn back in 2006"
" Unless team Abrams did fib it appears the door was left open for Shatner for many weeks after production had commenced- with Orci et al ready to include elder Kirk if Shat signed at the 11th hour"
"The evidence indicates that team Abrams larger goals were thwarted by Captain I don't do cameos"
Isn't it just common sense that such creative people found a way to get Shatner involved?
If a dope like myself can think of a million different ways to get Shatner involved in a story that involves alternate time lines and time travel, surely these very talented + creative people thought of a way to include Shatner.
Isn't it also common sense to think that they if they never wanted Shatner they would have simply said it from day one? Why string the die hard fans of Star Trek, Kirk and Shatner along? How would that serve them or this $100 million project? IT WOULDN'T.
My money says that they wanted Shatner for some type of cameo that he turned down. I'd bet that he wanted to be the star of the film or at the very least wanted to be paid the same amount as Nimoy who has a far bigger role in the film than what I think they may have offered Shatner. After all his character is dead. All of us Kirk fans would be have been thrilled with a 30 second cameo that showed Kirk was alive. Perhaps that wasn't good enough for Shatner?
In Shatner's defense I wouldn't doubt that a formal offer was never made, but they may have been so far apart from both a creative and financial point of view there was no need.
I think they wanted Shatner on their terms both financial and creative. I wouldn't be surprised if Shatner couldn't allow his ego and his pocketbook "I don't do cameo's" + "I'm worth the salary" to take the hit.
I just can't see the creative team being so public about their desire to have him in the film, but all the while knowing they had no interest in putting him in the movie. It makes no sense. These are not stupid people. They would know better than that.
Shatner claimed to want to be in the movie. The creative team claimed "desperately wanted him in the movie" So what gives?
There is more here than meets the eye. I think this is a case of where there is smoke there is fire. It will be interesting to hear what really went on behind the scenes in regards to Shatner and this film in the months and years to come. I would be very surprised to find out that they truly had no intention of including him.
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