I remember when the series "Of Gods and Men" was released. I found it interesting that they would work on a storyline that directly references Captain Kirk, but without actually showing him, even in the altered timeline. So I wonder if William Shatner was ever approached (or even Leonard Nemoy) to at least make a cameo, if not to be part of the storyline. If they were approached, did they decline the offer?
They were not approached, however George Takei was suppose to be in it, but had scheduling conflicts so his role was re-written for Alan Ruck as John Harriman.
From what I understand Harriman was there anyway in a reduced role? That makes sense Sulu, Chekov & Uhura as the main trio. I believe Takei said his New Voyages episode was his 40th Anniversary gift to the fans? After he came out he suddenly became a very high-in-demand celebrity. As it is I see OGAM as the 7th TOS film. The main characters get a chance to shine - Uhura in particular gets screen time as never before and both herself and Chekov are introduced as Captains, which is new. The cast is stellar and the references to the past make the film worthy of the 40th Anniversary. I find it difficult, and please no one take offence as I love fan films, to call it a fan film as the stars are mostly from canon Trek.
But I would like to say, that the director, a respected Vulcan, didn't do much with his actors. What they brought on the table would to be "directed". Alan Ruck feels the most invested, followed by Gary Graham and Garrett Wang. Especially Nichelle Nichols was simply left alone - and that made her role especially boring. It felt like Russ didn't have the guts to tell her, how to act more believable. Walter Koenig became a parody of himself. And the SFX were simply not convincing... maybe not finished, but certainly not jerk-free... Sorry, but I didn't like this outing that much. Too much fan service, not enough direction.
I saw a bit of it, and while I could tolerate no Kirk or Spock in the original timeline, it's ridiculous to think they wouldn't be there in the alternate one. They should have stayed away from doing a storyline that directly references Kirk but doesn't show Kirk in any way, shape or form.
From your comment, it appears you did not see STOGAM at all. In the original storyline Kirk is killed in Generations, in the alternate he isn't born at all. How could he appear?
There was a plan in the works to do a special edition of STOGAM with all new VFX, that had to be shelved so everyone could concentrate on Renegades. Maybe after Renegades we can get back on that.
I have no problem with OF Gods and Men fitting into Classic Trek's timeline as a epilogue of sorts to the original crew's days in the 24th century. Just like World Enough and Time made Sulu a grandfather, OGAM gives a happy ending to Uhura and redeems Harriman. Since Paramount is totally unlikely to ever return to these characters in the twilight of their years, I'm fine with this and Renegades being as official as it gets...
The story was not bad, but what puzzled me at the beginning was the behaviour of The Guardian. In its first appearance in TCOTEOF the people standing by the entrance were protected from the changes go the timeline. Here- they weren't. Given the amount of fan service throughout the film, it's an odd changed premise. I spent a fair amount of time wondering when Uhura and the others were going to drop the pretence and reveal that they knew what was going on. Alas, not to be.
I understand Kirk was killed in Generations. But having him never be born at all in the alternate timeline was a convenient copout IMO. They should have just asked Shatner to do a cameo or something. Maybe they didn't want him stealing the spotlight. Or maybe they thought he would say no?
Ur, isn't it a major plot point that he was never born? It's been a while since I saw it, but I'm pretty sure that preventing Kirk's birth was part of the Evil Plan.
Basically Kirk not being born is what causes this timeline to be so different without it being the Mirror Universe. Go to the first episode Kirk is in normally. What happens if there is no James Kirk, but the mission goes as normal? Note that the two regular cast members that star in Of Gods and Men (Chekov and Uhura), were not in the second pilot episode. So they were not on the USS Enterprise the first time it went through the Galactic Barrier.