Does Anyone Else NOT Want Shatner in the Film?

[Tralah]

I'm probably the minority here, but the more I think about it the less I want them to find a way to add Shatner into it. If they find a way to include him that fits naturally into the script, so it doesn't feel like they are simply shoehorning him in, then fine, I'll accept it. However, I've never really been a huge fan of Shatner, and so a Spock-centric storyline is really appealing to me. I'm not convinced that Shatner's presence necessary to make this a successful movie. If it's a good movie I believe it will succeed with or without Shatner, and if it's a bad one it will fail with or without him too.

Unless they fit the old Spock scenes before the Enterprise-B launch in Generations, I don't see how they can bring Shatner back without distracting the majority of the audience who will know he died in Generations. Even if the death is glossed over by some clever line, (Kirk: You've died before too. I guess we're even now), I think it would take away from the focus of the story, whatever that focus actually is.

Whatever choice Abrams and the others make, I hope it works in the movie's best interest. I'm just not particularly excited about prospect of seeing Shatner again, an actor whose presence is already ubiqutious through commercials and Boston Legal among other things. Nimoy is someone who has retired from acting for years. The idea of seeing HIM again as Spock, my favorite character of all time, is much more exciting to me, than seeing Shatner yet again in some form or another. I would rather the Shatnerverse novels be an option for those who don't want to accept Kirk's death, and let this movie be Spock's/Nimoy's moment to shine.

Here's to hoping for a good movie though, regardless of what we get! :thumbsup:

 

[number6]

I don't think having Shatner in this film is that important. I am looking forward to this film. Shatner's involvement or lack thereof will not be a deal breaker.

 

[Basill]

I tend to prefer his absence in this endeavor. Mostly for the same reasons you mentioned and mostly because I can't see them passing off Nimoy or Shatner as pre-Generations.

 

[Cary L. Brown]

Ya know what COULD work? It would allow Shatner to be in the film without hurting ANYTHING.

We're all something like 99% sure that we're talking about the film being told from "Old Spock's" perspective, right?

And it's likely that we'll see some elements of several points in the past, some just anecdotes leading into a "top-level" point, others anecdotes leading OUT from that point...

We also know that the story is principally about James T. Kirk.

We are pretty sure that the film is going to have one, and probably more than one, actor play the role of "younger Jim Kirk" (mid/late 20s, and pre-teens).

So, how about this?

(1) 12-year-old Jimmy Kirk. NEW FOOTAGE
(2) 17-year-old Jim Kirk. NEW FOOTAGE
(3) 27-year-old Lt. J.T. Kirk. NEW FOOTAGE (Main portion of the narrative)
(4) 35-year-old Capt. Kirk. REUSED FOOTAGE (from TOS original film stock, just used for a short "clip" or two, digitally cleaned-up)
(5) 48-year-old Admiral Kirk. REUSED FOOTAGE (from prior movies)
(6) 65-year-old retired J.T.Kirk REUSED FOOTAGE (from Generations)

Remember, most of those scenes would be narratives... Spock is talking, the scene is there to make a point, and we're seeing what happens as a brief vignette only.

Only section #3 would be the real "meat" of the film.

So... Shatner IS in the movie. Just not in any NEW footage. It's not exactly "reused" scenes, because they're only background to the real "meat" of the scene which, in this case, is Spocks narrative.

This would honor the past, keep Shatner representing Kirk, but would not feel so much like a "rip off" as it might if he were just there as a "gig." And Shatner still gets paid, even if it's only for the reuse of the prior footage.

Anybody see a "down side" to this?

 

[PowderedToastMan]

for me it is all about the story and the script. If it works with Shat...great. But as of now putting him in would be 'shoving him in' as Abrams says. If they can find a way, great...but dont just shoehorn him in for a cameo just to say you did.

Of course the irony of this whole thing is that all those who were screaming 'reboot' are clearly wrong...if they were ignoring canon then they wouldnt have any issues with sticking the 'dead' Kirk into the movie. Now the irony alert is off the scale with people demanding Kirk be in the film and demanding that they ignore just that one piece of Trek canon...hilarious.

 

[seigezunt]

it all depends on the story. I wouldn't want to see some awful attempt to shoehorn him in that wastes screen time bringing him back to life, etc., as much as I like the Shatnerverse novels. I like the idea that somebody put forward that he just shows up, and brushes off his death with a quick comment to Spock, a la, "well, you died, too."

It's more important that we have a ripping good story, though.

 

[RookieBatman]

Cary L. Brown said:
We also know that the story is principally about James T. Kirk.

I don't think we know that at all. In fact, in the more recent interview, Abrams said that "In many ways, the story revolves around the character of Spock." That doesn't mean that Kirk might be playing second fiddle, but I still think that Kirk being principally who the movie is about is anything but a certainty.

Anybody see a "down side" to this?

Well, I don't see how we could have those older Kirks in there unless it's just some biopic about Kirk's life in general. It's not like we need an epilogue after the main story to fill new people on what Kirk did the rest of his life. And I don't really see why we'd need to see older Kirk before the main story, if he's not providing the flashback. No offense, but this one isn't my favorite.

 

[Beyerstein]

I dunno what kind of story they're doing but If they're gonna drag Nimoy back out I think having Shatner appear as Kirk onscreen again too would be a huge draw for alot of people.

It's probably worth it for the marquee value alone.

 

[Dale]

I say leave him out. In fact I am even wary of Nimoy being in the film... it could be a big hinderance to Quinto establishing himself to put them, metaphorically speaking "side by side" like that. I'm thrilled to see Nimoy as good ol' Mr. Spock again, but I worry it might hurt the "new franchise." Plus putting modern Shatner in would be a real feat of fanboyish justification. I say let the new actors and new film stand alone.

I admit though, I'm a little intrigued by the NEW FOOTAGE/REUSED FOOTAGE idea above...

 

[Ward Fowler]

I think it's a mistake having Nimoy without Shatner. I don't think the writers need to be too concerned about canon. I think the general audience as well as the fans would just like to see the original Kirk and Spock together on the big screen again. Even if its just briefly.

 

[Sec31Mike]

I Would prefer it if they would include Shatner in the film. I am concerned what they plan to do about McCoy, seeing how Kirk/Spock/McCoy were the "Holy Trinity" of TOS.

 

[Admiral2]

I would prefer the film not involve Kirk at all, so yeah, Keep out Shatner.

 

[drasche]

Nothing personal Bill, but I don't think the movie would work with you as an old Kirk.

 

[Chris_Moderato]

I don't want to see Shatner just for the sake of seeing Shatner. A sly little "I thought you were dead" "Now we're even" conversation would make me vomit a little and then get up and leave the theater. I mean, that's ridiculous, old school, cheeseball Trek dialogue/logic. If you want to revitalize the franchise, you can't fall back on that kind of goofy crap.

Just my opinion. I'm not trying to burn on anyone.

 

[Cary L. Brown]

As much as I love the character of Kirk, and think that the character was defined by Bill Shatner more than by anything else (and thus any new portrayal MUST honor Bill Shatner's portrayal)... I'd feel cheated if they brought him back to life.

Then again, I was pissed off that they brought Spock back, too. I was TRULY MOVED by Spock's death. It had a great deal of emotional impact. To have them come back and then pull the rug out from underneath us... "Sorry, we were just kidding... everything is back just like it used to be... whooopeeeee!" sorta pissed me off.

Don't misinterpret... I felt this way because I LIKE SPOCK, not because I HATE SPOCK. Everybody dies... not everybody get the opportunity to die such a noble and meaningful death. I just hope that when I die it's something like that, and not some stupid accident caused by a drunk driver or something!

Life has meaning because of what you do... but death... REAL DEATH... is part of that. I hated how they killed Kirk in Generations, I really did. But to play "whooopsie, we were just kidding" again would just be offensive.

As far as this film is concerned... let the audience assume he's still dead. Just don't overtly contradict the Shatnerverse stuff if it's not necessary. That way, people who want to believe that Kirk is still running around boinking Klingon/Romulan fusion babes at 75 can do so.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

I have nothing against Shatner being in some film, but it sounds like Trek XI will focus on Spock. And for Nimoy and Shatner to both re-appear in this one movie would be too much to integrate, PLUS the heavy lifting of introducing two whole new actors in the roles. Not to mention having a plot and doing a bit of backstory explanation for the majority of the audience who have forgotten the details about Trek or simply never knew anything about it.

That's a lot to fit into two hours, maybe two and a half hours tops, without creating some godawful unweildly mess. Just look at Spider-Man 3 for the ugly consequences of over-ambition. The first priority must be that the movie succeeds artistically and financially.

it could be a big hinderance to Quinto establishing himself to put them, metaphorically speaking "side by side" like that

I think it could be a big help. The fact that he looks like Nimoy and has much of the same "persona"* will impress the audience - how the heck did they find someone who's so good of a match? You don't see that very often in movies where different actors play the same character at different ages. It wouldn't be as obvious if Nimoy weren't going to be in the movie.

*Persona is hard to explain, but it's separate from looks or even acting talent - they both project intelligence, "outsiderness" and that feeling of "there's more to him than meets the eye." That's going to be a big part of convincing the audience they are the same person.

 

[ancient]

We know the following:

-The script is finished.
-Shatner isn't required in the current script.
-Abrams mentioned trying to put him in, but isn't sure how.

Given that, I'd just as soon they not have him. There's no point in throwing him into the film in an awkward cameo.

 

[Plum]

... I think it's significant that JJ and everyone wanted Shatner involved, but it just didn't fit into the script. Right?

Nimoy certainly wouldn't be so excited if his part was a "book end" or something. Feels like Nimoy is an integral part to the story.

I find this... intriguing.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

I don't care one way or the other. I assume that he'll be in it, though.

 

[Stardate]

I do not want Shat in XI movie but if they are having Nimoy they scould have Shat too. It is either both of them or none.