How can Shatner be written into the film?

[Franklin]

RookieBatman said:
Seriously, I think he doesn't look a day over 50.

What Shatner and I have in common is we could both play men in our mid-50s. Unfortunately for me, I'm only 46.

As I and others have stated before, since Kirk is dead (this just in: Captain James T. Kirk is still dead) writing Shatner's Kirk into the film is such a big deal it would almost have to be the story itself.

So, if there is a really good reason for Shatner's Kirk to be in XI (REALLY GOOD, as in very important to the story, not a walk-on or simple narration or whatever), then I've never had a problem with just retconning that he ever died in the first place. And, I'm a strict "if it happened on TV or on screen it's canon" kind of guy.
Just screw it. That's the best way to write him in. Just ignore he died.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

kirkstheman said:
I wonder how spiffy Scott Bakula will be at 76.

Well, he's in better physical condition now than Shatner was at his age so there's every reason to expect he'll be less of a porker than Shat when he's 76.

 

[Lumen]

Shatner is very energetic for a man his age. He's three years younger than my grandfather, and my grandfather couldn't handle a shooting for a weekly television series three years ago, or even ten years ago. Walking around the living room is enough of a challenge for him.

 

[NewHorizon]

Man, I'm really dreading this whole 'must have Shatner' fiasco. If Shatner must ABSOLUTELY be in the film, just make it a conversation between Kirk and Spock in a dream...whatever it is that Kirk says in the dream, starts Spock off on his mission throughout the rest of the film. That way, Kirk gets to play an important role in the film, by giving Spock his motivation for whatever actions he takes.

 

[Lumen]

An obvious shoe-horn like that is probably exactly what Abrams is trying to avoid.

He's said that he wants Shatner in the film, but only if the older Kirk character is a function of itself and not the plot, not a role that could be filled by any other number of characters in Spock's history — from Sybok to Sarek to McCoy. Your guess is as likely as mine given what we know, but I'm guessing anything as contrived a dream sequence or hallucination won't make the cut, nor would it satisfy a man like Shatner.

 

[xortex]

Just give him the check. That's all he wants.

 

[Lumen]

Maybe, but he'd be a lot happier if he could chew some scenery and talk about integral he was to the film.

 

[RookieBatman]

xortex said:
Just give him the check. That's all he wants.

Lumen said:
Maybe, but he'd be a lot happier if he could chew some scenery and talk about integral he was to the film.

I was gonna say something, but then it occurred to me that these comments were just too silly to dignify with an answer. Unless you can produce photographic evidence of Shatner walking over to your collective beach towels and kicking sand in your faces, I don't think I'll ever understand this vitriol. I guess it's some kind of second-hand group-think.

 

[Lumen]

Let me clarify. I have no problem with no problem with William Shatner (hell, he's in my avatar!), and I love his work. But I do think he's a bit of a ham -- and that's part of why I like him -- both in public and on screen, but my comments about him are meant to be good-natured ribbing, not mean-spirited put-downs. I regret that it came off as anything but what I meant.

 

[kirkstheman]

How about Bill as Kirk`s ghost? LOL

 

[RookieBatman]

Lumen said:
Let me clarify. I have no problem with no problem with William Shatner (hell, he's in my avatar!), and I love his work. But I do think he's a bit of a ham -- and that's part of why I like him -- both in public and on screen, but my comments about him are meant to be good-natured ribbing, not mean-spirited put-downs. I regret that it came off as anything but what I meant.

Alright, you're forgiven. I guess the poster above you (who doesn't seem to be as good-natured) charged me up so that I read your post with a negative filter.

 

[Lumen]

Yeah, I don't know why anyone would characterize a 76-year-old actor as especially greedy.

 

[RookieBatman]

Lumen said:
Yeah, I don't know why anyone would characterize a 76-year-old actor as especially greedy.

Especially since he has his own current TV show and all those bestsellers. I wonder if he gets a cut of the T.J. Hooker DVD sales? Either way, if the charge had been made pre-Boston Legal, there might've been some mild weight to it, but not now.