Saturday, November 7

• William Shatner in Star Trek 2? Says It's Up to J.J. Abrams

  Star Trek director J.J. Abrams has made it no secret that he would like to have William Shatner appear in Star Trek 2, even planning a lunch to talk with him about it.

  At a recent unveiling of a wax figure of Shatner as Captain Kirk, Shatner said that his participation in the sequel is entirely up to Abrams.

  I have no plans, because I don't make those plans. JJ Abrams has my fate wrapped up in his two little hands. I would love to be in the next Star Trek, if he so thought that would be good for it.

  
  

  Posted 11/07/2009 by Ryan

  Related: William Shatner | J.J. Abrams | Star Trek 2

Thursday, October 22

• William Shatner May Appear in Star Trek 2

  Leonard Nimoy enjoyed his time working with director J.J. Abrams in Star Trek so much he would come back if asked. But first, Abrams would like to see if William Shatner will appear in Star Trek 2. According to an Associated Press report, Abrams revealed that Shatner almost appeared in Star Trek.

  It was a foregone conclusion we wanted him in the movie. The problem was his character died on screen in one of his Trek films and because we decided, very early on, that we wanted to adhere to Trek canon as best we could ... the required machinations to get Shatner into the movie would have been very difficult to do given the story we wanted to tell and also to give him the kind of part that he would be happy with.

  It was this thing where it would have felt like a gimmick in order to get Shatner in the movie, which would have honestly, to me, been distracting.

  For now, Abrams and company will have to work out the story for the sequel, but it may include Shatner. "In terms of moving forward, I am open to anything," Abrams revealed. "Maybe there's less of a burden and there's going to be more opportunity to work with him." Abrams said the two have a lunch date planned.

  We're assuming Abrams will be picking up the check.

  
  

  Posted 10/22/2009 by Ryan

  Related: William Shatner | J.J. Abrams | Star Trek | Star Trek 2

Saturday, September 5

• No Leonard Nimoy in Star Trek Sequel

  At a Dragon Con 2009 panel discussion, Leonard Nimoy revealed that he will not appear in the follow-up to J.J. Abrams' Star Trek. Appearing with William Shatner, Nimoy also took the opportunity to razz Shatner about his apparent disinterest in the movie.

  There are no plans for me to return for the second movie. I think the Spock character is very well established as portrayed by Zachary Quinto. And I think if you saw the movie Bill, you'd say the same of Chris Pine.

  Shatner's response? A curt "bulls**t."

  
  

  Posted 09/05/2009 by Ryan

  Related: Leonard Nimoy | William Shatner | Star Trek | Star Trek 2

Wednesday, July 8

• T.J. Hooker Heading to the Big Screen

  Variety reports that the 80's TV series T.J. Hooker, which starred William Shatner as a police detective who returns to his old job as a patrol sergeant after his partner is killed, is getting a big-screen adaptation.

  The series, which ran for five seasons on two networks as a serious crime drama, will be an action comedy on the big screen and concentrate on Hooker and his relationship with his father (Shatner, perhaps?).

  Chuck Russell (The Scorpion King) is in talks to direct, while writing partners Brent Maddock and S.S. Wilson (Wild Wild West, Tremors) will be in charge of the script. No actors have been cast yet.

  With Hooker racing to theaters, is Hardcastle and McCormick far behind? It may even help Magnum P.I. get off the ground.

  
  

  Posted 07/08/2009 by Ryan

  Related: William Shatner | Brent Maddock | S.S. Wilson | Chuck Russell | T.J. Hooker

Sunday, April 26

• William Shatner Optimistic About Star Trek

  

  When you think of Star Trek, it's hard not to think of William Shatner as James T. Kirk, Captain of the U.S.S. Enterprise. Shatner portrayed the character on television and in film for more than 30 years and even voiced the character in a short-lived animated series.

  However, with J.J. Abrams' relaunch of the franchise just around the corner, a whole new generation of fans are going to experience Star Trek with newcomer Chris Pine in the captain's chair.

  Though he won't be appearing in the film, Shatner has high hopes that the film will be successful, opening up the door for the original Kirk to live again. In a recent interview, Shatner said:

  When they were thinking about doing the movie, they talked to me a couple of times, I don't know what it really was all about, and then they stopped talking to me and went their way. But you just know it's going to be wonderful because J.J. Abrams is such a good moviemaker. I just regret that I'm not a part of it. But if it's successful, then maybe there will be a call.

  
  
  Next Showing: Star Trek opens May 8
  

  Star Trek - Teaser

  J.J. Abrams Directs - Releasing May 8, 2009

  Posted 04/26/2009 by BrentJS

  Related: Chris Pine | William Shatner | J.J. Abrams | Star Trek

Friday, January 23

• Shatner's Suggestions: Tips for the New Kirk, Chris Pine

  Bringing a version of Star Trek to the big screen that Trekkies will embrace is no small task. Perhaps the only challenge more daunting is truly owning the captain's chair so famously filled by the legendary William Shatner.

  While there have been no reports of Chris Pine sharing notes or engaging in any kind of Vulcan mind-meld with the oh-so-smooth Shatner, it's not difficult to imagine the sage advice Kirk would give his young protégé. So...that's exactly what we've done, complete with a 12-point video demonstration in Shatner's Suggestions: Tips for the New Kirk, Chris Pine.

  
  
  Next Showing: Star Trek opens May 8

  Posted 01/23/2009 by reelz

  Related: Chris Pine | William Shatner | Star Trek

Wednesday, January 14

• Ricardo Montalban Dead at 88

  

  Grrrrrrhisssss!

  He tasks me. He tasks me and I shall have him! I'll chase him 'round the moons of Nibia and 'round the Antares Maelstrom and 'round Perdition's flames before I give him up!

  Those are the immortal words of the greatest Star Trek villain ever -- the late great, Ricardo Montalban who has died at age 88.

  As Khan Noonien Singh in the original 1967 Star Trek episode Space Seed, Montalban later reprised the role in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.

  His powerful performance as the genetically superior, but ruthlessly ambitious, Eugenics War despot provoked Kirk to voice the ultimate shout-out Kha-a-a-a-n!

  Following the admittedly stodgy Star Trek: The Motion Picture, Wrath of Khan was the movie that really kick-started the Trek movie franchise due in large part to Montalban's rich performance.

  I interviewed Montalban with William Shatner at a Pasadena Star Trek Con back in the mid-1990s and was surprised to learn that neither Shatner nor Montalban had any scenes together in Wrath of Khan. That's logical when you think about it since Kirk and Khan only spoke to each other via the Enterprise viewing screen.

  Montalban was ever the courteous gentleman, the fans loved him, and he will be missed.

  We end with one of Khan's delicious taunts to Kirk from Star Trek II:

  Ah, Kirk, my old friend, do you know the Klingon proverb that tells us revenge is a dish that is best served cold? [pause] It is very cold in space.

  
  

  Posted 01/14/2009 by reelz

  Related: Ricardo Montalban | William Shatner | Star Trek

Wednesday, January 7

• NASA Casts Kirks and Vaders in 3-D Animated Quantum Quest

  Voice cast has been announced for the 3-D animated film Quantum Quest, a joint venture from NASA and Digimax. Ironically, all four castmembers announced have previously piloted either the Starship Enterprise or the Death Star. They are William Shatner, Hayden Christensen, Chris Pine and James Earl Jones.

  Fellow Star Wars vocal castmembers include Samuel L. Jackson and Mark Hamill. Amanda Peet, Jason Alexander, Sandra Oh, Spencer Breslin, Abigail Breslin and Neil Armstrong round out the impressive cast list.
  

  The picture will be directed by Harry Kloor and Dan St. Pierre. It will debut in IMAX in late 2009.

  Source: Variety

  
  

  Posted 01/07/2009 by reelz

  Related: William Shatner | Hayden Christensen

Wednesday, October 22

• Star Trek's Kirk and Sulu Mix It Up

  The war of words between Star Trek's William Shatner and George Takei is heating up according to the UK's Daily Mail.

  After alluding to the Star Trek captain's legendary ego, Takei snubbed Shatner when he didn't send him an invite for his wedding to Brad Alman last month.

  The snub lead the former Kirk to an amusing and seemingly less-than-provoked rant on his blog theshatnerproject.com in which he stated "it's so obvious that there is a psychosis there" and that there "must be something inside of George that is festering and makes him so unhappy that he takes it out on me, an ineffective total stranger."

  Shatner ended by saying "I feel nothing but pity for him."

  
  

  Posted 10/22/2008 by reelz

  Related: George Takei | William Shatner | Star Trek | Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home | Star Trek III: The Search for Spock | Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan | Star Trek: The Motion Picture

Tuesday, September 16

• Passed Over for Star Trek, William Shatner Settles For Starbucks

  In an entertaining LA Times interview, the former Captain Kirk bums coffee from a reporter, signs autographs, and explains why he doesn't know anything about the upcoming J.J. Abrams Star Trek remake: "There is no need for me to know anything because I'm not a part of it. They will have an extraordinary campaign when it comes about, and my dear friend Leonard will be part of that and I would have loved to have been there with him. I am very happy for Leonard, my good friend, though."

  
  
  Next Showing: Star Trek scheduled to hit theaters May 8, 2009
  

  Star Trek Teaser Trailer

  Voiceover by Spock

  Posted 09/16/2008 by reelz

  Related: William Shatner | Star Trek