William Shatner Keen For a Role in The New Star Trek Movie! Actor William Shatner Keen to Work With JJ Abrams « Showbiz Spy

William Shatner Keen For a Role in The New Star Trek Movie! Actor William Shatner Keen to Work With JJ Abrams

Posted by Adam

Monday March 7, 2011

ACTING legend William Shatner wants a role in the next Star Trek movie.

Shatner — who played the role of Captain James T Kirk in Star Trek for 19 years — said that, just as his original costar Leonard Nimoy had made an appearance in JJ Abrams‘ 2009 Star Trek revamp, he would also be pleased to have a role in the sequel to the movie.

“I’d be delighted,” he said.

Shatner dded that one of the main motivations for wanting to appear in the film, which is due out in 2012, was so he can feel larger than life next to JJ Abrams.

“I’ve become acquainted with JJ Abrams and he’s smaller than I am,” he said.

“I like to find people I can stand next to that I can tower over.”

Shatner has previously admitted he didn’t think Star Trek would become a “big deal”.

“I never thought it’d become a big deal, just 13 episodes and out,” Shatner, 79, told the New York Times last year.

“I didn’t think I was hard to get along with. There were a few disaffected actors who came in once a week. I had nothing to do with them. Friendly!

“I was working seven days a week, learning 10 pages of dialogue a day. They had one line! Then after the show was canceled and the Star Trek phenomenon began, those actors would go to the conventions. They’d get applause, praise, and begin to think, ‘Hey, I was wonderful, and Shatner stole the spotlight.’

“Then that character was foisted on me by people in the press.

“They said I was this William Shatner character, and I figured I had to be it. Pompous, takes himself seriously, hardheaded.

“So I played it. But I didn’t see it. That character doesn’t seem like me to me. I know the real William Shatner. At least one of us should.”

William Shatner

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FCA1975
Shatner is more arrogant than ever. He wants to stand beside someone he’s taller than? Are you kidding me? I long ago lost a lot of respect for this guy. He’s such an egotistical buffoon.

Quint Palmer
FCA1975- Apparently you do not understand humor. Shatner was kidding. It had nothing to do with arrogrance. He pokes fun at himself via an arrogant persona, but that isn’t him at all. He’s a nice guy, very down to earth and would give you the shirt off his back.
It would appear that you simply have no humor and believe all the press that you read, and read only the press you believe.
Quint
MrWho42
umm he was joking, get a sense of humor. wow…

Pat
pompous, larger than life, hard headed? Shatner?????
He attended a Star Trek convention in the late 70′s, I was prolly 10 or 11 years old. He didn’t stick around and made an excuse about ‘forgetting his autographs at the hotel’.
He wanted to be killed off after Star Trek: Generations so that they wouldn’t ask him to appear (as Captain Kirk) anymore.
That said, I’d be pleased to see him in any movie, he OWE’S ME AN AUTOGRAPH.

B
NO ONE who would have been “10 or 11″ in the late 70s, would have said “prolly”…
Maybe your grandfather was, but you were NOT, so go away, Kid.

Pat
prolly, you should stfu, wtf, lol, DA biotch.

http://yahoo Lee
William’s the best. Star Trek’s not Star Trek without him. Don’t be mad, he’s an icon

SV
Since there is a new Star Trek Timeline thanks to the sequence of events in the last movie, there is a different Captain Kirk, who had a different life ( no father, no service on the USS Faragut etc.) Its very conceivable to have an 80 year old Kirk who didn’t die in Star Trek: Generations

Matt
His Captain Kirk died. Captain Kirk did not live to 80 years old. Perhaps with enough makeup he could look younger, but for Shatner to be Kirk again he would need to some little weight for sure. It would be too forced.

trey
I usually don’t post about such things, and your points about shanter being a bit old for kirk are somewhat corrwect. However, you are not correct about “his captain kirk” having died. Yes I know generations etc…in the jj abrahms reboot, the whole next generation future hasnt, and probably would not happen so, if abrahms wants shatner in the movie, he will find a way for it to happen.

Chuck Egloff
William Shatner is a teriffic actor and an American Icon and Favorite. Period END OF STORY.

BoMan
The current new trek movie is very exciting to watch. The new actors bring excitment as they renew the old characters. But even as we watch this, don’t we still compare what we see to what we expect, and to what we know from the original actors? The new storyline was great. It opens a whole new world of adventure, using the same characters we loved. The stories can now either follow the early adventures in a new light, or take off on their own course. We don’t need Shatner in these new stories, as Pine is doing a marvelous job. He’s believable in his role. But it would be neat to see Shatner pull it off one more time. That, I think, would bring him full circle in his acting career. And he could then walk away with pride.
You say he died after coming out of the Nexus. Read his books, starting with The Return. If he wanted to be rid of Kirk, he would not have written these stories so well.
And yes, I also think he made a great Denny Crane. Because he gave me such entertainment as Kirk, Denny became more interesting to me. I would like to see both of his characters yet again.
…But this kirk does need to get back down to 175ish to paint the right picture for us fans.

B
Screw the “New” Trek… Yeah it was good. Admittedly JJ did show great respect, and I could “see” these characters as the ones I remember from TOS…
But seriously, I’d rather see Shatner’s trek BOOKS be made into movies, the stories are PHENOMINAL!!! If you’ve never read em, you must, and you’ll agree. He truly deserves to see that happen. I know he wants it to, and I hope he sees it in his lifetime.
Jim
William Shatner is the best. He regularly attends the Star Trek Conventions. The statement that he asked to have Kirk killed off is not true. Paramount wanted his character killed off.
donnman
@ Chuck – He is Canadian, thus hard to be an American Icon….just saying

Dean
@donnman
Last I checked Canada was in America. (North America to be precise)…just saying.

http://www.ThaiDog.com Jack Sterling
He is the BEST
donnman
I would love to see Denny Crane show up on Harry’s Law! Personally I love that character more than Kirk!
That being said, I would truly enjoy seeing THE Captain Kirk one more time!

http://www.internationalbookscafe.com Elle N-Ruiz
Lea Dakis, you said it as I would have…I LOVE William Shatner, and I would LOVE to experience as you say, the old originals once again…I would definitely rally on that one!

Lea Dakis
I would love to see William Shatner in the next Star Trek movie. Life is too short and I want to see as much of my favorite television actors as possible and Bill Shatner is one of them. I dearly miss DeForest Kelly and James Doohan. And why shouldn’t Leonard Nimoy make another appearance. In fact I think if each of the origal cast members that are still around can make cameos as themselves in the next movie it would fall right into the theme with what the first one was all about, the fact that their futures were altered by certain circumstances. WILLIAM SHATER you are my hero. If JJ can fit you into the storyline, WHY NOT?!?
CindyB
Only if Chris Pine looks at him and says “I’ve got to take better care of myself.”

http://showbizspy Datalore
He will be 80 years old this month,hope I look that good at 80.

David Davidson Davis
I wish Shatner would lose some weight. He’d look much better than the bloated old man he’s turned into.
http://www.twotruefreaks.libsyn.com Scott H. Gardner
By who’s math has Shatner played Kirk for only 19 years?!
For my money, Kirk IS Shatner. Enough tomfoolery, bring back the Shat.
Zink Orby
I don’t know if Shatner is “arrogant” or not. From what I have seen of him he doesn’t seem that way. He belittles himself quite often in public, and that’s not something egomaniacs are likely to do.
And I absolutely agree with him about his importance in Star Trek. Doohan and Takei (and others) complained about him stealing the show, but guess what? SHATNER WAS THE SHOW! Without Shatner I never would have become interested in it. The guy was a wonderful Shakespearean actor heading up a science fiction show. The chemistry was right.
Joe Kumpf
Shatner is a old fat fart who should stick to priceline, they killed him off for a reason!

Robert
DERP!

http://yourmom Jimmy Lee
These star treks are reboots meaning captian kirk hasnt died.its like a different dimention pretty much.shatner could be in this one he just couldnt play his previous roll as kirk he would have to be another charactor
Mark Yo
JJ wrote a very nice part for Shatner in the last movie that would have been extremely touching and awesome, but Shatner wanted more than a cameo, so he turned it down. I read the script with Shatner’s part in it, and it was tremendous. Now he wants to be in the next one. As long as he understands he will not be the focus, it can work.
Jason Page
Kirk never died. He’s still in the Nexus…even if it’s only an echo. They can yank that echo out and out pops Captain Kirk!
The Shat! Bring him back.
Keachick
James Kirk has died. The Pine/Kirk lives in an ALTERNATE timeline/universe. The original universe still exists and in it Kirk did die…
I do not think that Shatner should come into the sequel playing Captain James T Kirk (that job now belongs to Chris Pine), but he could play Kirk’s grandfather or uncle, a good older uncle. He would still be a Kirk and would have much in common with both George Kirk and James T Kirk.
William Shatner was joking about towering over shorter people. JJ Abrams is shorter than most guys, I believe. It was a joke and I’m sure JJ Abrams would see it as just being that. He’s probably quite used to those kind of jokes. Shatner was not being nasty.
Shatner’s comments about the other actors in TOS could be true. There is no doubt that George Takei spearheaded a lot of nastiness, envy and jealousy towards Shatner. Takei’s 1994 autobiography was pure vitriol. Takei is not like this just towards Shatner. I have heard him making some very “off” comments related to matters which have nothing to do with William Shatner…

Ray Hoffman
I DONT BELIEVE WILLIAM SHATNER IS ARROGANT AT ALL. A COUSIN OF MINE SAID HE WAS ARROGANT BECAUSE SHE SEEN HIM IN A HOTEL IN TEXAS WAVING AND SAYING HELLO TO PEOPLE AS HE WAS WALKING DOWN THE HALLWAY. WAVING AND SAYING HELLO TO PEOPLE IS ARROGANT??? WISH I WAS THERE TO TELL HIM THANKS FOR THE MANY HAPPY MEMORIES OF WATCHING STAR TREK RERUNS IN THE EARLY SEVENTIES AND EVER SINCE. AND OF COURSE, IN MY FAMILY IF ONE PERSON STARTS GOSSIP THE REST BELIEVE IT AND SPREADS IT AROUND. IT APPEARS THOSE OUTSIDE MY FAMILY HAVE BEEN DOING THE SAME THING. ALL I HAVE TO SAY TO THAT IS “ROCK ON SHATNER AND KEEP BEING YOUR COOL SELF.” OH, LOVED HIM ON HISTORY CHANNEL TALKING ABOUT ALL THE COOL INVENTIONS WE HAVE TODAY THANKS TO HIM. AND THEN HE SAID “JUST KIDDING” AND GAVE ALL THE CREDIT TO GENE RODDENBERRY. HOW COOL IS THAT?!

Wolfen
what if………… maybe the Pine’s Enterprise 1701 somehow goes into the future and sees Shatner sometime after his Enterprise 1701-A decomission, but before the Enterprise 1701-B commission. that would be a good way to see Shatner’s Kirk at his age, and i think that would be a great way to give him a short part in the storyline without the movie having to focus on him.
irishmad45
I loved the Star Trek series and certainly have enjoyed the TV movies since. I don’t see how anyone can say he’s arrogant. You see him on the TV and he’s usually acting by poking fun at himself. As much as I love his acting I don’t know about him on the new enterprise. His counterpart is so much like him, Can you imagine them clashing. He has been and will always be “Kirk” It’s time to let him go.
Bob Skilnik
As Whoppi explained to Piccard in Generations, an echo of the person caught in the Nexus remains, even if they leave the Nexus. After all, how did Guinan pour Romulan ales in 10 Forward and still advise Piccard in the Nexus? Doesn’t anybody follow Star Trek’s story arc?
KIRK LIVES!
K
I do not know how he was in the 60′s and 70′s, as I was not there with him.
What I do know is that most arrogant people do not make fun of themselves on a regular basis, as he does now. It is playful and it is fun. Anyone who has nasty things to say about him – the joke is on them. He has already said it. And you have to give it to the guy for the amazing life he has led – he has reinvented himself so many times. Sometimes it worked and sometimes it didn’t. But he has done it – and continues to do it. He has certainly not wasted a moment and that alone is great!
wanda
One more thought, how about the Big Giant Head from Third Rock from the Sun? It could be a menace that the Enterprise has to stop:).
J Dean
What an ass. Shatner wants a role in the movie so he can tower over the director?? If I was JJ Abrams and decided to give him a role it would be the no-name guy who gets killed before the opening credits. Otherwise, I’d steer completely clear of that kind of on-set headache. Shatner wouldn’t take a “red shirt” role anyway.
My son was an extra in “Miss Congeniality II” when the filming was in Las Vegas. He said that Shatner was funny to work around but didn’t get too close to too many people. He’s shown what kind of person he is in the roles he has taken since Trek and now is mostly relegated to being the “known personality” in commercials. Big deal.
I am part of the Star Trek generation, me and my friends would play for hours on our back porches with the old Legos ( the red, white, and blue rectangles and squares with grey platforms, not the cool kind they make today in every shape and color and themed sets). We would build ourselves our versions of the “Enterprise” and “Klingon” battle cruisers and spend entire afternoons making up new adventures.
As for Leonard Nimoy, I have always been a Spock fan. His life since Star Trek has been classy and subdued just as his on-screen character. His role in the new Star Trek was no different. Nimoy appeared to be classy, humble and directable. I don’t see the same if Shatner was given a role, not to mention he is in no kind of physical shape for any kind of action movie.
Bill, leave the new Trek to the “next generation”!
http://www.cathycouture-sewunique.co.uk Catherine
Having been priviledged to watch the very first sceening of Star Trek in the UK and a lifelong fan ever since. I can only thank William Shatner and the rest of the cast not forgetting the late – great Gene Roddenberry for the many years of pleasure the programs have given me. Why shouldn’t Bill Shatner have a role in the next movie – he won’t be the first 80 year old in space! As for his lack of physique, hey! The man is 80, has vitality, love of life and a sense of humour, do you guys expect perfection? He is human and allowed to gain a few pounds in his later years, I find it harder as the years go by to keep in shape and I’m only 60! Give the guy a break!

K
Amen!

http://www.cathycouture-sewunique.co.uk Catherine
I also like the Guynan role played by Whopie in next generation. Q is a great character in the same series and in the later Voyager, I – personally – don’t always like the ‘good guys’ the naughty ones are more fun! Back to TNG, am I alone in thinking that the widow of Gene Roddenberry played a fantastic part? In her role she made a HUGE statement about ‘women of a certain age’ we don’t all dry up and die! I’d love to go through a naked marriage with Captain Kirk aka William Shatner! Flew with a Captain Kirk once – but not James T! Hopefully the spirit of THE KIRK will live on long after William Shatner (live long and prosper) and I are long gone! Star Trek keyed into the feeling of the time, man first set foot upon the moon, anything seemed possible! The USSR were the Klingons! The West were the ‘good guys’! It all seemed so simple then! (Was the metaporphosis of the klingons ever explained?). TNG was good but not anything like the original, Jean Luke Picard was great but lacked the je ne sais quais of THE KIRK, LONG LIVE THE SPIRIT OF THE KIRK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Pat Sharkey
Its amazing how people can take a joke wrong( I have met him and he was nothing but nice,My cousin was a actor on a tv show and people took him wrong too,but sadly he is gone now, but.. people really need to lighten up)
Pat Sharkey
Heck I almost forgot-HAPPY BIRTHDAY! and I hope we get to see you in the next movie!