William Shatner is a puzzle to me. For years all I heard about was his off screen ass hattery and the drama between him and his cast mates. Well in the last few years, Bill has come around and surprised me. He is by far the best part of Boston Legal, and his attitude changed from pompous he-diva to a humble charming man who can poke fun at himself.
So when the new Star Trek came about and news was that they were going to include a very old Spock, I instantly wondered if old Kirk would be there too. But then I was reminded that Shatner’s Kirk died in Generations bringing an end to the character that not only elevated him to fame, but was also the biggest thorn in his side. His death was anticlimactic, and it had faded from my memory of the original series.
Even though he holds a bit of a grudge, he now tells the Australian Associated Press that he would love to be in the sequel. “I would be delighted to be in it,” said Shatner.
A sequel has already been announced and since the first film changed the fate of the Trek character, there is now a chance for Shatner to return as Captain Kirk.
That “grudge” he holds against Abrams was later clarified as poking fun at himself some more. Mocking his own self importance (How could he NOT consider me for a cameo…I am William Shatner!) which is also a gag in Fanboys where Shat makes a cameo.
Shatner also admits that he hasn’t got around to seeing the film and says he wants to see it soon. I think once he does he will realize that there is no room for his character at all.
The plot device that brought us Old Spock is fitting. His character traits of humility and duty work perfectly as he is not going to be the focus of the films. He now has a new mission with the Vulcan people. Kirk is too strong of a personality that he just would have no place in this new timeline.
Sure, the future has changed leaving room for Kirk to NOT die in Generations (as that timeline is separate from the current one) but there is no reason for an old Kirk to show up. If they cast him as young Kirk’s grandfather or something that might be a nice tribute cameo. If Back to the Future has taught us anything it is that when you travel in time, all your descendants will look exactly like you.
But I think this is more a case of “too little too late”. Shatner was satisfied that his character should die. It was a passing of the torch for the feature films to focus on the Next Generation never to return to tell the story of the original crew of the Enterprise. At the time, Shat was also embittered towards the fans even writing a book about his convention circuit experience lashing out at the wildly devoted fanbase telling them to “Get a Life”. Well they did, and left Trek behind and the franchise died.
Now he sees Trek flourish into a new exciting chapter and he wants in.
Sorry Shat. I love ya, but Trek moved on without you.
