The Shatner ending

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Strike Back below!
by: Omar Aviles May. 12, 2009

William Shatner We all know the public spectacle William Shatner made when he learned he wouldn't even be asked to do a cameo in the recently successful J.J. Abrams directed STAR TREK reboot. It's not that they didn't want him in the film. In trying to be faithful to the Star Trek cannon, Abrams and writers' Alex Kurtzman and Robert Orci wanted to come up with a way to bring him back that made sense to the story considering he died in STAR TREK: GENERATIONS. They did manage to come up with something and recently revealed to MTV just exactly what they were planning. Check it:

Elder Spock tells young Spock, 'I couldn't tell you the truth about what's happening, because if I had, I would have robbed you of the benefit of realizing the greatness that you and Kirk will achieve together — and the amazing friendship that you'll have. You had to discover that for yourself, and I couldn't get in the way of that. And in our original version, younger Spock says, 'I'm still not sold.' Elder Spock said, 'Well, don't take my word for it,' and he handed him a little disc — a DVD, really — that projected a hologram, and then he walked away. And the hologram was of Kirk. It would've been Shatner.

Shatner's voice-over would then play over the final minutes of the film. They ultimately weren't convinced it was worth it to go ahead with the scene so they scrapped it. Read more about what they had to say over HERE.

Source: MTV

Extra Tidbit: Take a look at Shatner watching the STAR TREK trailer for the first time HERE.

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c00lbreeze
6:13PM on 05/15/2009 Add as a friend | MFC profile
Reboot
It's not a reboot in the sense that they just remade the series since technology is better than it was 30 some odd years ago. It basically pulls a back to the future 2 where a chain of events skews the timeline and creates an alternate timeline so basically some of the stuff we know from the star trek movies may happen but differently or may not happen at all. Plus, I love Shatner but it would ...
It's not a reboot in the sense that they just remade the series since technology is better than it was 30 some odd years ago. It basically pulls a back to the future 2 where a chain of events skews the timeline and creates an alternate timeline so basically some of the stuff we know from the star trek movies may happen but differently or may not happen at all. Plus, I love Shatner but it would have felt like it was just thrown in there for sh*ts and giggles but ultimately wouldn't have really made any impact to the story line.
 
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Canto
4:39PM on 05/13/2009 Add as a friend | MFC profile
I thought that this was a reboot, so why couldn't Shatner come back?
I thought that this was a reboot, so why couldn't Shatner come back?
 
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Grand_Marquis
4:06PM on 05/13/2009 Add as a friend | MFC profile
On the bright side, maybe they'll utilize this idea in the sequel. That would be awesome. Whatever they do for the next one, Shatner MUST cameo.

Also, Nimoy's voice over at the end was brilliant, and I'm happy they chose that direction.
On the bright side, maybe they'll utilize this idea in the sequel. That would be awesome. Whatever they do for the next one, Shatner MUST cameo.

Also, Nimoy's voice over at the end was brilliant, and I'm happy they chose that direction.
 
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TBagNUrMom
2:09PM on 05/13/2009 Add as a friend | MFC profile
speechless
I like the idea of the disc w/ Shatner on it, but worked fine without it as well. Man I f**king love William Shatner. His Takei response after watching the trailer was brilliant. Say what you want about him, but to me he is the real James T. Kirk and always will be. Now F**K OFF!
I like the idea of the disc w/ Shatner on it, but worked fine without it as well. Man I f**king love William Shatner. His Takei response after watching the trailer was brilliant. Say what you want about him, but to me he is the real James T. Kirk and always will be. Now F**K OFF!
 
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bass0901
1:40PM on 05/13/2009 Add as a friend | MFC profile
Shatner
In trying to be faithful to the show's "cannon" does that mean they made realistic phaser-type weapons? Anywhooo...the Shatner ending would have worked. I'm sorry they didn't do it.
In trying to be faithful to the show's "cannon" does that mean they made realistic phaser-type weapons? Anywhooo...the Shatner ending would have worked. I'm sorry they didn't do it.
 
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Call me Indiana
1:38AM on 05/13/2009 Add as a friend | MFC profile
I think the Shatner ending could have worked. It sounds pretty cool to me. You know what they should have done? Filmed the Shatner ending, then test screen the movie with both endings for a couple different audiences, and see which had the higher percentage for likability. Worse came to worse, we would have at least had an alternate ending for the dvd. Seriously, why couldn't they have don...
I think the Shatner ending could have worked. It sounds pretty cool to me. You know what they should have done? Filmed the Shatner ending, then test screen the movie with both endings for a couple different audiences, and see which had the higher percentage for likability. Worse came to worse, we would have at least had an alternate ending for the dvd. Seriously, why couldn't they have done that? It's not like they didn't know how much Shatner wanted to be involved.
 
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ScottN01
11:22PM on 05/12/2009 Add as a friend | MFC profile
This ending would have worked too...
I would have liked to have seen the Shatner ending. It sounded like it would have been cool.

I should note that Kirk DID in fact come back to life after 'Generations'. Shatner wrote a 9 books series which is called by fans as the 'Shatnerverse'. It starts with the first book 'Ashes of Eden' and then goes into 'The Return' in which the Romulans and the Borg bring Kirk back from th...
I would have liked to have seen the Shatner ending. It sounded like it would have been cool.

I should note that Kirk DID in fact come back to life after 'Generations'. Shatner wrote a 9 books series which is called by fans as the 'Shatnerverse'. It starts with the first book 'Ashes of Eden' and then goes into 'The Return' in which the Romulans and the Borg bring Kirk back from the dead to kill Picard. It finishes out in 'Avenger'. These books all ROCK OUT! The first three are the return of Kirk and the second trilogy deals with the Mirror Universe Kirk (Tiberius) trying to kill our Kirk, and the third series has Kirk going up again the Totality, which had been planning an earth invasion and been leading everything along since Starfleet and Kirk got control of the Enterprise in the early days. These books are great if you're a Kirk fan, since Kirk always seems to outshine Picard and Riker in every scene, so you know Shatner had his hands all over these books. You can get 8 of the 9 from Audible. Read by the Shat himself! And they end in the ninth book with Kirk, Scotty, Old McCoy, and Old Spock in a new ship out in space and going on secret missions for the Federation. Great stuff! So Kirk is STILL out there!
 
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JohnLocke2342
11:00PM on 05/12/2009 Add as a friend | MFC profile
Star Trek was perfect how it is... and because Kirk died in Generations, and went down like a champion with a great emotional exit I can't see him coming back for a cameo just to wink at the audience... it's not worth it.
Star Trek was perfect how it is... and because Kirk died in Generations, and went down like a champion with a great emotional exit I can't see him coming back for a cameo just to wink at the audience... it's not worth it.
 
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gameslave
9:27PM on 05/12/2009 Add as a friend | MFC profile
theres always the sequel, hahah! imagine a scene like in one f the old star trek episodes (the title slips my mind) where Kirk starts aging rapidly, and instead of caking makeup on Chris Pine, just have Shatner come in to do it! LMAO!!!
theres always the sequel, hahah! imagine a scene like in one f the old star trek episodes (the title slips my mind) where Kirk starts aging rapidly, and instead of caking makeup on Chris Pine, just have Shatner come in to do it! LMAO!!!
 
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emjoi
7:47PM on 05/12/2009 Add as a friend | MFC profile
*Help me Obi Wan. You're my only hope.*
"Oops, sorry. Wrong disc."
*Help me Obi Wan. You're my only hope.*
"Oops, sorry. Wrong disc."
 
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zohan
7:43PM on 05/12/2009 Add as a friend | MFC profile
movie is fine as is. shatner is hilarious

it would've been sweet to see an actor or character from TNG in there tho...maybe brent spiner could play an ancestor of dr noonien soong...or michael dorn could play a captive klingon that's worf's great great grandpa or something
movie is fine as is. shatner is hilarious

it would've been sweet to see an actor or character from TNG in there tho...maybe brent spiner could play an ancestor of dr noonien soong...or michael dorn could play a captive klingon that's worf's great great grandpa or something
 
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Mandee
7:29PM on 05/12/2009 Add as a friend | MFC profile
Okay as is
I like the current ending -- and as Starburst says, it was "a thrill to hear Nimoy say those classic words".
I like the current ending -- and as Starburst says, it was "a thrill to hear Nimoy say those classic words".
 
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Stratburst
6:27PM on 05/12/2009 Add as a friend | MFC profile
Unnecessary
The way they handled it in Star Trek was fine. I was happy they didn't have Shatner as Kirk in there, especially since Christopher Pine (?)'s take on the character was so different from Shatner's.

And yeah, it was a thrill to hear Nimoy say those classic words, clicking from false teeth and all. :D
The way they handled it in Star Trek was fine. I was happy they didn't have Shatner as Kirk in there, especially since Christopher Pine (?)'s take on the character was so different from Shatner's.

And yeah, it was a thrill to hear Nimoy say those classic words, clicking from false teeth and all. :D
 
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dillisasexyman
5:54PM on 05/12/2009 Add as a friend | MFC profile
The was amazing as is. I think the Shatner bit would feel forced.
The was amazing as is. I think the Shatner bit would feel forced.
 
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track100
5:49PM on 05/12/2009 Add as a friend | MFC profile
The voice over alone would have been beyond awesome. As soon as I heard Nimoy, I wondered why they didn't have Shatner do it.
The voice over alone would have been beyond awesome. As soon as I heard Nimoy, I wondered why they didn't have Shatner do it.
 
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ANTI
5:06PM on 05/12/2009 Add as a friend | MFC profile
Sounds interesting too bad they didn't at least film it as an alternate ending to the dvd.

and the way Kirk dies in Generations was so freakin' stupid,it pisses me off just thinking about it.
Sounds interesting too bad they didn't at least film it as an alternate ending to the dvd.

and the way Kirk dies in Generations was so freakin' stupid,it pisses me off just thinking about it.
 
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Spoonard
4:37PM on 05/12/2009 Add as a friend | MFC profile
Awesome!
I can see how people who havent yet seen the movie might think it's a cheesy type of ending. But once you have seen the movie, I think you'll agree that it would have been really cool!
I can see how people who havent yet seen the movie might think it's a cheesy type of ending. But once you have seen the movie, I think you'll agree that it would have been really cool!
 
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Spoonard
4:31PM on 05/12/2009 Add as a friend | MFC profile
Awesome!
I can see how people who havent yet seen the movie might think it's a cheesy type of ending. But once you have seen the movie, I think you'll agree that it would have been really cool!
I can see how people who havent yet seen the movie might think it's a cheesy type of ending. But once you have seen the movie, I think you'll agree that it would have been really cool!
 
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LoCkEd_N_LoAdEd
4:15PM on 05/12/2009 Add as a friend | MFC profile
AWESOME
but what would have shatner done in the hologram?
but what would have shatner done in the hologram?
 
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IamNoOne666
4:15PM on 05/12/2009 Add as a friend | MFC profile
sounds like it would have been a cool ending.
sounds like it would have been a cool ending.