The New Trek Movie/Shatner Controversy Is the Most Polite Controversy of All Time
So about a week or so ago, wunder-direktor J.J. Abrams claimed that he offered Wlliam Shatner a cameo in his new Star Trek movie, but that it didn’t work, and Shatner wanted more focus on Kirk than the movie could give. Now Shatner has replied via his YouTube channel (also: Shatner has a YouTube channel) where he denies he was offered a role, but has no problems with Abrams, the new Trek movie, or anybody. I was expecting to report this and have to bitch about how both sides are lying, that we’ll never know the truth, that both Abrams and Shatner are needlessly being shitty. But actually, this is the most polite, nice “fight” I’ve ever seen. Abrams says Shatner deserves as a big a cameo as possible; Shatner loves Abrams’ work and hopes the new Trek movie launches a new franchise. I don’t know what the truth is here, but I’m pleased as punch that these guys couldn’t think more highly of each other, even when one of them has to be lying.
About The Author
Robert Bricken is one of the original co-founders of the site formerly known as Topless Robot, and its first editor-in-chief, serving from 2008-12. He brought the site to prominence with “nerd news, humor and self-loathing” as its motto, raising it from total internet obscurity to a readership in the millions, with help from his savage “FAQ” movie reviews and Fan Fiction Fridays. Under his tenure Topless Robot was covered by Gawker, Wired, Defamer, New York magazine, ABC News, and others, and his articles have been praised by Roger Ebert, Avengers actor Clark Gregg, comedian and The Daily Show correspondent John Hodgman, the stars of Mystery Science Theater 3000 and Rifftrax, and others. He is currently the managing editor of io9.com. Despite decades as both an amateur and professional nerd, he continues to be completely unprepared for either the zombie apocalypse or the robot uprising.