Shatner set for Star Trek sequelBy Peter Mitchell, AAPOctober 21, 2009, 5:07 am Send-- -- <p><a href="http://fidweek.econoday.com/">This text</a>to economic calendar.</p>

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Date Posted: 20:05:33 10/20/09 Tue
Author: off to do mag 2pm openBig Issue296--done its low twice 293/4
Subject: Shatner set for Star Trek sequelBy Peter Mitchell, AAPOctober 21, 2009, 5:07 am Send--

Shatner set for Star Trek sequelBy Peter Mitchell, AAP October 21, 2009, 5:07 am Send

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Hollywood director JJ Abrams appears set to beam William Shatner up to the Star Trek sequel.

Abrams suffered plenty of criticism from Star Trek fans when he opted not to cast Shatner, the original Captain James T Kirk of the USS Enterprise, in this year's big screen update of the iconic sci-fi film and TV series.

Abrams did cast the original Spock, Leonard Nimoy.

Star Trek was one of the most successful films of 2009, earning almost $US400 million ($A430.02 million) at the worldwide box office, and with a sequel set for release in theatres in 2011, Abrams confirmed Shatner may be offered a role.

"I would love to work with him," Abrams told reporters in Los Angeles at a press conference to promote the release of the Star Trek DVD.

"We speak. We actually have a lunch date planned."

Abrams opted to make Star Trek a prequel, winding the clock back to the early years of the Star Trek crew with young actors Chris Pine (Kirk), Zachary Quinto (Spock) and Simon Pegg (Montgomery Scott) filling the lead roles.

While Abrams and screenwriters Bob Orci and Alex Kurtzman managed to find a way to bring Nimoy back, they opted against offering Shatner a role.

The dilemma they faced is examined in "The Shatner Conundrum", one of the extra features on the Star Trek DVD.

"It was a foregone conclusion we wanted him in the movie," Abrams explained.

"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."

The success of Abrams' Star Trek and the welcome Pine, Quinto, Pegg and other new actors received from Trekkies will make it easier to introduce Shatner into the sequel, Abrams said.

"In terms of moving forward, I am open to anything," Abrams added.

"I feel like the first movie did some of the heavy lifting that needed to be done in order to free us to continue going forward. Maybe there's less of a burden and there's going to be more opportunity to work with him (Shatner)."

The Star Trek DVD, set for release in Australia on October 29, is filled with extras, including gag reels, three hours of bonus footage, commentary, secrets behind the costumes and sets and deleted scenes that reveal a side story involving Eric Bana's villainous character Nero.

The DVD also includes what is billed as "ground-breaking augmented reality technology" which, through a webcam, allows a 3D holographic tour of the Enterprise.

Abrams said the decision to hold the world premiere for Star Trek at the Sydney Opera House in April was the perfect launch pad for the movie.

"I have been to Sydney before and I loved it the first time," Abrams told AAP in a video interview.

"This last time it was so surreal. First of all I had never been to the Opera House which could not have been more beautiful.

"The reception was off the charts.

"The people were so kind.

"It was beautiful, maybe not atypical Sydney weather, but I called my wife and said 'We might have to move here'.

"I am serious.

"I want to go back not just for professional reasons.

"I just want to go back because it is fantastic."

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