Shatner to play Kirk in Enterprise. And Star Trek XI is a prequel.

[Deja Q]

From an e-mail:


Berman: Shatner Would Play 'Kirk', Plus: ENT Wedding Bells? and Frakes to
Direct TREK XI? (SPOILERS)

By Steve Krutzler / 14:27, 21 July 2004 / Enterprise

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The rumor mill shows no signs of slowing down any time soon. Producer Rick
Berman let more fly yesterday at the UPN fall press preview in Los Angeles
yesterday. According to Sci-Fi Wire, the STAR TREK: ENTERPRISE and feature
franchise head honcho offered no shortage of spoilers on a range of
subjects. On the subject of the much-discussed William Shatner guest
appearance on the series, Berman revealed that the actor would most
certainly play 'James T. Kirk':

"He had a terrific episode , and we had a nice long lunch meeting with
him a couple of weeks ago," Berman says. "And there's a lot of things that
need to get ironed out in terms of scheduling, in terms of money. ... But he
would play an incarnation of a' Kirk', yes. He would not be playing another
character."

Berman also layed out a map for the first few episodes of the season.

"The first two episodes <"Storm Front"> are going to be a small arc," he
says. "And then there's going to be a single episode. And then there's going
to be a three-episode arc. And there's going to be some levity, and there's
also going to be some heavy subjects dealt with."

The second arc he speaks of has been confirmed as a story involving a guest
appearance of Brent Spiner ('Data') as the great-great-grandfather of 'Dr.
Noonien Soong' who opposes the development of artificial intelligence.

The exec also revealed two more upcoming guest stars: THE SOPRANOS Steve
Schirripa will appear in the season premiere; and GIRLFRIENDS' Golden Brooks
will do a stint. The former may play one of the NYC
mobsters-turned-freedom-fighters that teams up with 'Archer' and 'Alicia
Silvers', an African American resistance figher likely played by Brooks.

Joining Berman in the spoiler-filled press conference was Jolene Blalock,
who dropped the bomb that her character 'T'Pol' "may" be getting married in
episode three. Berman added that the entire Temporal Cold War will be
wrapped up by the end of episode two, and that despite contradictory remarks
of late, co-creator and co-executive producer Brannon Braga will take on a
"more executive role" as Manny Coto is the new "show runner."

On the feature side of things, Berman added more intrigue to the reports of
a prequel (possibly STARFLEET ACADEMY, story) film being in the early stages
of development. He revealed that he's having a meeting with STAR TREK: FIRST
CONTACT and INSURRECTION and THUNDERBIRDS helmer Jonathan Frakes ('Riker')
about the project soon. Sci-Fi Wire says Berman has had "talks" with Frakes
ahead of the meeting.

"I spoke to Jonathan about a half an hour ago," Berman said "There are very,
very early conversations going on about a film project. But they're so early
that it's really kind of silly to talk about it now."

He again emphasized that the project has absolutely no relation to any
existing STAR TREK characters.

"It would be an entirely new setting and an entirely new set of characters,
and it would take place prior to any of the series, including ENTERPRISE."

For the original reports, visit this page and this page.

In related news, Mediaweek reports that CBS and UPN chief Leslie Moonves
told journalists that ENTERPRISE was almost cancelled: "If STAR TREK had
cost the license fee that it cost a year ago, a different decision may have
been made."


How can they bring back Kirk with any credibility at all?!

Didn't Paramount think of a prequel for Trek VI originally? Wasn't the idea also nixed?

Isn't 'Enterprise' supposed to be a prequel? Apparently, if one does something and it flops, may as well do the same thing again and expect better results...? :shrug:

[wyldwolf]

1. In Trek 6, infinite echoes of Kirk are still in the Nexus

..I think Guinan said he could leave in any time period... something like that.

It was written that way as a way to bring Kirk back.

And seriously, all the "breaking Trek continuity" talk that goes around is just that - talk. In Sci-Fi, all is possible.

[Deja Q]

2. Hmmm

Kirk left the Nexus in the 24th century so he could get shot in the back by namby-pamby Dr Sorin. (I've read deleted scenes that actually give Sorin some menace... but Trek VII was so hamfistedly put together... the original cut was over 3 hours long for starters!)

And if trek continuity is nothing, how come Berman actually bothered to make some continuity during the TNG TV show? (by mid-DS9 he kept DS9 continuity but dropped the rest of Trek lore unless it suited him...)

[wyldwolf]

3. hmmm

Re-watch the movie.

Picard meets Guinan in the Nexus. But isn't she in the 24th century at the same time?

She explains that she is just an "echo."

It was written as a way to revive Kirk if the writers needed to.

Never said continuity was "nothing." Said all the talk about breaking continuity is just talk.

Every instance where someone says continuity has been breached is can be explained.

[Deja Q]

6. Good call!!

So Kirk is trapped in the Nexus for good.

Preferable to reading Shatner's Kirk-oriented books... :-) (I read "The Return" and did not want to read another,,,)

[wyldwolf]

8. yeah, but he can leave at any point if he wants to BUT...

...the NEXUS is like a drug - people don't want to leave.... unless... an alien force of unprecedented power was on a direct course for earth... and I could get my ship... enterprise..back.. again...!

[mistertrickster]

4. Question--don't you think they would have found a cure for obesity

by then?

"Dammit, Jim, I'm a doctor . . . take these pills and drop a few pounds for gosh sakes!"

BTW, the T'Pol babe? Is she African-American, do you think?

I think "yes." But she totally rocks regardless of race . . .

[wyldwolf]

5. Kirk was always the exception

In Wrath of Khan, McCoy gave him a pair of bi-focals because he was allergic to the cure for near sightedness!

[Deja Q]

7. I didn't write the e-mail...

I could care less if Jolene Ballock is a chameleon. For a woman she is good looking. I'm still gay though. :-)