Shatner upset Takei didn't invite him to wedding

Thursday, October 23, 2008 9:54:15 AM

William Shatner is setting his phaser to stun against his old "Star Trek" co-star George Takei. In a video posted on Shatner's Web site Wednesday, he lashed out at Takei for not inviting him to his wedding last month.

The 77-year-old Kirk said Takei, who played Enterprise helmsman Sulu, apparently harbors a grudge against him that kept him from being invited to Takei's nuptials.

"The whole thing makes me feel badly," Shatner said in the video. "Poor man. There is such a sickness there. It's so patently obvious that there is a psychosis there. I don't know what his original thing about me was. I have no idea."

Takei and Brad Alman tied the knot Sept. 15. "Star Trek" alums Nichelle Nichols and Walter Koenig -- who played Uhura and Chekhov, respectively -- were among the attendees at the multicultural ceremony at the Japanese American National Museum. Takei and Altman had previously stated that Shatner was invited to their wedding, but he never RSVPed.

"It is unfortunate that Bill was unable to join us for our wedding as he indeed was invited to attend," Takei responded. "It is our hope that at this point he joins us in voting no on Proposition 8, which seeks to eliminate the fundamental right for same-sex couples to marry in California."

Shatner said he felt he never knew Takei when they worked together on the original TV series and later in the "Star Trek" films.

The "Boston Legal" co-star also attacked Takei's decision to come out of the closet later in life, saying "Who cares? Be gay. Don't be gay. That's up to you, George."

Shatner is confirmed NOT to appear in Star Trek XI

As I blogged before, it was unsure that William Shatner was to appear as Captain Kirk in the new Star Trek movie, when Leonard Nimoy was already set to reprise Spock's role. It now seems confirmed that Shatner will indeed not return Kirk to the big screen.

Shatner Not Aboard for New 'Star Trek'

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: October 26, 2007

Filed at 11:02 p.m. ET

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- The original Capt. Kirk is disheartened he won't get to boldly go anywhere with his old pal Spock in the new ''Star Trek'' movie. While Leonard Nimoy is reprising his role as the pointy-eared Vulcan in next year's science-fiction flick, William Shatner is not on board as Kirk.

''I couldn't believe it. I'm not in the movie at all. Leonard, God bless his heart, is in, but not me,'' Shatner, 76, told The Associated Press on Thursday. ''I thought, what a decision to make, since it obviously is a decision not to make use of the popularity I have to ensure the movie has good box office. It didn't seem to be a wise business decision.''

Director J.J. Abrams announced last summer that Nimoy would reprise the role he originated opposite Shatner in the 1960s television show and played again in six big-screen adventures.

Abrams said Shatner probably would have a part in the film, which is due in theaters in December 2008. But while Shatner said he had a couple of meetings with Abrams, nothing came of it.

Abrams' ''Trek'' film, whose plot is being kept under wraps by distributor Paramount, recounts an early adventure for the crew of the starship Enterprise, with Chris Pines as the young Kirk and Zachary Quinto as the young Spock.

The cast includes Karl Urban as Dr. McCoy, Simon Pegg as engineer Scott, John Cho as helmsman Sulu, Zoe Saldana as communications officer Uhura and Anton Yelchin as navigator Chekov, roles respectively originated by DeForest Kelley, James Doohan, George Takei, Nichelle Nichols and Walter Koenig.

Past ''Trek'' films presented an obstacle to the revival of Shatner's Kirk, who died at the end of 1994's ''Star Trek: Generations.''

But in science fiction, you can never truly say die. Spock was killed off in 1982's ''Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan'' then resurrected in 1984's ''Star Trek: The Search for Spock,'' with Nimoy's Vulcan living on to co-star in three more films, two episodes of ''Star Trek: The Next Generation'' and now Abrams' new movie.

''I've got a lot to do,'' said Shatner, whose current work includes the TV show ''Boston Legal,'' narration for the Christmas spoof ''Stalking Santa'' due on DVD on Nov. 6, and the prequel ''Star Trek: Academy -- Collision Course,'' a novel chronicling Kirk and Spock's first meeting.

Shatner says of ''Star Trek'': ''Having been in on the creation of it, I was hoping to be in on the re-creation.''