William Shatner and J.J. Abrams have an intriguing history. When Abrams went to work on 2009’s Star Trek, he tried to get Shatner to sign on for a cameo, but the actor refused, insisting that he wanted a more substantial role. At the time, Abrams generously explained that Shatner deserved the role he wanted, but claimed he couldn’t find a way to make this work in the film. “The truth is, the story that we were telling required a certain adherence to the Trek canon and consistency of storytelling,” Abrams told AMC in 2008. “It’s funny, a lot of the people who were proclaiming that he must be in this movie were the same people saying it must adhere to canon. Well, his character died on screen. Maybe a smarter group of filmmakers could have figured out how to resolve that.”
While promoting his new animated film Escape From Planet Earth, Shatner was asked about Abrams and his decision to direct the next installment of rival franchise Star Wars. Tapping into his unmistakably dry sense of humour, the actor had some damning—and complimentary—words for the sci-fi auteur. “He’s being a pig,” Shatner told Movie Fanatic. “He’s collecting the two franchises and holding them close to his vest. He’s probably the most talented director of that ilk we have, but he’s gone too far this time.”
Fortunately, Shatner and J.J. are sushi buddies, a pastime that should give them a platform to discuss their differences. If all goes according to plan, Shatner might also be able to talk his way into one of these franchises, though something tells us it won’t be Star Wars. “I think it’s time for J.J. and I to have another sushi and let me put him straight about two of the largest franchises,” he said, before concluding with an undeniable fact: “Not employing me in either one of them, I think, is just foolhardy.”
