Is Paramount Feuding with William Shatner?
'Star Trek' marketing campaign snubs Captain Kirk, ageless star isn't surprised
“Star Trek” is giving the James Bond franchise a run for its money.
The saga began in 1966 while the first 007 feature, “Dr. No,” bowed four years earlier.
Gene Roddenberry’s intergalactic vision took a knee following the original show’s three-year run. Once the series hit the big screen in 1979 the saga has lived long and, for the most part, prospered.
Credit Roddenberry for creating an indelible space franchise, a tale that allowed a galaxy of talented stars to bring it to life:
- Leonard Nimoy
- Patrick Stewart
- DeForest Kelley
- Brent Spiner
- Chris Pine
- Levar Burton
- Kate Mulgrew
None have had the impact, and longevity, of Captain James T. Kirk, immortalized by William Shatner.
Yet the 91-year-old star just got snubbed in Paramount Plus’s latest “Trek” marketing campaign, and Shatner himself isn’t shocked by the decision. The image in question features iconic “Trek” figures above the teaser text – “Star Trek: An Entire Universe to Explore.”
The visual features 11 “Trek” heroes, including Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Stewart), Spock (Nimoy), Captain Janeway (Kate Mulgrew), Captain Sisko (Avery Brooks) and Seven of Nine (Jeri Ryan).
Who’s missing? The actor who anchored the franchise and remains its heart and soul … William Shatner. The actor suggests the omission wasn’t accidental in a cryptic response to a Twitter fan’s outrage over his snub.
And that surprises you? 🤣 https://t.co/zvdW2VhaXc
— William Shatner (@WilliamShatner) March 8, 2023
Chris Gore, founder of Film Threat and host of the “Film Threat” podcast, thinks the snub is no accident.
“The exclusion of James T. Kirk in modern ‘Star Trek’ marketing is yet another example of efforts to diminish Shatner’s contribution and to emasculate strong male characters on television and at the movies,” Gore says. “There would be no ‘Star Trek’ without Kirk. Wiliam Shatner created an iconic character whose passion for exploring strange new worlds spawned a generation of fans.”
Gore adds that “Star Trek’s” legacy includes inspiring generations of Americans to “pursue working in fields including technology, science and NASA.”
Shatner didn’t share much more about the marketing snub on Twitter, other than the fact that he seemed to expect it.
The veteran star is no stranger to feuds, though.
He and “Star Trek” co-star George Takei have been publicly fighting for decades, although it’s mostly been the man known to millions as Sulu who starts each dustup.
The original will always be number one. All others, while worthy in their own right, will always be ‘also rans’. But I stopped watching STD after episode 4 as I don’t need the ESG load of BS. Gotta love the 110 lb women kicking the 6’3″ males butt. Politically correct fantasy.
Well said.
@Ja
Star Trek has been liberal since the original series.
* Racially diverse cast? Check
* Free love mindset, e.g. Kirk’s womanizing? Check
* The Federation is post-capitalist, arguably socialist utopia? Check
So, a new Trek show like Discovery being liberal is staying on brand for the franchise
You are moving the goalpost, propagandist. When Star Trek dealt with politics, it was more humanist/universal, not partisan/personal opinion, which is what your pushing for, partisan-personal opinion politics that happen to be Far Left.
I agree. Politically, there is a universe of difference between being Liberal and being Leftist. TOS was Liberal; STD is Leftist.
@Mike
How is Discovery Leftist?
@Fred2
I take it you’ve never watched Star Trek Discovery.
Today’s liberal mindset is much different than in TOS.
*And How is Kirk different than Bond?
Check
So definition of free love mindset doesn’t matriculation here.
There are some great actors in each Star Trek series that deserve some kudos. But it kind of sounds like they want to take some of the shine off William Shattner.
Animated Star Trek characters but, no Captain Kirk…. highly freaking illogical
I like all Star Trek shows except for the animated ones except the original animated one. I like the fact that Star Trek, Star Wars and finally Doctor Who is all science fiction and that’s that. I appreciate most science fiction movies,tv and books for what they are; escape from reality.
@Arthur
As a kid, I never got into the animated spinoff series for the original Trek. But I’m enjoying the new animated shows, Lower Decks and Prodigy.
No human ego is more fragile than the female human ego. A woman’s entire day can be ruined by her thinking that the jeans she put on “make her butt look big”. It is rare indeed when such nonsense troubles a man.
Canadian
William Shatner is Canadian.
Captain James Tiberius Kirk, Star Trek character played by Shatner, is American – from Iowa to be exact.
I liked him as Captain Kirk, but the rest of the cast were every bit as good. As for The Shat….he’s an ego maniac who would fight with his own shadow!
@Andrea Tobyn
Shatner does have an ego. This is so well known that the Trek parody, Galaxy Quest, couldn’t resist poking fun at it.
Yet, you’re willing to defend George Takei, who’s a miserable human being, you disgusting grifter?
Shatner himself pokes fun at himself for his overblown ego and makes no apologies for it.
I also have an ego, and so does 1,700,890,456 others. What ever should we do?
@American_League
I enjoy the animated series, Lower Decks and Prodigy. I do agree that Paramount should’ve had Will Shatner in the lineup.
Star Trek isn’t going broke. It’s been around longer than conservative media.
STD isn’t doing too well…
@Brother Bob
Star Trek: Discovery has lasted four seasons with a fifth on the way. That’s impressive in light of all the grifters on Youtube who declared the show would get the ax after its first season.
You’re the real grifter. You’re defending a show that was a failure, but keeps getting renewed for ESG reasons. You are the grifter, not the YouTubers,.
You’re the real grifter. STD was a failure, yet gets renewed for ESG reasons.
Although I do agree that Star Trek is not going broke, conservative media actually pre-dates its inception. Have you ever heard of William F. Buckley?
There would be no need for Conservative Media if there were no one WOKE.
@William Wallace
I was more of a fan of Spock than Kirk.
@drewtho
Kirk is fine, but Benjamin Sisko of Deep Space Nine is my all time favorite Captain.
Sisko has to do everything Kirk did and be a loving, responsible father and husband. That’s next level masculinity.
Oh stop being a father is not what Captain Kirk is all
About.
He was American, male amd dripping with confidence and testosterone
Canadian
Shatner was Canadian.
Kirk was American – originally born in Iowa.
Hmmm I thought he was Canadian
Shatner is Canadian. Kirk is American. Just proving there is far less difference between Americans and Canadians than some Canadians like.
Yes, especially that hapless former drama coach/queen turned full on dictator Justine Turdeau
@Sandy
I assume you’re being sarcastic about Kirk and his parenting skills.
Kirk was a top-notch explorer and strategist. But his track record as father needed work as seen in this video:
“Who Are Actually Star Trek’s Best and Worst Parents?”
https://youtu.be/oASpaeJJXiE
You’re a grifter. We don’t want a grifter like you here.
Only Willian Shatner has the gravitas to hold my interest on the show. Everyone else is a pretender. Khannnn.
They put two animated “Stars” on there graphic. How sick is that!
That they would do that rather than choose the original flag bearer of the franchise is disturbing.
They went WOKE, now watch them go BROKE.
Exactly
Puck Faramount.
Nobody in the Star Trek franchise has ever been able to outshine Captain James T Kirk. The original and the best.
In the supreme uphill battle against all odds Kirk was your man. Verile, often frisky and a leader .. and always Human. Kirk was my favorite Star Trek character
I agree
Shat is (more or less) Conservative. Of course they don’t like him. Seems like a great guy.
Shatter is a life long democrat support….
True but he’s no whiny butt hurt Wokester like Takei
I wonder how long this war on men can continue? Good times make weak men. But now the bad times are here…
War on men? Hahahaha Your fragile male ego is showing. Get over yourself and your false ideas of the world and what it means to be a man. You and this fool they quote need to get a life.
And what do you know of the world? Tried living in Eastern Europe, Russia, Asia or the Middle East? No? Then how in the world do you know men are like? I also don’t see anything in Rebs comment that is egotistical.
What I do say is immature behaviour on your part by openly laughing and mocking another poster.
You’re the one who needs a life. You do support the war on men, soyboy.
Your message is childish.
If you think that the social marginalization and demonization of men and boys in this country isn’t real, then you are blind and deaf, and I’ll hazard a guess that it’s willful.
Fragility is learned. It is not inherent. If you think it applies only to the male ego, you deny the human condition. Women complain constantly about pretty much everything men say and do, claiming they are oppressed by men behaving in their own nature. Talk about fragility … even a sincere compliment will dial the pearl-clutching and whiny outrage up to 11 by women who weaponize their treasured sense of victimhood, which is expanded regularly. The rhetoric of their “suffering” is preposterous.
Feminists always frame their arguments in terms of men, placing their locus of control squarely in men’s domain. Whatever they think is wrong with their lives or the world as it is, it’s men’s fault and men have to fix it, whether it means being a facilitator or a docile, obedient lapdog. It isn’t enough for women to succeed and flourish on their own terms … men must be brought to heel.
It’s an utter repudiation of their own ostensible goals and aspirations. After invading men’s spaces for decades, and now that men are invading theirs, feminists are completely bereft of any moral or intellectual principle on which they might support their argument. They have hoisted themselves on their own petard.
You said it!
You just know David has blue hair and pronouns.
Shame that some people can carry the iconic name of a king without acting like one!
Oh, cut it out. You’re not going to score with the chicks by pretending to be on our side.