SPOILERS: TREK story details
IESB has story scraps from Abrams' STAR TREK, including how we first meet Kirk
I have no idea what to expect from the new Star Trek film. Well, I didn't until I read this report from IESB. According to the site (spoilers ahoy!) this is the gist of the movie:
"Romulans from the future, most likely TNG time frame lead by a Romulan named Nero, played by Eric Bana, finds the City on the Edge of Forever and uses the Guardian of Forever to go back in time and kill the person who has been the biggest thorn in the Romulans side and is crucial to the success of the Federation and Starfleet, James T. Kirk. Mr. Spock, played by Leonard Nimoy in the original timeline, becomes aware of Neros plan (not clear on the details of how he knows) and also goes back in time to protect his best friend, James Kirk. This is where the Old Spock (Nimoy) and Young Spock (Quinto) meet. Old Spock warns young Spock about Neros plans and its up to them to protect the future Captain Kirk and also help try to protect the timeline and the future of the Federation and Starfleet."The Guardian of Forever refers to a classic Star Trek episode where the crew go back in time to save the life of Joan Collins (what the hell?!). Check out the trailer for the episode:
I'm still of the believe that this movie will bomb on release. And not in the way Superman Returns did, more a tanking in the style of Serenity. Trekkies will be there for sure but they are few in numbers and won't prop this movie up through repeat viewings. Plus there is nobody in the cast that's a big name or an audience draw.
Abrams and gang will have to come up with an action packed, tight as hell story and cut some amazing trailers to get people into the idea of Star Trek.
I'm not much of a fan of this franchise at all - I liked bits of the whale one, Generations and First Contact, though never any film as a whole - however I'll be there because I believe J.J. Abrams is a filmmaker of some talent and despite the cast looking like on misfire after another I'll make a judgment when I see some stills and footage of them in the roles.
As for Shatner and the desire to find a role for him... if that is the plot of the film then I don't see why they can't find somewhere to put him. More likely they don't actually want him - probably due to the fact he, unlike Leonard Nimoy, has become a laughing stock in recent years.