Key takeaways:
– William Shatner candidly discusses his challenges during the making of Star Trek V: The Final Frontier.
– The iconic actor deeply regrets not being adequately prepared to deal with the production of a large motion picture.
– Shatner’s new documentary, You Can Call Me Bill, is set to release on March 22nd.
William Shatner Reflects on His Career
As William Shatner, the legendary actor of Star Trek fame, enters a reflective phase of his life, he finds himself the focus of a new documentary aptly titled You Can Call Me Bill. The film offers an in-depth exploration of his celebrated career. Naturally, a significant portion of this retrospective centers around his era-defining stint on Star Trek.
Shatner’s Star Trek Journey
Embodying Captain James T. Kirk in the classic Star Trek series, Shatner fostered many memorable on-screen moments. The actor has now taken the opportunity to shine a spotlight on some of the highs and lows of his illustrious Star Trek journey. One of his most noteworthy reflections centers around his involvement in Star Trek V: The Final Frontier. His ambitious endeavor to both conceive a compelling story and direct the film is a chapter of his career that he is now ready to examine.
The Hollywood Reporter recently had the opportunity to sit down with Shatner and delve into various phases of his career, including his roles in T.J. Hooker and Boston Legal.
Facing Star Trek V Challenges
When the conversation turned to Star Trek V, Shatner did not hesitate to lay bare the feelings of overwhelm that plagued him during that project. Hollywood Reporter acknowledged that while Star Trek V has gained a fanbase over the years, they asked Shatner if he had intended to globally expand the Star Trek universe through extensive on-location filming. Shatner admitted his regret over not possessing the necessary courage or support to bring his vision to fruition, stating, “My concept was, ‘Star Trek goes in search of God,’ and management said, ‘Well, who’s God? We’ll alienate the nonbeliever, so, no, we can’t do God.’”
Shatner revealed his struggle with managing both project leadership and the budget. He confessed, “In my mind, I failed horribly. When I’m asked, ‘What do you regret the most?,’ I regret not being equipped emotionally to deal with a large motion picture.”
The Role of Budget in Shatner’s Star Trek Vision
Upon being probed about how much the budget might have hindered his project, Shatner took full responsibility. He reminisced about wanting to create a spectacle with granite creatures exploding from a mountain for the movie’s finale, but was hindered by budgetary restrictions. Considering the film’s budget of $30 million, the proposed cost of $2.5 million for just ten prototype suits was considerable.
The actor finally settled for one suit, intending to film it from different angles to create the illusion of ten. However, this plan did not pan out as intended, and it was ultimately abandoned.
Looking Ahead
You Can Call Me Bill, the documentary reflecting on Shatner’s storied career, is set to release on March 22nd. Fans and admirers of the legendary actor can look forward to more such fascinating insights into his life and career. In the end, Shatner’s frankness about his Star Trek V journey underscores a philosophy that is likely at the heart of his enduring success – the ability to look back, reflect on one’s failures, and continue to boldly go where few have gone before.
