William Shatner, reflecting on his initial negative reaction to Star Trek: The Motion Picture, reveals his belief that the franchise was doomed due to the film's pacing, visual effects, and new costumes. Despite its eventual success, Shatner's perspective offers a glimpse into his early skepticism.
William Shatner ’s legacy is inextricably linked with that of the Star Trek franchise. As Captain James T. Kirk on, he helped make the ‘60s sci-fi show into a generational phenomenon. He then reprised the role in seven feature films, directedcanceled, resurrected, and rebooted countless times, but there was once a moment when even he believed it was all over.
, after a decade of fan campaigns, conventions, and a scrapped Phase II television revival, the Enterprise finally returned, this time to the big screen, under director Robert Wise. Sadly, however, Shatner himself thought the film was so bad, he was convinced they’d just killed the franchise., he recalled sitting through the completed film at its Washington, D.C., premiere and realizing he hated it. According to him, the pacing was sluggish, the visual effects overly ambitious, and the series’ energy, including the banter and the scrappy space swashbuckling, was completely lost amid long, silent flybys of the refitted Enterprise. According to Shatner, his immediate reaction was: “Well, that’s it. We gave it our best shot, it wasn’t good, and it will never happen again.”However, his disdain for the film may have subconsciously sprouted prior to the premiere. During production, Shatner claims he also had grievances about the costumes. The new Starfleet uniforms, designed by Robert Fletcher, replaced the bold primary colors ofwith sad beige humpsuits. Shatner himself called them “ugly, form-fitting, pastel-colored,” lamenting that it was “virtually impossible for any male member of our cast to sit down without seriously endangering his ability to procreate.”. However, he was wrong about the movie. Technically, it grossed over $139 million worldwide on a $44 million budget, and while it was still a slight disappointment for Paramount, it was an essential stepping stone for what would one day become one of the longest-running franchises in pop culture. Reflecting on the moment, Shater added, “Shows you what I know.” was sluggish, Shatner’s anxiety was perhaps more about the pressure surrounding the film than the actual quality. The movie and all of its collaborators had to justify’s leap from a planet-of-the-week TV series to a big-boy blockbuster. While critics were mixed, audiences showed up, and just three years later,Scream 7 Shatters Box Office Projections With Record-Breaking Opening
William Shatner Star Trek The Motion Picture Franchise Film Criticism
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
10 Modern Sci-Fi Shows That Are Almost As Good as 'Star Trek'The Mandalorian and Grogu
Read more »
25 Years After Star Trek: Voyager Ended, The Doctor Lives Up To His NameRobert Picardo as the Doctor looking inquisitive in Star Trek Starfleet Academy
Read more »
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy EPs React To Emotional Episode 8 & The Doctor's New BeginningJohn Orquiola is a New & Classic TV Editor, Senior Writer, and Interviewer with a special focus on Star Trek. John has over 5,000 published articles at SR, and he has interviewed the biggest names in Star Trek on the red carpet and VIP events, among other beloved shows, movies, and franchises.
Read more »
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy's Voyager Callbacks: The Doctor's Emotional JourneyJohn Orquiola is a New & Classic TV Editor, Senior Writer, and Interviewer with a special focus on Star Trek. John has over 5,000 published articles at SR, and he has interviewed the biggest names in Star Trek on the red carpet and VIP events, among other beloved shows, movies, and franchises.
Read more »
'Star Trek: Starfleet Academy' is making Trek horny again, and it's about time!Matthew has more than 30 years of experience talking about movies, TV shows, and video games, and for 20 of those years someone has actually paid him to do it. He's just as surprised as you are.
Read more »
Shatner's Doubts: How Captain Kirk Thought Star Trek's Big-Screen Debut Would FailWilliam Shatner, reflecting on the first Star Trek movie, reveals his initial skepticism about its success, including his negative views on the pacing, special effects, and new costumes. Despite his doubts, the film was a financial success, paving the way for the enduring Star Trek franchise.
Read more »