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Can anyone imagine a cowboy classic without John Wayne? A Dracula horror flick without Bela Lugosi? A "Friday the 13th" without Freddy Kreuger? A Marx Brothers comedy without Groucho? A cutesy 1930s musical without Shirley Temple? An Indiana Jones movie without Harrison Ford?

So, how can any Hollywood mogul ever consider making a new Star Trek movie without Bill Shatner? Paramount expects to release its new film in December 2008, and all the officers from the original Enterprise line-up from the TV series and movies will be played by younger actors. But, as of current planning, no Bill Shatner will be there with them.

Shatner, age 76, is publicly peeved because he has not been asked to make a guest appearance as the original Captain Kirk. He has a good argument. His original first officer, Leonard Nimoy, also 76, has a part in the film as an older Spock, and will be in some scenes depicting the future for the young actor portraying the pointy-eared half-Vulcan in his prime.

Shatner isn't hurting financially about his lack of employment in the next Star Trek movie. Far from it. He has a regular role in the popular "Boston Legal" TV series, is a successful novelist, does many voiceover gigs and makes a bundle of money as TV commercial pitchman for Priceline.com. It won't be necessary to stage a charity event for poor, old Captain Kirk.

With Shatner's enormous star power and audience loyalty, both now and in the past, the producers of the new movie may be making a big, financial mistake. They're foolishly hurting their box office potential if they keep the original and classic Captain Kirk from once more boldly going where he used to go.

Learn more about this author, Ted Sherman.
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