As a longtime Star Trek fan who has witnessed the evolution of this universe since the original series graced our screens, I must say that the recent short film featuring a younger William Shatner is a remarkable feat that both thrills and leaves me with a mix of emotions.
As we savor the last episodes of “Star Trek: Lower Decks” and eagerly anticipate new “Star Trek” series, a delightful surprise emerged. A brief film starring a youthful William Shatner was posted online, acting as something of an epilogue to the movie “Generations.” The innovative de-aging technique revives the iconic “Enterprise” captain in his younger days, and I find myself torn between admiration and dislike for it.
I’ve gone back and forth on using this type of tech in Star Trek ever since Shatner said he’d be ok with AI being used for him after his death. He’s an executive producer on this collaboration with OTOY and the Nimoy Estate. I appreciate that all parties involved consented to this ambitious project, but I still have things to say before we see this tech on any Trek show on the 2025 TV schedule.
I Think William Shatner’s Return To Star Trek Was Done About As Well As It Could Be Done
Being someone who’s skeptical about modern de-aging technology, I must acknowledge that Unification has managed to impress me with their approach. They cleverly cast prolific Star Wars voice actor Sam Witwer to embody James T. Kirk (Lawrence Selleck), while using a blend of prosthetics and digital effects to achieve the desired appearance. Notably, William Shatner’s voice graces this short production.
While I think there’s an argument to be made there’s more Sam Witwer than William Shatner in the performance, I think this is the best way to do it. De-aging the actual actor only does so much, as we’ve seen so many times. You can take the extensive amount of time to make Samuel L. Jackson look like he did in the ’90s in Captain Marvel, but he’s still going to move around like a man decades older than he is. I think the same would’ve happened with Shatner, who is 93.
The human body has an innate ability to identify what’s not human, resulting in the strange sensation often referred to as the “uncanny valley”. Consequently, mimicking something that appears human can be quite challenging. However, I must admit, this is remarkably lifelike for its kind.
Seeing The Faces of Leonard Nimoy And William Shatner’s Characters Together Again Is Emotional And Weird
Without Leonard Nimoy’s estate’s approval, I might find that particular scene inappropriate. However, with their blessing, it brings a smile to my face and reminds me of the joy of watching these two iconic characters share the screen once more – a moment that many Star Trek fans would have cherished if the original Spock actor were still alive.
Simultaneously, there’s a part of me that feels uncomfortable reveling in this scene as much as I do. The charm of Shatner’s Kirk and Nimoy’s Spock for me lies significantly in the genuine friendship these two men developed off-screen later in life. If the allure of this scene stems from seeing these actors reunited, and one is no longer alive, it leaves me with a somewhat unsettling feeling. It seems as though my enjoyment is being intentionally manipulated, exploiting a person whose memory holds greater significance for those who knew him closely than it does for me.
There is a part of me that thinks maybe it just needs to be normalized more. After all, I see plenty of fan art of these specific iterations of the characters, and I don’t have such a strange reaction to it. Perhaps if it continues to happen in media, it’ll be easier for me and others who have problems with it to embrace it. For now, though, I’m on the side of saying it feels weird, and maybe a little wrong.
I Still Don’t Believe This Is Superior To The Recasting Method
Although the visual effects appear impressive, it’s challenging to fully endorse this technology due to certain factors. The presentation of the technology is meticulously done by Unification, ensuring that some potential flaws are minimized. For instance, there’s no dialogue in the movie, a choice that can sometimes affect facial appearances, as I see it. Moreover, it’s important to note that this piece is just shy of 11 minutes long, significantly shorter than a typical episode of Star Trek.
How is the development going with the live-action comedy of Star Trek? Tawny Newsome, an actor from Lower Decks, recently shared some encouraging news.
It doesn’t seem like using this resemblance for an entire episode, series, or movie within Star Trek would be visually appealing, as it appears the franchise’s decision-makers share that viewpoint. They have already moved past the idea of recasting key roles in the past, and if you were to ask who James T. Kirk is currently portrayed by, you’d find the answer to be either Chris Pine or Paul Wesley.
In my view, it seems appropriate that things should be done this way, as demonstrated by the struggles of franchises such as Star Wars when attempting alternative methods. While it was exciting to see Mark Hamill reprise his role as Luke Skywalker in The Mandalorian, there were controversies involved. I often ponder how much more impactful Luke could have been if the franchise had gone ahead with recasting and giving a new actor an opportunity to excel.
I find myself expressing appreciation for the new Captain Kirk actors’ performances since they assumed the role. Instead of arguing about whether it looks authentic or not, I prefer discussing their strengths and weaknesses. However, I reserve the right to modify my opinion as these actors grow and evolve in their work with this technology.
If chatting about it has sparked your interest in revisiting the 30th anniversary of Star Trek: Generations, you can stream it immediately with a Paramount+ subscription. I highly recommend giving it another look, as I found myself appreciating it more than before upon my recent viewing.
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2024-11-22 19:37