Shatner Still Thinks of Kirk as Part of Himself

Preparing for the debut of his new ABC game show Show Me the Money, William Shatner continues to appear in the news, saying that there is a part of himself in Captain Kirk and expressing doubt that the role could be recast.

At the 28th annual St. Louis Jewish Book Festival, Shatner told a crowd that "There is a part of me in him...and Kirk in me," according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Inaugurating the 11-day book festival, Shatner discussed the dedication pages of his own books, which include acknowledgments of two of his dogs, the doctors who helped cure his tinnitus his late wife Nerine and current wife Elizabeth.

"Those dedications reflect parts of my life," said Shatner, who has plans to bring his therapeutic horse riding charity to Israel to benefit Israeli, Bedouin, Palestinian and Jordanian children with disabilities. The actor signed copies of his Star Trek novel Captain's Glory but said he no longer watches episodes of Star Trek, explaining, "It's like looking at an old photograph of yourself, only mine's playing every day somewhere in the world. I don't like the aging process and do everything to deny it."

Meanwhile, TV Guide posted a preview of an upcoming interview with Shatner by quoting the actor as saying he had had "a long talk" with producer J.J. Abrams about Star Trek XI.

If the film indeed focuses on the early days of James T. Kirk, Shatner was asked, who should play him? "I think it's essentially uncastable," replied Shatner with a wink. He also admitted that in the DirecTV commercial in which he plays Kirk in the era of the movies, "They've got me CGI'd...they've got a computer program trying vainly to make me look younger.

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