The call came while I was out, so I didn’t get the message until days later.
“Hi,” the young-sounding secretary said on my machine, “I have Rick Berman calling for Wil. Please return when you get the message.”
I knew.
I knew before she was even done with the message, but I tried to fool myself for a few minutes anyway.
I looked at the clock: 8 PM. They’d most likely be out, so I’d have to call tomorrow.
I told Anne that I had a message to call Rick’s office, and she knew right away also.
We’d thought about it for months, ever since I’d heard the rumors online. Of course, I tend to not put a whole lot of stock in what I read online…if I did I’d be overwhelmed with the sheer amount of hot teen bitches who want to get naked for me right now, and I’d be rolling in Nigerian money.
But it made sense, and I couldn’t fight what I knew in my heart to be true.
I returned the call late the next day from my car on my way home from work. I was driving along a narrow tree-lined street in Pasadena that I sometimes take when the traffic is heavy on the freeway.
Children played on bikes and jumped rope in the growing shadows of the July afternoon. The street was stained a beautiful orange by the setting sun.
“This is Wil Wheaton returning,” I told her.
She tells me to hold on, and then he’s on the phone.
“Hi kiddo. How are you?”
“I’m doing fine. You know I turn 30 on Monday?”
There is a pause.
“I can’t believe we’re all getting so old,” he says.
“I know. I emailed Tommy [his son] awhile ago, and he’s in college now. If that made me feel old, I can’t imagine what my turning 30 is doing to the rest of you guys.”
We chuckle. This is probably just small-talk, so it’s not as severe when he tells me, but it feels good regardless. Familiar, familial.
“Listen, Wil. I have bad news.”
Although I’ve suspected it for months, and I have really known it since I heard the message the night before, my stomach tightens, my arms grow cold.
“We’ve had to cut your scene from the movie.”
He pauses for breath, and that moment is frozen, while I assess my feelings.
I almost laugh out loud at what I discover: I feel puzzled.
I feel puzzled, because the emotions I expected: the sadness, the anger, the indignation…aren’t there.
I realize that he’s waiting for me.
“Why’d you have to cut it?”
This doesn’t make sense. I should be furious. I should be depressed. I shuould be hurt.
But I don’t feel badly, at all.
“Well, it doesn’t have anything to do with you,” he begins.
I laugh silently. It never does. When I don’t get a part, or a callback, or get cut from a movie, it never has anything to do with me. Like a sophmore romance. “It’s not you. It’s me. I’ve met Jimmy Kimmel’s cousin, and things just happened.”
There is an unexpected sincerity to what he tells me: the movie is long. The first cut was almost 3 hours. The scene didn’t contribute to the main story in any way, so it was the first one to go.
He tells me that they’ve cut 48 minutes from the movie.
I tell him that they’ve cut an entire episode out. We laugh.
There is another silence. He’s waiting for me to respond.
I drive past some kids playing in an inflatable pool in their front yard. On the other side of the street, neighbors talk across a chain link fence. An older man sits on his porch reading a paper.
“Well Rick,” I begin, “I completely understand. I’ve thought about this on and off for months, and I knew that if the movie was long, this scene, and maybe even this entire sequence, would have to go. It’s just not germaine to the spine of the story.”
He tells me that they had to consider cutting the entire beginning of the movie. He tells me that he has to call one of the other actors because they’ve suffered rather large cuts as well.
I stop at a 4-way stop sign and let a woman and her little daughter cross the street on their way into a park filled with families, playing baseball and soccer in the waning light.
I look them. The mother’s hand carefully holding her daughter’s.
I realize why I’m not upset, and I tell him.
“Well, Rick, it’s like this: I love Star Trek, and, ultimately, I want what’s best for Star Trek and the Trekkies. If the movie is too long, you’ve got to cut it, and this scene is the first place I’d start if I were you.
“The great thing is, I got to spend two wonderful days being on Star Trek again, working with the people I love, wearing the uniform that I missed, and I got to re-connect with you, the cast, and the fans. Nobody can take that away from me.”
“And, it really means a lot to me that you called me yourself. I can’t tell you how great that makes me feel,”
It’s true. He didn’t need to call me himself. Most producers wouldn’t.
“I’m so glad that you took the time to call me, and that I didn’t have to learn about this at the screening, or by reading it on the internet.”
He tells me again how sorry he is. He asks about my family, and if I’m working on anything. I tell him they’re great, that Ryan’s turning 13, and that I’ve been enjoying steady work as a writer since January.
We’re back to small talk again, bookending the news.
I ask him how the movie looks.
He tells me that they’re very happy with it. He thinks it’s going to be very successful.
I’m feel happy and proud.
I’ve heard stories from people that everyone had lots of trouble with the director. I ask him if that’s true.
He tells me that it was tough, because the director had his own vision. There were struggles, but ultimately they collaborated to make a great film.
I come to a stoplight, a bit out of place in this quiet residential neighborhood. A young married couple walks their golden retriever across the crosswalk.
We say our goodbyes, and he admonishes me to call him if I’m ever on the lot. He tells me that he’ll never forgive me if I don’t stop into his office when I’m there.
I tell him that will, and that I’ll see him at the screening.
He wishes me well, and we hang up the phone.
The light turns green and I sit there for a moment, reflecting on the conversation.
I think back to something I wrote in April while in a pit of despair: “I wonder if The Lesson is that, in order to succeed, I need to rely upon myself, trust myself, love myself, and not put my happiness and sadness into the hands of others.”
I meant everything that I said to him. It really doesn’t matter to me if I’m actually in the movie or not, and not in a bitter way at all.
I could focus on the disappointment, I suppose. I could feel sad.
Getting cut out of the movie certainly fits a pattern that’s emerged in the past two years or so.
But I choose not to. I choose instead to focus on the positives, the things I can control. I did have two wonderful days with people I love, and it was like I’d never left. I did get to reconnect with the fans and the franchise. Rick Berman, a person with whom I’ve not always had the best relationship, called me himself to tell me the news, and I felt like it weighed heavily on him to deliver it.
Nobody can take that away from me, and I’m not going to feel badly, at all.
Because I have a secret.
I have realized what’s important in my life since April, and they are at the end of my drive.
The dog-walking couple smile and wave to me.
The light changes.
Somewhere in Brooklyn, Wesley Crusher falls silent forever.
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It sucks they cut your scene from the Nemesis, I was really looking forward to them doing a follow up on Wesley…
when we last saw you in TNG, your character ran off with that molester looking fellow who was so interested in you…The Traveler… –to go off and explore the Galaxy. If I were Dr. Crusher, I would not let my child(if i had one) run off with some strange alien man to “take my kid around the galaxy because he wants to explore” ….translation: that man did not want to take you around the galaxy for you to “explore” your abilities.. (Dr. Crusher only had 3 encounters with him, SHE DIDN’t KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THAT MAN)–they were still great episodes though, and I know you had to enjoy working with Gates McFadden..
Ok, Ok, Back to the Nemesis, I was glad to see them follow up on Wesley, to show that he’s indeed ok, and not an evolved super-intelligent space entity, or the youngest captain in starfleet.
I’ve been a Star Trek fan most of my life, and I grew up watching TNG, and when I used to be SO JEALOUS of you because you were also a kid, and you got to fly the Enteprise and work with the CREW! (AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!)How cool it must have been to be a part of something that grand…. being shown fighting the Borg, and playing with desetructive nanites, and all that fun stuff :D!
I had to get that off my chest… Since I grew up with TNG, I would have loved to see a 3 hour movie… i’m sure a lot of timeless scenes got cut, and I was really looking forward to the seeing those kind of character building scenes that would have only added to the greatness of the movie. 🙁
Best wishes to you, and I hope to see you involved in future star trek movies!
Wil,
I wish you the best of luck. I’m so glad you know what’s important to you. I hate that you got cut from the movie. I was really looking forward to seeing you in it.
Karlin
Everyone’s said it all already, but I just have to say it too anyway!
I’m sad! I was really looking forward to seeing you in the movie. It’s always frustrated me that we never learned anything about Wesley after he left with the Traveler.
But… like everyone else said. I’ll just wait for the DVD and see what they wanted to do, but didn’t have the time to do.
Oh well, such is life!
My apologies if someone has said this already; I’m at work and I don’t have time to read all 250 posts that there are…….lol……
FOr what it’s worth, Dude, your scene will most likely be in the DVD Director’s Cut.
*shrugs* (censored) happens.
Frankly, I would have wanted the 3 hour movie, myself. Look at “The Fellowship of the Ring,” for example.
However, mainstream audiences like shorter movies, let’s face it. 48 minutes sounds like too much, though. The James Bond movies are 2.5 hours long. “Fellowship” was about 3.
Oh, well, we’ll see…….
Don’t count your chickens yet, Wil. Wesley may not be dead yet. Star Trek has got a long, long run ahead of it, I think. Those reruns on TNN will continue for a long time. Enterprise has 6 years to go, and time means nothing to Wesley now, and there’s always the series AFTER Enterprise.
Later, dude.
A gorgeous piece of writing, man! Farewell, Wesley! Long live Wil….
LeeB
Wil.. you brought tears to my eyes. Guess we’ve all grown up a little bit.
Cheers, dude.
Zchamu
p.s. I will still hold out for the hope of a director’s cut DVD 😉
No worries, I’ll just mentally glue your head on Marina Sirtis’ body…(shiver)
Well, this is by far the best thing I’ve read in a while. It’s true, it’s honest and it really touches me. This little piece might be a sad story, but on the one hand it’s a wonderful tribute to your family and on the other it shows how good you can write. Fine work, Mr. Wheaton. I salute you.
Markus
Wil,
Don’t be down about it. Listen, “Nemesis” looks like a trip to derivative city. You can make a nice flashy trailer but in the end you can’t deny that its a Wrath of Khan ripoff with an overused clone plot device. I won’t be surprised to find Dr. Crusher seeing a dancing CGI baby or Riker having a cartoon comic relief either.
I got two words for you: indie films.
Get away from Star Trek. It’s a sinking hole.
Hey Wil,
That’s just not fair, I was sooooo looking foward to seeing you in this movie. I think like every-one who has written on this this we all think this is unfair! But you took it so well, that was so cool.
WE all love ya
Kordith
Hey, Will! Wait for the Directors Cut of Trek X!!
Wil, sorry to hear you got snipped from Nemesis.
Spuds, that was funny as freaking hell! (Even though I liked the movie)
KJB, that “dude” was Orson Welles, and it is considered to be the best movie ever made by quite few people.
Peace
They can cut Wesley Crusher out of the movie, but they can’t cut Wil Wheaton anywhere. You rule.
God damn it Wil, you’re so optimistic. It can’t be good for you. But I’m glad it didn’t bother you too much, and because you’re not in the film anymore I get to save
Wil,
You’ve again proved why I like you as an actor and a person. My husband and I like Wes and Wil. I still can’t really find a reason to dislike Wesley Crusher. I went to my parents last month and dug out my box that has all my Mint in the Box ST:NG figures in it. I have one Wesley Crusher figure, the Cadet figure. But that being said…he looks perfectly happy being amongst the rest of the crew which includes 5 different types of Datas. I gently cleaned the dust off all of them and then carefully reboxed them. Though everyone lives in their own version or perspective of life, I wish you joy and happyness even if it means no Wesley Crusher. It still would have been nice to have him in at least one star trek movie. What could be better is if you make it big again. That would be best of all. So I will send mojo for that or whatever your ambitions are. Artistic Spirit
You know, I wonder if Wil will ever realise how intelligent he is? When he write, he writes the way I’d like to talk. When I usually talk I end up mumbling or jumbling my words trying to sound intelligent. I wonder, does he spend hours trying to get what he wats to say, just right? I know that I, in order to say all of what he said, would have to. He writes in a way an auther would tell a story. I amigined the mother holding her kids hand while hes parked at a light somewhere, I imagine how he feels. Wil should write a book. A book that would really mean something, as he obviously has a lot to say. The only thing is, it’d probably take him 5 years to write it 😛
That’s just major bullshit!!! I can imagine how pissed off you are, Wil.
Erica
you have learned well, grasshopper.
and now you are ready to kick ass.
3 hours? i would’ve loved a 3 hour startrek movie. oh well. now i’ll have an excuse to buy a dvd player.
wil, you rock.
~kristin
Wow, Wil. I’m really impressed on how you handled that. It’s great that you can show the mature side, like you just have, when it’s needed. 🙂 keep your head up. Your maturity will pay off in the end. 🙂
yesterday afternoon, a friend sent me this URL (knowing what a fan I’ve been) and I was sad to find that you’d been cut from the movie. It was nice though, to read all of the supportive comments posted by your fans. When I reached the end of the comments I found one that said “you suck” and another which included the phrase “go drown yourself”. I found this very disheartening. ‘who would write such a thing. No matter how you feel about someone, that’s just not the type of thing you tell them,’ I thought. When I got home last night, I told my roommate this story and went to this site to show her the mean comments. To my surprise they were gone/altered. What were you saying about being mature? You shouldn’t have this type of forum if you can’t take the bad comments with the good. Now I have to wonder how many of those good comments were actually written by fans. It just lowers your creditability all together.
Hi Wil!
Sorry to hear you were cut, not that I didn’t find it odd that you were included in the picture in the first place. See you were as far as I remember turned into some kind of energy being, by some alien race called the traveller… I am not sure but I was told that, that was the story when you left the show…
Why they didn’t make you into a cool Lt. for some military unit, I don’t know… I just thought they kinda made your farewell in the show a bit weak… But that is Rick Berman for you…
See the way I see it is, that Rick Berman is the worst damnation in the history of Star Trek. He makes stories that a 5 year old would think is a bit far out…
In a sense, Rick and Brannon or what ever his name is, took the Star Trek out of Star Trek… Have any one of ya seen the new show Enterprise… All I can say is IT IS ONE FUTURE I DON’T WANT TO LIVE IN!
The people on that show are so Frigid it is gives me shivers just seeing them… OH and not to mention that weird blooper in the pilot where mister Tucker has a woody… Odd thing, they left that in… But the Captains are never to have a good relation ship with a woman or have any romance in their lives… I guess Rick isn’t getting any from Brannon… 8)
Or, the Federation said : THAT DOES IT KIRK!! No more intergalactic herpes for you young man! The medical bill keeps rising!!!
Anyway, try to get a role in the cool TV show Farscape or Stargate where people are still people… And as for Farscape well Aliens in that show are really believable!!
Good luck Wil, hope to see you in a cool flick soon…
-Steve
I’m bummed that you’ve been cut from the film, ’cause Wesley really needed a bit of closure… But you have it right– it’s disappointing, but not important, in the grand scheme of things.
Sounds like it’s going to be one heckuva “deleted scenes” section on the DVD, though….
It is a shame that your scene was cut from the movie…I can honestly say that you were one of the reasons why I was looking forward to watching Nemesis…You have always done an amazing job and I’m sure that what they removed was nothing short of greatness…
I guess I’ll have to wait for the DVD
Don’t get your hopes up for DVD. Have you seen what Paramount put in their Star Trek Next Gen DVD movies so far. Squat!
You are wise fellow. Once you can pay the
bills, the joy is in the work, not the
financial reward. Unless you are insane,
there are only so many stacks of pennies
you need to have to feel safe. You write well,
and I bet we will see a lot of your work in
years to come.
Oh, and one other thing. I think Paramount should change their name to Parasite.
Go back UP …32 POSTS and SIGN the Petition
to put Wil back in “Nemisis”!!!!
Dear Wil Wheaton,
Wesley Crusher was one of my many favorite characters in the Next Generation crew. In fact, I did have a bit of a TV crush on Wesley, not on you the actor but on the character himself because I felt like I knew Wesley and liked his personality. I was a bit disappointed because the character changed when he grew up, so for me perhaps it is for the best that he will not be in the movie. A cameo would hardly be satisfying anyway since what I’ve always loved about Star Trek is the character building. If they didn’t make it meaningful, then I’m glad they didn’t put it in. Too often I feel they ruin the characters a bit in the movies (probably because they try harder to market it for non-Trek fans as well), so I tend to prefer the TV series anyway. Thank you, though, for devoting so many years to bringing Wesley to life for me and so many fans. I am glad to see that you have been personally blessed in your life and that you the actor are also a quality character alongside Wesley. Heh, I must admit the first time I ever saw you not as Wesley was in the Star Trek episode of The Weakest Link. From that impression, I guessed you were a jerk, but I’m glad to see that you were just playing that part for the fun of it. I am glad that my scifi distribution list forwarded the link to your site to share the latest news on Nemesis. It was worthwhile to get a glimpse of the real you, better even than seeing a brief glimpse of Wesley in yet another Trek movie. I hope you’ll always continue to appreciate your blessings.
Your humble fan,
Marie
🙁 … 🙂
Life is strange, isn’t it?
– Jonas
That’s such a great attitude to have! It’s a shame that the part was cut, but at least you had that experience again.
Sorry to hear about the bad(?) news. I would like to congratulate you though on a very well written story. I was right there in the car next to you. That Golden Retriever sure looked happy!
Dear Wil,
What a thoughtful and reflective post.
You display none of the narcissism one might expect from others who find themselves right where you are. Your ability to take the positives and run with them is truly inspiring.
I for one will miss seeing Wesley Crusher in the next movie (I also loved your portrayal in tv series), but at least everyone can pop by here and visit you any time we need our “Wil fix”, heh.
Best of luck in your future endeavors!
Anna
That’s really too bad Will. I’ve always thought your character had so much potential, more than what it was ever given. The idea of the child prodigy who could save the Enterprise and it’s crew from time-to-time just screamed out at me. I know of some of what you feel. I’m a 40 year old guy who is trying to follow a dream to work in film or television so I know something of missed opportunities. I’m currently doing research for a possible documentary on Haunted Hollywood that will explore an angle that’s never been tried before. I hope I can have as refreshing an attitude as you when I hit those bumps in the road.
Good Luck.
SAL
Hey Wil…
As I read today’s blog a creeping sense of peace comes over me and a ever so slight smirk crosses my lips as I finish the the last sentence.
I SHOUT “TRIBUTE” yes “TRIBUTE” to you Wil Wheaton!
I don’t get the Wesley hate that so many people spout. I admit that too many of the plots had a kid resolve the big problem. But that wasn’t your fault. If there’s any complaint to be made it’s with the writers, not the actor.
That said, your appearance in the next movie was a BIG draw for me. I love the interaction of Wesley with the rest of the crew. I’ll still see it, but I’ll be looking for the original scenes in the DVD…
Okay, if we’re all giving our opinions, then here’s mine, unpopular though it may be in certain quarters:
Television science fiction is utter shit. Most television is shit, but TV SF is particularly horrifying in *absolutely every instance*. Even when a show starts out as good, it absolutely never fails to turn into garbage, some pathetic, paper-thin amalgam of WWE wrestling, softcore porn, and the Sharper Image catalogue. It’s happened EVERY SINGLE TIME — DS9 went that route. Stargate went that route (and that show was *unusually* good in its first three or so seasons). The entire Trek franchise is like that. Every other SF show *started out* like that, all of that laughable stinking garbage on the Sci-Fi channel …
Can you imagine anyone writing for ER or West Wing saying, “Hey, we need some tits in here.” “Where’s the explosions?” “Get some bimbo in spandex who’s job it is to fuck one of everything in the galaxy.” Or as Spudnuts observed, “Make the bad guys bald with black cloaks.” Come ON — those shows are *real drama.* They do actual stories that are meant to challenge and that people are meant to take seriously. They are not hour-long commercials for plastic bubble-pack crap nor are they meant to get fifteen year old boys jacking off.
They are *drama.*
Shows like that are *death* to the really talented actor, I’m sorry. There’s a reason why you don’t see Judi Dench doing teen sex comedies. And it’s the same reason why the Trek franchise is a poor fit for Wil Wheaton. Shows like that want ONE spiffy upper-crust actor to give them some pathetic claim to legitimacy (Stewart for the Trek garbage), but after that,
the last thing Bermanoids want is *another* top-flight Oscar-caliber actor. (Even that covetousness for one person with stage cred is wearing thin; they haven’t gotten it for ten years; Genevieve Bujold told then to fuck off when they tried to shoehorn her into that role in “Voyager.”)
They want one Snooty Actor so they can preen over him and use him to prove how legit they are, then they want plastic and silicone and spandex for everyone else, and *nothing* else. And if a good actor, a *REALLY* good actor, gets sucked into that shit by mistake, he rues it for the rest of his career.
Wil honey, I’m not saying this as a butt-kiss here: you honestly are heads and shoulders above any of that crap as an actor. You *really* are. Getting out of Trek permanently is a long-overdue action on your part. You should never have gotten involved in it (well okay, except for the fucking money). You started out too good for that joke of a franchise, and you ended up too good for them. It was always a poor fit.
Awesome attitude Will!
It’s too bad that you won’t be in the movie.. but cheers for having such a great attitude towards the whole thing.
It’s hard sometimes to wish success to something that you’re not a part of… or to be proud of someone or something that you should be a part of.. but aren’t.
Take care,
Craig
I already had mixed emotions about this film, as I believe both Berman and Braga has taken the fun out of Trek and replaced it with a dangerous corporate utopian view that I cannot overlook. It would’ve been nice to see you, though. Maybe Paramount will allow a special DVD edition to come out to include all the cut scenes. But, I won’t hold my breath. Wesley was a good character and I will be sorry that we’ll never get a chance to see the boy wonder again. There is always TNN.
Peace and blessed journey’s.
Dave
I LOVE YOU!!
YOU ARE A STAR…
NOTHING WILL EVER TAKE THAT AWAY!
Classy way to deal with such a disappointment, Mr. Wheaton. I always wanted to see more of The Traveler, and what became of Wesley. Maybe that can be the next series. Ahh well dreams are what make it worthwhile to get up in the morning.
I don’t even TAKE calls while I’m driving, let alone make them (well, there are the occasional drunk that I drop 911 on, but that’s a bit different.) Please stop, save us the story of how you managed to hit something or someone and you all survived, or worse.
Shucks. I would have loved to have seen you in the movie.
Well, you got your lemon.
Time to make lemonade.
Take Care
Jason
I am going the opposite way with most everyone here. I think Wil should be mad as hell. Hopefully his first response was just shock and later on he will rip into them. There is no reason why he couldn’t be in this one or any of the TNG movies before. He left the series as a time traveler. How hard is that to write in any script. And if the Trek writers couldn’t come up with a way to fit him into the story, then they should be fired, fingers broke, and the tongue cut out to eliminate voice recognition software so none them are able to write anything for anyone. Screw the positives. You got fucked. I am sure if you accidentally posted Rick Berman
I was going to see the movie only because you were in it and I wanted to see you on the big screen (something I have never seen). So now I have to find something else to do that day.
ah, well… I took flack from my friends a year ago, (die-hard trek fans) for jumping off the trek bandwagon and into wil’s posse. It was worth it! I looked forward to the next movie, because it wasn’t just ‘Star Trek’, it was ‘Star Trek featuring TV’s Wil Wheaton’! Now there’s not so much reason to see it – (it may be ok, since it’s an even number 😉 I’ll just have to wait until the movie comes out on [the internet] to watch it.
Wil,
Oh man. I was really looking forward to seeing you in Nemesis, even if it was just for a few minutes in the film.
I was so glad to read that you took this bad news so well. I know that I would be royally pissed if that happened to me. Guess it’s that thirtysomething maturity that’s crept into your brain. ;]
I’m still looking forward to seeing Nemesis, but I won’t be able to enjoy it as much, now that I know you won’t be in it. I’ve been visiting this site since May, and you’ve entertained me since then with your wit & intelligece.
Oh well, I can always hold out for the DVD’s deleted scenes to see you with your TNG buds again. :]
So, hold that chin up, Wil! ‘Cause after all, YOU DA MAN, and that will never change in a Monkeyboxer’s eyes.
Oh crap, I spelled intelligence wrong! And I can’t even edit it to correct it.
Well, y’all know what I meant.
while i’m here, i missed the Star Trek episode of ‘The Weakest Link’. Anyone have it in divx?
Hey Wil
You really handled that with a great deal of grace and tact. One day someone will have to explain to me the mindset of hollywood. I am glad that you got to reconnect with your Star Trek friends, but I can not help but think that we the fans have been cheated in a way. Maybe I am alone in this. However, as usual, you have a strong grasp on whats really important in life.
Well… damn. That really just stinks – I was so looking forward to seeing you as part of this movie. All I can say is… you’d better call up someone and make sure they know – we fans want the UNCUT movie on the DVD! 🙂