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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THEY CRUSHED WESSLEY!?!
But seriously, I’m sure the scene isn’t lost forever. It might show up on the DVD. I’m glad that you’re not too upset about it, because to me it seems like you’re the can for the producers to kick around.
Dude, you just made me download that song by Echo and the Bunnymen. I was so excited about going back to freshman year at USC that my palms were sweating. Thanks!
Totally sux Wil, I feel your pain. I wanted to see Wes one more time…
Hmmm. Dare I dream: Star Trek X|: 90 minutes of Wesley Fucking Crusher… Nah, they wouldn’t, would they? That would be cool!
I’m glad they cut your scene out. You may be a fine actor and nice guy but I always hated the Wesley Crusher character. Knowing you are not going to be in the movie just makes me want to see it more. Buck up kiddo, oh wait your 30.
How much worse could things be.
1) You could be the newly appointed head honcho of Florida’s child welfare agency.
2) You could be the campaign manager for Bill Simon.
3) You could be the campaign manager fo Gray Davis running against Riordan instead of Simon.
4) Every time you step into your car you are pulled over by the police for Driving While White.
5) The phone call was from Peter Jackson saying “About those 2 years you had to spend in New Zealand…..”
7) Mr. Anna Nicole Smith-Wheaton.
8) “Mr. Wheaton, we’re from the SEC and we have a few questions to ask you about Martha Stewart.”
9) The LA Devil Rays.
10) Doing stand-up in a 3rd rate Vegas lounge for 42 weeks a year.
I always knew Rick Berman was a prick, so I’m not surprised. Hell, I wouldn’t be surprised if they hadn’t even put film in the can that day. And I’ll bet large sums of money that the scene won’t be on any DVD next year.
What a fucking tool.
I just learned the news from the Corona site where I clicked on a link to your site. Although it would have been spectacular to see Wesley Crusher again (especially after the way he left), I liked what you had to say about the whole experience. You exhibited nothing less than pure class Wil and I have learned something positive from your experience. Great writing skills too, I was able to visaulize your drive and entire conversation…it’s like I was there. Thanks for sharing with us Wil and I will now add the link to your site on mine.
You’re a very classy guy, Wil Wheaton.
But I am not.
I think this really fucking sucks. I’m really tiring of what Paramount continues to do to Trek stuff and this is a last straw.
Don’t tell anybody that I’ll probably buy the DVD if/when Paramount releases it with added scenes including the ones you were cut out of, but I’m not going to see it at the theater unless it shows up at the 2 for 1 theater at Hollywood/Vine.
Hey, Wil,
Yep, civilizations and science fiction franchises rise and fall … the real value in our lives is our time and relationships with those we love.
By the way – about Wesley Crusher falling silent forever … I wonder how Star Trek Inc. would react if you asked if you could pen a Trek paperback wherein you take care of Wesley in your own way? If they thought about it from a commercial standpoint, they’d have to see this would be a big event for all ST and WW fans – and both those who love and hate WC. Then YOU’D get to close the book on Wesley – literally!
Take care!
I was really looking forward to seeing what wesley crusher was up to these days. I was a little sad when they decided to make the 5th series a prequel, simply becuase it ment no cameos from old characters… no checking up on old friends. So, besides from novels and the such, the movies are all we’ve got for that sort of thing.
I’ve just got to say this… I’ll be looking very much forward to the ‘special edition’ DVD with all the deleted scenes… and unless an evil virus wipes out all the trekkies some time soon, I’m sure we’ll be seeing that DVD.
I’m glad you handled it so well. But … *cries*
Sorry Wil. But honestly, I can’t imagine how the ‘Traveler’ would fit into this movie, from what I’ve seen in the preview. I guess I’ll have to wait for the Director’s Cut, as everyone else is doing.
Coyote
Hey Wil,
Sweet Site. This is my first time here. Got the link from a news article on scifi.com about this.
I always wondered if they were going to try to bring you’re character back in the movies. I personally thought that it was cool how you’re character was like the first step towards the next level of human evolution or something like that. I think that the traveler and you should have come back and saved the federation from the Nemesis Baddies with your time/space altering brain powers!!! hehe but then it would have been more like Dark City and less like Star Trek, hehe.
I know one thing. Like others have mentioned, they better your scene(s) on the DVD in some form. I would even like the idea of seeing a special directors cut of the movie with the whole almost 3 hours long movie on it. It could be like the Brazil Criterion Collection Box Set but the Star Trek Criterion Collection Box Set.
pjC
Thanks, Potch, for the info. I couldn’t remember his name, and I almost said H.G. Wells, who is entirely different, and I decided I didn’t want to take the risk.
I find “dude” works fairly well when I’m at a loss.
Crazy Rick Berman.
Well crap.
I’m glad that you are looking at this from the positive end, but I am just a tad bit pissed. I was looking forward to seeing Wes again.
Oh well, there’s always the “Special Edition”.
Wil,
I’ve been reading your web log for over a year now. Weird, I know. Not every day and not even every month but I like to check in with you from time to time to see how my pal Wil is doing in Hollywood.
Personally, I liked Wesley and was very bummed to hear that he would not be in the movie. I thought the plot device where Wesley’s “science experiment went awry” was used too often in TNG but liked the character. I was a computer wiz at a young age and began my career in my teens so I could really connect with the fictional Wesley. I think it would be weird if Wesley never ever showed up in a star trek film.
MEMO to Rick Berman: Cutting Wesley sends a nasty message to the young computer geeks that watched TNG. YOU ARE NOT IMPORTANT TO THE PLOT. Sadly, in the real world of computer geeks Patrick Stewart would not be able to keep on top of the latest JAVA code and he’d be a peripheral character. Wesley would rock on as king of the programmers/engineers and Patrick would be writing end user documentation.
I think Hollywood is totally harsh and you should rack up some computer certifications and sit back and make 103K a year to crank out source like ome of us do. You get to go home before 6:00 pm and get a chance at a real life.
You should ask for the scene to put on your website. Maybe even buy the cut scenes to make your own video or pitch for a series for you involving Star Trek. Like they said in last nights epidsode on TNN
“Turn a disadvantage into a advantage.”
Then kill the chorus!
Hi all,
48 minutes?? I`d say that would make a pretty good directors cut….
I`ve seen the teaser and I`m frightened. Car chasing scenes, action packed thrilling space jumps out of a destroyed ship. A bed scene? Is that the TNG I know? Insurrection was imho close to horrible. A joystick (argh, it hurts so much) on the bridge. And now a director who wants to invent Star Trek once again….
A scene with you Wil and Leah Brahms would be in the old spirit (yadayada, I know :-)).
Greetz, Grendel
First of all – JESUS – that’s one hell of a length for a Star Trek film!
It’s a shame to hear you were cut, I was really looking forward to seeing the ol’ gang back together again… 🙁 Trek XI better happen now!!
It really is great though to read just how your priorities are set during this time. I think it’s fantastic, and considering as well that you were able to spend time with your old TNG buddies that everything seems great. 🙂
Also, ironically, I like how this series of replies is becoming massive…
Hey, you always have a future in sci-fi writing.
Or programming.
Whichever.
Thanks for sharing this. I appreciated it.
Wil,
It was a pleasure to read of this episode in your development. Thank you for sharing the light of wisdom. Keep on going.
May you reach your goal!
dws
Hi Wil,
I was looking forward to see you in the movie and I hope the scene will be included in the DVD.
Good luck with your career.
I think the fact that 316 people before me have commented on how much it totally sux that you’re not in the movie Wil, speaks volumes. Theres a hella lotta love in WWDNland, and that in itself is something to be proud of.
If you can stomach the cold, why dont you pack up the family, have a quiet word with Mr Sam Mendes and ‘Do a Gwynnie (Paltrow) or a Kevvy (Spacey)’ and partake in some theatre here in good ol’ Blighty? I know us Brits would LURVE to see you acting in London.
Hey Wil,
I’m one of those people that was shocked to see you on slashdot, and I hope your servers handling the slashdotting very well.. Poor admin… Anyways, I got tons of respect for you from getting to know you through your blog, you’ve come from being that really smart kid on star trek that had the respect of adults that us kids at the time all wanted to be, into a real person that I can relate to through your log. The part they cut better show up on the DVD because I can’t wait to see Wesley back in his uniform, in the company of friends. We he/you belong.
Hey, Wil!
While I was not a fan of Wesley, I still think
it’s a shame that you were cut.
I’ve had a bit of experience in the film
entertainment industry working for a studio who
shall remain nameless (but who’s mascot is a
rodent). And though I was not a *direct* contributor
to the films I have credit on (i.e., an actor,
key grip, gaffer), I know that they could not do
what they did without my (and my fellow worker’s)
contribution. So I was always a little miffed that
when it came to credits, the blade swung
viciously. Many people who made significant efforts
to help the films get made were left out. With
your history, it’s adding insult to injury.
I also think it’s petty of the studio when a
film like ST:Nemesis is almost guaranteed to
bring in the cash is cut due to time constraints,
and a film like “Lord of the Rings” is cut *down*
to three hours, the DVD version being close to
four (so they say).
In any even, I wish you well. Always keep your
secrets!
….k
-=-=-=-
hey, i know you probably dont get a chance to read all of this wil…but in case u do see this, i never knew how great of a writer you were until i read this little story of yours…i would have liked to see you in that movie, but i think its a good thing that your not bitter. stay on the bright side,
sara!
oops…sorry about the “kiddie speak”, i just read the little rules thing. I will try not to speak like a kiddie….say hi to ryan if you will…(dont worry, i am his age)im not a freaky old lady or anything…and remember WWJD
sara
Hey Wil,
My husband is currently going through a professional situation not unlike yours and is dealing with a lot of disappointment. I have pointed him to your blog and I hope he gets the message. 🙂 Thanks for being such a great guy.
Wil,
One writer to another, that was a beautifully composed and intimate portrait of one short moment of your life. I felt everything you were meaning to convey, from:
“my stomach tightens, my arms grow cold”
to
“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.”
Judging by what I gather of you from Slashdot and your own website, I feel I can confidently assert that you’re a very intelligent guy, and I guess they weren’t too far off when they chose you to play a child prodigy. 🙂
I’m sincerely sorry to hear about Nemesis. I’m glad to hear that you’re doing a lot of writing, it’s definitely one of your more prominent talents. I’d like to read more from you, you’re very expressive and you include the little details that make a story REAL.
Congratulations on starring in my favorite Star Trek series ever; it’s more than I’ll ever accomplish. 🙂
Hey, this isn’t really the best news. I was never a huge Wesley Crusher fan, but it always seemed to me that they left one huge loose end when you left. And such an INTERESTING loose end at that!
It’s great that you’re able to see this in a positive light, and that you’re not bitter or angry or remorseful about it. I have to say, I don’t know if I would have handled it with as much grace.
I’m sorry to read you got cut, Wil, but I’m pleased to read such maturity in your writing. I hadn’t visited your site in a while.
I am really happy to hear you’re now enjoying success as a writer. It’s nice to see someone who is emerging from the other side of the Hollywood hype machine with their head so firmly on their shoulders. Which ever direction your life takes you it sounds like you now have the presence of mind to work through it, take what is given to you, and make the best of it.
I wish you and your loved ones well, and I wish you success wherever your path may lead.
Peace,
Joe G.
I had a bit of a crush on Wesley back in the day. I was looking forward to seeing an adult Wesley in the movie. But as others have said, they can put the scene on the DVD!
Dear Wil,
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!
Ok, the loyal fan I am to you, I am no longer going to see that movie… Mary-Sueish as he was, Wesley was my fav character!!!!!! So, there…. am I being too loyal?
Lily
Just found your site Wil (the honour of being /.ed!). I’d have to add my voice to the idea of you cast as Sirius Black in the 3rd Harry Potter film. At least then you wouldn’t end up on the virtual cutting room floor.
Best o’ luck.
Dude, that really sucks. The internet news that you were doing the cameo was one of the things that was making us look forward to Nemesis !
I would imagine you will be on the DVD but still this is a shitty deal. Maybe enough fans will make stink. It would be awesome to see the whole bridge crew from TNG together again !!
Curious, you said you were happy to wear the uniform again. When you left, Wesley left starfleet. So since you got the boot, you might as well tell us some inside stuff (like for example why you were wearing the uniform in the movie?)
And on a lighter side, I’m surprised you took this news so well since you seem to cry at sunsets and puppy dogs daily!
Nuttin but love, my man!
man, i feel bad, people have all these opinions of how the role of Wes was handled, i personally loved how it was, in a way, i’m kind of like the character, and i have always liked it, i am pretty mad that your part got cut, and even more mad that they’re cutting 48 minutes out, a 3 hour trek movie would be one of the best things ever, considering an episode is an hour, having movies at 1&1/2 hours isn’t all that good, but a 3 hour movie would have been great, now it’s all gone, i was really looking foward to seeing the character of Wes again, and i hope they don’t take out Whooopie Glodberg’s part, i have also been looking foward to seeing her in her character again.
Wil, dude,
Nicely done. Thanks for sharing. May you always meet the important things in your life at the end of your drive.
You were cut because you never posted the pictures of the Giant Purple Dog Penis Tattoo on William Shatner’s Back. I warned you of the consequences of keeping those pictures all to yourself. You played with fire and you got burned.
– TGPDPTOWSB
TGPDPTOWSB is BACK!
YESSS!!!
RAWK!
Wil-
I came to your website from the Askewniverse because someone there had posted a link to your review of the JASBSB DVD. I come back now because I’m drawn to proof of a “real man.” I’m not sure I’ve met many in real life and I’m fascinated by your perspective, your thoughts, and your obvious love for your boys. Lots of people ask why I’m not married at my “advanced(I live in Indiana, if you’re not married by 22, you’re advanced. . .I’m 28)” age, and I tell ’em “I’ve never met anyone I’d want to live with the rest of my life.” Lately, I’ve been doubting that I ever will. You’ve definately renewed my faith in men. Thanks. /dopey sappy crap
Its kind of funny that you took the news better than I. Hmm, I wonder who the other actor is whose role suffered rather large cuts. I bet its the other half of the Crusher family. I’m okay, tho. I played hookie from work to go to the X Games and now I feel much better. Alright, I admit I’m still a bit disappointed. But at least I’ve stopped cursing out those responsible for not only cutting Wes from the movie but also for basically ignoring my fav character -that other Crusher.
Okay, I admit it. I’m not cool enough to play hookie. I actually filed the correct paperwork to request a few days off to see the X Games. If I can’t have Wesley Crusher, I will have Bob Burnquist!
Without a doubt the scenes will make an appearance on the DVD.
hey but you still got paid right? that’s a bonus.
Talking on the phone while driving? Tsk, tsk.
Good job, Wil. I’m glad you took the news so objectively and that you’re feeling better because of it.
I only wish I could take such a noble approach if I was ever faced with a similar situation. You made the best of it and got the type of self confidence and experience that you could never learn otherwise, and you probably feel as if you’re a better person because of it.
It also gives me confidence to see people act so rationally in this mad mad world, so thanks! 🙂
You know? It was kind of odd for me to read your thoughts on this event… I’ve been going through a very similar deal lately. I always put my happiness in the hands of others, and more recently I had depended on an old flame who was visiting. We had a week together, but then she was back off to Nevada to start college. I came to much the same conclusion that you did. Nobody can take away that week, and things are just fine in the end. It’s really great when you see a familiar lesson learned by someone else. It’s a form of validation I suppose. Take care, Wil. 🙂
Darn. I was looking forward to seeing you (and Wesley) in Nemesis. Too bad about the cut. 🙁
By the way – I must be a pretty big sap, because your entry (especially the last line) made me cry!