Since it was first announced that J.J. ABRAMS was planning to shoot a prequel to the mega-successful STAR TREK series, rumors have run rampant regarding the involvement of WILLIAM SHATNER and his character of Capt. Kirk.

First, it was said that he was snubbed by the production, then it was said that he snubbed the production and, of course, there is the pesky fact that Kirk was killed off in an earlier movie (STAR TREK GENERATIONS).

We spoke with STAR TREK writers ROBERTO ORCI and ALEX KURTZMAN by phone this morning in hopes of getting some answers. Listen in below: