Star Trek fans received some disturbing news today–the scenes with Wil Wheaton and Ashley Judd in Star Trek Nemesis were cut from the film for running time reasons. According to published reports Wheaton and Judd reprised their roles as Wesley Crusher and Robin Lefler for the tenth Trek film as guests at the wedding reception of William Riker and Deanna Troi.
Today, Wheaton reported on his website that scenes featuring him were cut as the film’s initial cut ran to nearly three hours, and the wedding reception added little in a story sense to the film. Character moments, yes. Plot developments, no.
Judd’s appearance was one of the things I was looking forward to with Nemesis. Very few of the film’s rumors had instilled any confidence in me, but the idea that Rick Berman could convince Ashley Judd, an actress well in demand, to give up a few days of her time out of her busy schedule, to shoot a few scenes to add flavor to the film, gave me hope that Paramount was putting together a winning film.
Now? I’m not so sure. Check back in December.