BY STEVEN WEINTRAUB AND TAMERA JONES
On his 93rd birthday, William Shatner's contemplative documentary, You Can Call Me Bill, launched in theaters. The fan-financed doc explores the decades-long career of this science fiction pathfinder, in which the actor reflects on his life, Earth, and the meaning of our existence. This look backward and forward examines the man behind the myth, and his legacy across the globe, and it's going to be available at home soon. In honor of its VOD release, Collider's Steve Weintraub spoke with Shatner about everything from his formative time on Star Trek: The Original Series to his latest (and numerous) projects.
It's clear from this interview that Shatner's love and curiosity for life — that which You Can Call Me Bill highlights so poignantly — is simply a way of being for him. Every day he can find wonderment; like, for example, how he points out that we have "the Library of Congress and the London Library...all in your hand," when holding up his cell phone to the camera. If only we can remember to "be aware of [our lives] and its existence." Despite his involvement with a number of projects, like two new studio albums, his Netflix series The UnXplained, and plenty more to keep him busy, Shatner doesn't seem to miss an opportunity to appreciate his self-proclaimed "charmed life," which he seems to have dedicated to living to the fullest, appreciating his fans, going on adventures, and relaxing at home when his schedule allows.