Was it simply because he was "too busy" (he was working on Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade) or he didn't like or understand the script?
shareHe thought Shatner was a pompus ass. More likely he just read the script.
shareMoney and scheduling conflicts. He was doing Indy 3 (which was made and released around the same time)
The second favorite for the role was Max von Sydow, who would have been perfect imo (in look and manner as Spocks brother) but he cost too much money.
But this was the5th movie? Wasn't the franchise successful?
shareYes, but budgetary restrictions are really determined by what the script requires (after how much the returning cast gets paid of course). Shatners script was very ambitious in how much money would be required to realize a lot of what he wanted to do. So much so that in the end (despite the 33 million dollar budget), he couldn't get his 1st or 2nd choice for Sybok and he had to cut a lot of the effects he wanted in the film.
shareProbably the number 5 in the title, maybe not big enough a role. Holding out for another gritty Untouchables type role. Who knows.
shareHe came from a different era. He probably saw Star Trek on the script title and thought, "I'm not working on something based on that campy crap from 20 years ago."
Now it would be a different story because Star Trek is more mainstream, and the actor knows it's a huge payday.
TOS Trek may have been seen as campy in 88/89 but there'd been the 4 big budget Star Wars FX quality movies the last of which was an absolute blockbuster in the US and critically loved. so following Trek IV and TNG hitting screens Trek was pretty mainstream in that period.
Also Connery wasn't adverse to appearing in junk for a big payday (Highlander 2) so its quite possible had he not had the offer he couldn't refuse of Last Crusade (Indiana Jones, Harrison Ford, Spielberg) hed have probably done Trek V
I think David Warner would have been a better choice to play Sybok rather than Luckinbill. I believe Warner would have brought a more evil feel to the role. Connery may have accepted the role with an accomplished director, surely Star Trek could’ve landed a better director than William Shatner.
shareGood points about where Trek was at the time and Connery's appearance in Highlander 2. Anyway, I don't think he would have added much to this film.
share[deleted]
his scottish accent would have made this even worse.
shareShatner on Sean https://twitter.com/WilliamShatner/status/1322576869133230080
shareGeorge Takei on Sean Connery:
https://www.bignewsnetwork.com/news/266845605/sam-neill-george-takei-robert-carlyle-pay-tribute-to-sean-connery
"Sean Connery was a movie legend, even far into his golden years. Our strongest Bonds were formed by him, and he was Untouchable. He passed today at age 90, a suave hero to the end."