William Shatner always looks forward to Minnesota gigs

Whether it's been in stage shows or convention appearances, "Star Trek" icon William Shatner said he can never get enough of Minneapolis.

"Minneapolis is a great, sophisticated city, I've been there several times," Shatner told me in a recent interview. "I've done conventions there, I've done publicity there … I look forward to going there."

The prolific actor, 81, said the only problem he has with coming to Minnesota is that usually he doesn't have enough time to spend here.

The last time the Shatner was in Minneapolis was about a year ago with his one-man show "Shatner's World," which he staged at the Orpheum Theater.

"Being on tour, you only get to see the city from the inside of a hotel room," Shatner said. "I would love to be able to walk around there."

Shatner will beam into movie theaters Friday in one of the voice roles in the new animated sci-fi adventure "Escape from Planet Earth," where he plays a military heavy who steals technology from aliens to sell for his own profit. See a trailer from the film below.