SPOCK, PLEASE SORT THIS ONE OUT

Did William Shatner beam himself aboard “Star Trek V� a bit prematurely?

He’s been telling the press that he’ll make his movie directing debut on the fifth trip of the Enterprise with a story of his own conception. As he had with others, he told us flatly that “I will direct ‘Star Trek V’ “--and that he’s looking for “the right screenwriter� to flesh out his plot.

But a spokesman for Gene Roddenberry, creator of the TV series and the subsequent films, said Shatner is jumping the gun. “Mr. Roddenberry has script and director approval,� said the rep. “So far as we know, Paramount has not even approached us with a proposal for Shatner to direct.�

Not so, countered Shatner’s agent: “I have a contract in my hands from Paramount which guarantees him director’s control on the next ‘Star Trek’ project.�

But Roddenberry’s rep emphasized that his man has “ultimate script control.�

Paramount wouldn’t comment. But Harve Bennett, who wrote-produced the last three “Star Trek� features, told us, “Paramount has given Shatner the option to direct No. 5. But Roddenberry has the ultimate say over who writes and who directs. There is no doubt that if there is a ‘Star Trek V,’ Shatner will direct. But I think Bill is a little ahead of the game by claiming story credit. What Bill has is a ‘vision’ which may or may not come true.�

As for his own involvement, Bennett said, “I’m not yet aboard ‘Star Trek V,’ but Paramount wants me to be.� Meaning negotiations continue.

A spokesman for the studio reminded us that Roddenberry has failed to exercise his approval option for the last three films and is busy creating a new TV series, “Star Trek--The Next Generation.�

Meanwhile, “Star Trek IV� has grossed almost $40 million in its first two weeks. “Such success can have quite an aftermath,� Bennett said. “But I love all these people and I hate to see them quibbling like kids.�