Riverside, IA (WFN) -- Here's proof William Shatner IS a good actor: He hoaxed the city of Riverside, Iowa, into thinking he was filming a movie there.

Shatner was purportedly the writer, director, producer and star of a sci fi film called "Invasion Iowa," which cast several locals in the fake film.

But Shatner revealed on Tuesday in front of a crowd of hundreds that after more than a year of filming, the movie was phony and that residents had unwittingly become the stars of a reality TV series for Spike TV.

The plot of the TV series lampoons the craziness of Hollywood set inside "small-town America."

Riverside was chosen for the scheme mainly because it is allegedly the "future birthplace" of James T. Kirk, Shatner's most famous role from "Star Trek."

"Invasion Iowa," the TV show, is expected to air early next year.

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