Leonard Nimoy in New Star Trek Film: An Icon Returns
Star Trek Actor Puts On The Ears One More Time
Apr 22, 2009
As befitting such an event, there's been endless speculation over the film, not only over its potential for success but how it will fit into existing canon (see The Future of Star Trek).
Aside from drawing new fans to the 43 year old franchise, producer/director J.J. Abrams and his creative team understood that the link to previous incarnations of Star Trek must be preserved to ensure long-time fans would sign up for the ride as well.
To achieve that end, Abrams and company looked to one of Star Trek's founding fathers, a Hollywood and sci-fi legend who had given his last acting performance eight years ago and his last Star Trek appearance 19 years ago. An individual who stated on numerous occasions that he was retired from acting and not interested in returning.
To put it simply, Leonard Nimoy returning to play Spock once again is an event in itself.
He Is Spock
The word "icon" is used often in Hollywood and in many cases inappropriately. But in the case of Leonard Nimoy, it is entirely appropriate. He is as much a household name and universally known as his most famous acting creation -- the half human/half Vulcan science officer Mr. Spock from the original Star Trek TV series.
From 1965 to 1991, Nimoy played Spock in 80 episodes of the original series (that’s including both pilots), voiced the character in 16 episodes of the animated series and returned to portray Spock again in six films, which included both a on-screen death in Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan and subsequent resurrection in the sequel Star Trek III: The Search For Spock.
In 1991, Nimoy gave what he thought to be his last performance as Spock in 1991 - the two-part Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "Unification. He declined subsequent offers to return to the role, most notably the film Star Trek Generations, in which his old co-star William Shatner died on-screen as Captain Kirk.
With his last on-screen acting appearance in an episode of the Ted Danson series Becker in 2001, Nimoy retired from acting and focused his talents on photography, publishing collections of his work including Shekhina and The Full Body Project.
Spock: The Return
In 2007, Nimoy was approached by J.J. Abrams to appear in his upcoming Star Trek film. With a script written by Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci, Nimoy's participation would be critical.
In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Kurtzman described the meeting this way: "He had retired and turned down many offers to return to this character, so this was asking the greatest gunslinger to strap on the pistol one more time. . . ."
In the end Nimoy - attracted by the script and the role he would play - agreed to appear in the film. In an interview with TrekMovie.com not long after the announcement of his participation, Nimoy said, "They have a real sense of the characters and the heart of Star Trek and what it is really all about, and I think we have a chance to make a really fine movie."
Nimoy On The Fringe
Having paused his retirement from acting, it would appear Nimoy isn't ready to pack it back in yet. Recently 20th Century Fox confirmed rumors that Nimoy had been cast to appear in a pivotal role on the TV series Fringe, produced by J.J. Abrams, Roberto Orci, and Alex Kurtzman.
Here's hoping the retirement is on indefinite hold.
