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Here’s what Leonard Nimoy had to say about Star Trek’s evolution
Star Trek has changed through the years, but one thing remains the same: our love for Spock.
Star Trek changed the game not only for sci-fi fans across the country, but also around the world and, perhaps, even in space.
Leonard Nimoy, who played Spock in all three seasons of the original series, knew just how much of an impact the character had made.
To this day, fans throw up Vulcan salutes at conventions, wear pointed ears and celebrate Spock as one of the most recognizable characters in TV history. But when Star Trek first premiered on Sept. 8, 1966, Spock's place in the series wasn't necessarily guaranteed.
According to Nimoy, the character nearly didn't exist.
"As far as the higher-ups were concerned, pointy-eared aliens were baddies... that nobody would want to identify with," Nimoy said. "But Spock caught on immediately and he was jumped from what was intended to be a subordinate role so quickly that it took months to catch up and write me into the bigger parts the audience demanded."
Clearly, the audience had spoken.
By the time Star Trek III: The Search for Spock hit theaters in 1984, Nimoy knew Star Trek like the back of his hand. He had spent nearly two decades as Spock, first on television and then on the big screen. But for The Search for Spock, he spent more time behind the camera directing the film than he did playing the character.
Nimoy understood the Star Trek formula, but he didn't want to simply repeat it. He wanted the franchise to keep changing while staying true to what made it different in the first place.
"What we do is always different from Star Wars and Indiana Jones," Nimoy said. "Not necessarily better ... just different. We're a character-oriented concept; science fiction rather than fantasy or horror."
"We've tried to deal with people and ideas, so our stories require more dialogue than special effects," Nimoy continued. "We're more socially and philosophically oriented."
The Star Trek movies could tackle some pretty heavy subjects, too. Nimoy pointed to issues including overpopulation, racism and the implications of new advances in medicine. The goal wasn't necessarily to preach, but to examine what those issues could mean for humanity.
In The Search for Spock, Nimoy said, the story raised questions about a scientist's responsibility and whether he was morally responsible for the consequences of his actions. But Nimoy also understood that every fan could see something different in Star Trek.
"Star Trek doesn't mean the same things to all fans, and to some people it means nothing at all," Nimoy said. "It doesn't exist."
For Nimoy, though, Spock certainly existed. Star Trek was constantly changing. The stories changed. The movies changed. The characters evolved. But one thing remained the same: The love for Spock.
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