Will Leonard Nimoy appear as the legendary Spock in the upcoming “Next Generation” feature film?
Maybe.
Will he direct it?
Definitely not.
Though Rick Berman, the film’s executive producer, offered Nimoy the chance, Nimoy decided to pass.
That cleared the way for David Carson, frequent “Next Gen” and “Deep Space Nine” director, who will make his feature film directing debut with the Enterprise-D’s first big-screen voyage.
Nimoy says his decision was the result of timing problems.
“I’ve been a great supporter of the producers,” he says, referring to Berman, Michael Piller and Jeri Taylor of “Next Gen.” “I think they’ve done a great job of carving out their own territory.
“At the same time I felt strongly about the script I read and felt if I were to undertake the job of directing it there would have to be some major rethinking done.
“The understanding I was given was there wasn’t time to do that because they hoped to be in production by the first of April.
“Whether or not there’s time is an issue . . . I don’t know. It’s possible the work I had in mind could be done. It’s possible it could be difficult.
“In any case, their feeling was they wanted to move ahead with what they had. I wish them bon voyage.”
Though Nimoy passed on directing the film, he remains a vital part of the “Trek” universe.
The 62-year-old actor has participated in virtually every “Trek” incarnation, including “Trek III: The Search for Spock” (1984) and “Trek IV: The Voyage Home” (1986), which he directed, and “Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country” (1991), which he executive produced.
His appearance as Spock in the 1991 “Next Gen” two-parter “Unification” truly bridged the gap between “Trek” generations.
Nimoy continues to attend “Trek” conventions and recently appeared with his longtime co-stars in an MCI commercial.
And now his family has gotten into the act.
His wife, Susan Bay, guest starred in the “DS9” episode “Past Prologue.” And his son, Adam Nimoy, has directed several “Next Gen” episodes.
“Adam has come along very quickly,” Nimoy says, sounding like a proud father. “He knows what he’s doing.
Outside the “Trek” universe, Nimoy has directed “Holy Matrimony,” a feature film that is scheduled to open nationwide in March.
Patricia Arquette plays a woman who harbors fantasies of being a Hollywood star a la Marilyn Monroe but winds up having to protect hidden money only she knows about.
As a result, she must marry a 12-year-old boy, played by Joseph Gordon Levitt.
“It becomes sort of a Tracy-Hepburn, buddy/road movie/love story,” Nimoy says, laughing at his description. “It should be very funny and touching.
“I have high hopes for it.”
Later this year Nimoy’s voice will be heard in “The Pagemaster,” an animated/live-action film starring Macaulay Culkin.
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Other projects include an ABC miniseries about virtual reality and a film on the life of Siamese twin brothers.
“The best challenges being offered to me are as a director,” Nimoy says by phone from his office in Burbank, Calif. “So that’s what I am pursuing.”
But there will always be room in his schedule for “Trek” projects.
“I don’t tire of my `Star Trek’ connection at all,” he says. “It’s a part of my daily life, and I completely welcome it.”
Trek TV preview
The following capsule previews are subject to last-minute changes.
“Next Generation” (WPWR-Ch. 50, 6 p.m. Saturday: repeats 10:30 p.m. Sunday the following week): Riker (Jonathan Frakes) must make a difficult decision when his former commander (Terry O’Quinn), now an admiral, orders him to keep from Picard (Patrick Stewart) the true purpose of a life-threatening mission. This episode, “The Pegasus,” was directed by LeVar Burton.
“Deep Space Nine” (WGN-Ch. 9, 6 p.m. Sunday; repeats 11:30 p.m. the following Sunday): In a repeat of “Invasive Procedures,” John (“Gremlins 2”) Glover guest stars as Verad, a Trill who steals Dax’s (Terry Farrell) symbiont, leaving Jadzia to die.
Con calendar
Places to trek to Jan. 14-16:
– Rustycon in Seattle, featuring Bjo Trimble. (Write: P.O. Box 84291, Seattle, Wash. 98124.)
– Creation at the Sheraton Hotel in Virginia Beach, Va., featuring Michael Dorn. (Jan. 15-16 only; call 818-409-0960)
– Creation at the Sheraton Hotel in Pittsburgh, featuring John De Lancie. (Jan. 15-16 only; 818-409-0960)
TREK ALERT: If you have Trek news or trivia to share-or if you have questions relating to “Star Trek”-write to Ian Spelling, care of The New York Times Syndicate, 130 Fifth Ave., New York, N.Y. 10011. Be sure to enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope if you would like a reply.
NEXT WEEK: Michael Westmore