The character Mr. Spock from Star Trek is such a legend, most casual moviegoers, even without seeing the series or movies, know those iconic pointed ears, cocked brow and deadpan delivery. Leonard Nimoy’s character Spock is as important to the original Star Trek as Captain Kirk and the Enterprise. But the man -- who later be so integral to the franchise’s ascension through the 1980s – was so upset at Star Trek’s creator and the studio behind it, he vowed never to return. So, the franchise voyaged on without him, including plans for a brand new series.
After the original Star Trek ran its course, the award-winning Star Trek: The Animated Series aired for two seasons in the early ’70s and featured Nimoy. However, the growing popularity of his character led to his likeness being used for merchandise and marketing without his knowledge, something Nimoy felt he wasn’t being properly compensated for. But the popularity of Star Trek and its characters couldn’t be stopped.
By the mid-1970s, creator Gene Roddenberry was preparing for a potential Star Trek film When movie plans were derailed after Star Wars gave Paramount cold feet in 1977, fearing audiences wouldn’t watch two similar films, it decided to use Star Trek to launch its own network to compete with NBC, CBS and ABC. Paramount wanted a made-for-TV movie and a new series, Star Trek: Phase II, to anchor viewers to the upstart network. They even resigned all the original stars. All the pieces were falling into place -- except one.
Nimoy was so furious with Roddenberry and Paramount, he threatened to fire his agent if he ever called about Star Trek again. As a result, Star Trek: Phase II plans pushed ahead with the rest of the original crew and created a new Vulcan character, Xon, to fill the void left by Nimoy’s refusal to engage. Everything seemed to be coming together for the Phase II series. After new character and costume designs, sets and a brand new USS Enterprise, the series was canceled before production hit full swing. Still, Paramount wasn’t interested in throwing all that work away and decided it was ready to bring Star Trek to the big screen. However, without the iconic Vulcan, the movie’s new heavyweight director wouldn’t make the picture.
Robert Wise was a two-time Oscar-winning director behind Best Picture films West Side Story and The Sound of Music. He agreed to do the Star Trek film, but only if Spock was included. So producer Jeffrey Katzenberg, under direction from Michael Eisner, flew to New York to meet with Nimoy while he performed on Broadway, but he wouldn’t budge. However, only a few weeks later, Paramount settled its rights dispute with Nimoy before he’d look at the script. But it still wasn’t a done deal.
While Nimoy remained hesitant to do the Star Trek film, especially because he was unhappy with the script, he felt backing out would have fans questioning why. “How could I answer those questions?" Nimoy said. "I hated Gene? I was angry at the studio? I would be carrying that negative shit around with me for the next five years at least." Nimoy held his nose, joined the film and immediately changed the franchise's fate.
Star Trek: The Motion Picture was badly over budget and complicated by a production that began before the script was finalized. Nimoy and William Shatner eventually worked out the films ending after Roddenberry struggled to bring the story together. The Motion Picture was a big hit, cementing the original crew’s future on the big screen., including two of the series most popular installments, both directed by Nimoy, Start Trek III: The Search for Spock and Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home.