Summary
Leonard Nimoy wanting to play both Spock and Sybok in William Shatner’sStar Trek V: The Final Frontieris a rumor that Laurence Luckinbill thinks contributed to his getting the part as Spock’s nefarious Vulcan brother. Luckinbill’s lone appearance as Sybok inStar Trek Vcontinues to be memorable, and ayounger version of Spock’s emotional half-brotherhas even appeared inStar Trek: Strange New Worlds. However,Nimoy was far from brotherly towards Luckinbillon set, perhaps because Leonard wanted to the challenge of playing Spock and Sybok.
In an upcoming exclusive interview withScreen Rantto discuss his memoir, “Affective Memories: How Chance and the Theater Saved My Life”, andStar Trek V: The Final Frontier, Laurence Luckinbill was asked about his relationship with Leonard Nimoy. Luckinbill said Nimoy was cool to him on set, but he believesa longstanding rumor that Nimoy wanted to play both Spock and SybokinStar Trek Vcontributed to Leonard’s businesslike demeanor until the film wrapped. Read Luckinbill’s quote below:
It was just business on the set, yes. And there is this thing that’s been said that Leonard wanted to play both parts. I don’t know if it’s true. But Bill [Shatner] wasn’t gonna have that. So that’s how I got the part. And Sean Connery didn’t. [laughs] He was busy already. And so, we did our jobs. And it wasn’t until the last few days when we were shooting the final scenes that Leonard and I really got together in a brotherly way. After the movie wrapped, Leonard and I became friends because that issue was gone. And so, we went to his house several times and had dinner and so on. So that was all to the good.
Sean Connery was originally the actor William Shatner hoped would play Sybok inStar Trek V, but he was already committed toIndiana Jones and the Last Crusade.
To Me, William Shatner’s Movie Star Trek V Is Great Comfort Food
William Shatner’s Star Trek V: The Final Frontier is a comforting watch with enjoyable banter, a compelling villain in Sybok, and good intentions.
Why Leonard Nimoy Couldn’t Play Sybok In Star Trek V
If the rumor that Leonard Nimoy wanted to play Spock and Sybok inStar Trek V: The Final Frontieris true, it couldn’t have worked.Spock and Sybok are not twins;Sybok is the older brotherand is his own distinct individual. Unlike Spock, Sybok is not half-human and he rejected Vulcan logic to pursue his ultimately misguided belief that God was speaking to him from the mythical world of Sha Ka Ree. Sybok had to be a completely separate character from Spock for very logical reasons.
Laurence Luckinbill thankfully did form a bond with Leonard Nimoy after Star Trek V: The Final Frontier wrapped filming.
Although it could have been fascinating to see Leonard Nimoy play his own emotional Vulcan brother, director William Shatner also had no intention of letting Nimoy play two parts inStar Trek V.Shatner had his own vision for Sybok, who he initially conceived as a holy man named Zar inspired by the televangelists of the 1980s. After Zar was reimagined as Spock’s brother,Shatner envisioned Sean Connery as Sybokbefore choosing Laurence Luckinbill. Whether or not the rumor is true, Laurence Luckinbill thankfully did form a bond with Leonard Nimoy afterStar Trek V: The Final Frontierwrapped filming.
