Star Trek II - IV: The Spock Trilogy - 10 Things You Never Knew

But of course. Nimoy not only returned to the role in the next film but he also took over directing reigns. Stepping behind the camera, he brought some changes to the franchise that he felt brought it back to the road it should have been on.

One issue that he had found in the Wrath of Khan was in the character of Saavik. Although not confirmed on screen, Saavik was written as half-Romulan which explains Kirstie Alley's more emotional portrayal of a Vulcan. Nimoy was against this and the character was re-written as pure Vulcan. Alley, whose star had risen in intervening years, declined to return and instead Robin Curtis took over the role. Her portrayal was far closer to the Vulcans the audience was used to.

Much of the action would center on the new Planet Genesis, which would of course be the foil for Spock to return. McCoy, trapped back on Earth but stuck with Spock's soul in his head, suffers from what Starfleet can't help him with. Mark Lenard returns as Sarek, pleading for Kirk to save his son. The film is full of nods to the Original Series along with a depiction of 23rd century Earth that hadn't been shown before. Seeing Kirk have to answer to another Admiral is striking - even as he rises in rank, he still has to answer to someone. Finally, with Reliant being introduced in the previous film, this one introduces the USS Excelsior, one of the most popular and enduring designs in Star Trek history.