Leonard Nimoy doesn't think he's needed in 'Star Trek' sequel

Leonard Nimoy as Spock in the summer's blockbuster "Star Trek."

Credit: Paramount Pictures

Like his former "Star Trek" co-star William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy is enjoying a late career renaissance.  The actor and director's return as Spock was one of the joys of J.J. Abrams "Star Trek" blockbuster this past summer and he'll be back on Abrams TV show "Fringe" tonight as the mysterious William Bell.

Speaking in a conference call to reporters yesterday, MSN TV reports Nimoy answered some questions on whether Spock would make a return in the highly anticipated "Star Trek" sequel.

Nimoy was quoted as saying, ""I frankly doubt that I will be called upon again. I think I was useful in the last film to help bridge between the original characters, the original actors, and the new cast. They have a wonderful new cast in place, and I'm sure they'll move ahead with them. I don't see, at the moment, why they would need me in the next film, although, if they called me, I'd be happy to have a conversation about it."

The last film ended with Nimoy's Spock trapped in the alternate time stream of the new "Trek" universe and on his way to help colonize a new Vulcan after his home planet's dramatic destruction. 

Nimoy, who says he's had a "wonderful" time returning to acting, also glowed over working on the last "Trek" feature.

"The 'Star Trek' movie was a joy to do," Nimoy told the reporters. "I admire the production team that made the film.  I admire the new cast.  Zachary Quinto I thought was a great choice for the new Spock, and it was a pleasure to work with him and with all the other people on the project."

The upcoming and untitled "Star Trek" sequel is currently being written by co-producers Robert Orci, Alex Kurtzman and Damon Lindelof.  Paramount Pictures expects to release the flick sometime in the summer of 2011.

"Fringe" airs Thursday nights at 9 p.m. on Fox.