The Deadbolt Interview - Exploring the 'Momentum' of Fringe with Leonard Nimoy

Exploring the 'Momentum' of Fringe with Leonard Nimoy
by Troy Rogers

Leonard Nimoy Fringe After making an appearance in the hit J.J. Abrams reimagination of Star Trek on the big screen, legendary actor Leonard Nimoy returns to the screen, the smaller one on Fox, this time for a second turn in Fringe as Massive Dynamic founder William Bell on October 8 in the episode "Momentum Deferred". Although Leonard Nimoy has left a lasting legacy in both television and film for his work in science fiction, it's great to see Nimoy back on TV in contemporary science fiction and the alternate reality world of Fringe.

In "Momentum Deferred," Leonard Nimoy steps into the Fringe cast which sees Ana Torv's Agent Dunham receive a powerful memory enhancing "fringe" concoction from Dr. Bishop while the Fringe Division goes on the hunt for shape-shifting robbers in New York, Boston and Chicago, and fans get insight into recent alternate-reality encounters.

Ahead of the October 8 episode of Fringe, we were fortunate to get a few conference call minutes with the great Leonard Nimoy who filled us and a few other outlets in on his William Bell character, shooting Fringe in Vancouver, when William Bell and Dr. Bishop might clash, why he agreed to be on Fringe, and what he thinks of the state of science fiction today.

THE DEADBOLT: Your character, William Bell, believes the world has soft spots. I just wanted to know, do you believe in this as well?

NIMOY: Well, what the show deals with in this wonderfully intriguing way is a question of an alternate universe, through which one can slip through, from one universe to another. I’ve been involved in stories of this kind before. I did a series called In Search Of some years ago in which we dealt with subject matter like this.

I think the question is one that you would, in terms of whether it’s scientifically accurate, you’d have to ask people like Stephen Hawking. I’m not a scientist, and I can’t really tell you whether or not there is a soft spot where you could slip through to another world, but I think the Fringe series deals with that idea in a very intriguing way.

THE DEADBOLT: How’s the transition been from New York to Vancouver?

NIMOY: Easy for me. Actually, easier because, although I love New York and spend a good deal of time there and I have a place there, but I’m based in Los Angeles, and traveling to Vancouver is easier.

THE DEADBOLT: What do you think Vancouver gives the series?

NIMOY: What do I think it gives? I love Vancouver. I’ve been going to Vancouver for, oh, at least 35 years that I can think of. And I look forward to going back many times.

THE DEADBOLT: Do you believe William Bell is evil or good or ...

NIMOY: That’s a really wonderful question. Time will tell.

Other Conference Call Highlights:

Leonard Nimoy on when Fringe fans can expect a clash between William Bell and Walter Bishop:

Fringe "Unpredictable at the moment. In the episode tomorrow night, the scene in between myself and Olivia, I think we will learn a lot more than we have known in the past about what their relationship is all about and what William Bell’s intentions are, or at least we will be told what his intentions are. We’re not really quite sure that everything that he says is accurate or true."

Nimoy on whether he watched Fringe prior to joining the show:

"I watched it periodically. I think it’s extremely well done. It’s very nuanced. It’s complex. It’s a mixture of science and science fiction in a very interesting and intelligent way. And I think it has a long way to go in story-telling. It tells a terribly interesting story, and the character that I was offered was potentially a very intriguing and controversial and fascinating character, very inviting for an actor."

Leonard Nimoy on returning to television and why he agreed to appear in Fringe:

Fringe "The Fringe character was intriguing because, as I’ve mentioned, it was kind of a blank slate and we had some very interesting and intense conversations about who and what he could be and how we should perceive him, what we might or might not learn about him, what we might or might not trust about him. These are intriguing opportunities for an actor, and they came at a time when I - and from a group of people that I had respect for. They piqued my interest and I went back to work."

Nimoy on the current state of science fiction:

"Well, I’m concerned about the positioning of story in terms of importance. When I see a lot of explosions and a lot of chases, I’m not terribly impressed. I think there are three terribly important elements that must be given a priority position in science fiction as well as in any other kind of drama. The first is story, the second is story, and the third is story. Story, story, story, story, story. If the story is compelling and interesting, I think all the rest will find its place."

-- Troy Rogers