There is certainly going to be a change in the power dynamic when an actor who was previously acting alongside the lead in the franchise suddenly steps into the director’s chair. That gave Nimoy a great deal of say over where the story was headed and how it was executed. Even so, Nimoy didn’t initially believe that taking over as the film’s director would be of concern to his fellow castmates.
“I must be really naive about this. I really must. I was surprised that there was so much interest and so much concern about that. The interests and concerns are valid. I just didn’t perceive the potential problems or friction that other people perceive. My fellow actors were concerned about it before we started doing the picture. I simply took it as fact that I had their best interests at heart. That I would know their characters well, and I certainly knew their potential well and would try to explore it. That was one of the things I argued in that period of time when I was asking for the job.”
Nimoy’s passion is hard to argue with. He had to fight Paramount to get the job, and then he had to fight against some awkward tension with some of his closest friends. Even so, he wanted to assert himself as a creative behind the camera as well. And that was a worthwhile endeavor, as he would go on to direct the massive hit “Three Men and a Baby,” as well as several other films during his impressive career. But he knew that launching that career within this franchise was the way to go.