LOS ANGELES — Every other positive review Karl Urban gets for his portrayal of Dr. McCoy in the new “Star Trek” film from here on out will just be gravy because he already got approval from Leonard Nimoy, one of the few people who knows the character extremely well.
Nimoy, who played Spock, appeared in the three-year television series and multiple movies with DeForest Kelley, the actor who originated the role of the “Star Trek” doctor.
“When Karl Urban introduced himself as Leonard McCoy and shook hands with Chris Pine, I burst into tears,” says Nimoy during an interview at the Four Seasons Hotel. “I thought that performance of his was so moving, so touching, so powerful, as Dr. McCoy, that I think [Kelly] would be smiling and maybe in tears as well.”
Urban is both embarrassed and flattered by the kind words.
That’s probably because playing McCoy was not an easy task for the New Zealand native. His approach was to make McCoy a grumpy, often cantankerous, doctor who appears to have a terrible bedside manner, but, who, underneath the tough exterior, is a compassionate and a loyal friend.
It didn’t take a lot of research for Urban to find the way to play the role.
“I would define myself as a long time fan of the original series. I watched it as a boy, religiously, every Saturday morning. About two years before I found out that they were making this new ‘Star Trek,’ I bought the entire DVD box set and watched it with my son. So, about the time that they started casting, I didn’t necessarily need to go back and study up.
“I felt that I knew the characters and the archetypes and the relationships really, really well.”
This is not the first time Urban has been involved with a high-profile project. He played Eomer in “The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers” and “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.” He also portrayed Caesar in numerous episodes of “Xena: Warrior Princess” and “Hercules: The Legendary Journeys.”
None of those past works come with as many loyal fans as “Star Trek.”
“I personally feel very, very grateful that there is an entity of fans out there that have such a deep admiration, respect, and love for ‘Star Trek.’ We’re very blessed to have them. If it wasn’t for them, the original series would have been canceled,” Urban says. “So we hope this movie that we have made, that we are proud of, that we love, that we had such fun making, is received and appreciated and loved by a those fans.”
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