When will William Bell and Walter Bishop face off?
Leonard Nimoy: Unpredictable at the moment. In the episode [tonight], in the scene 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.

So lately it seems as if you're J.J. Abrams' muse of sorts. Can you tell us a little bit more about your relationship with him?
LN: Well, I first met him I guess about three years ago when he first contacted me about the possibility of working together, and I went to a meeting with he and Bob Orci and Alex Kurtzman and some of his production staff. They told me a very good and strong and touching story about their feelings about Star Trek and specifically the Spock character.

It gave me a sense of validation after all these years. I had been out of it for some time, as you're probably aware. There were several Star Trek series in which I was not involved and Star Trek movies in which I was not involved. This was a re-validation of the work that I had done, the work that we had done on the original Star Trek. I felt very good about it and went to work for them.

I had a great time working on the movie. I think they did a brilliant job, and I think the audience response shows that that was the case and has reinvigorated the franchise. And when they contacted me about working on Fringe -- the same people, the same attitude, the same creativity, the same creative team -- it was very enticing.

Your projects have always weighed heavily on the sci-fi side. Were you always a big fan of sci-fi?
LN: Well, it's a good thing if you can find your niche as an actor and be able to support a family. Very early on -- I'm talking about many, many years ago, probably 1950 or '51 -- I acted in my first science fiction project, and I have acted in science fiction over the years ever since.

The first one was probably not terribly well known. I thought it was going to rocket me to stardom, if you'll pardon the expression. It didn't quite work. It was a great project called Zombies of the Stratosphere, and I was the third of a group of zombies that came to earth to take over earth's orbit. It's funny, as I think about it now, but it was a way of making a living.

And science fiction has seemed to be a fertile ground for the kind of work that I do, the kind of presence that I offer. I'm grateful for it. I'm grateful for the niche that science fiction has given me.

Have they mentioned anything about their needs for you on an upcoming Star Trek movie?
LN: No. My understanding is they're working on a script right now. I expect there's going to be some time before they really know exactly who they need and what they need. I frankly, frankly doubt that I will be called upon again.

I think I was useful in his 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.

Do you believe William Bell's evil or good?
LN: That's a really wonderful question. Time will tell.