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J.J. Abram's "Star Trek" movie could not have been made without original series star Leonard Nimoy. And that's fascinating.

In a recent interview with SciFi Wire, "Star Trek XI" co-writer Roberto Orc confirmed that the story will take place before the events of the original series, and will delve into previously unexplored Trek history.

"There was lots of stuff we wanted to do, and that was a blessing," Orci said. "With the original series, there was so much that could have come before it. It felt like it has been 'The Next Generation' and 'The Next, Next Generation' for so long, it seemed like a fresh thing to go back to the source and to go back to what happened before it."

The screenplay calls for the appearance of Nimoy as the iconic Spock.

"The truth is that we took a gigantic gamble in terms of the movie we wanted to do, and it was essential that we had Nimoy." Orci explained. "We didn't have a Plan B. It was a gigantic gamble, and I can't even believe that J.J. supported that kind of a gamble, but I think he understood it was the way to do it and a way to get the blessing for Star Trek, to show there is continuity for the spirit of what it was before. So when Nimoy said yes, not only as a fan was it was a relief, if that didn't work, I don't know where we would be."

Orci, who recently co-wrote the hit movie based on the "Transformers" animated series and toys (with partner Alex Kurtzman), said that adapting Trek was even harder because of the avid fan base that is keenly aware of messing with canon.

"The dangers are that now you are opening up yourself to the fact that the fans know what you know about the characters," Orci said. "So the goal with this movie is twofold. One is to make sure that the fans--who have been the stewards of the continuity and who are some of the most savvy and intelligent fans of any franchise ever--that they be satisfied with anything that has the name 'Star Trek' on it. But, more importantly, the goal is really to introduce casual fans and people who don't know 'Star Trek' at all to this universe and to connect it to today. The goal of 'Star Trek' is that if you don't like sci-fi or know 'Star Trek,' this will bring you into the world."

"Star Trek XI" opens in theaters on Christmas Day 2008.

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