Frakes And Spiner Skewer Star Trek Nemesis Director
In a candid new conversation, Star Trek legends Jonathan Frakes and Brent Spiner have sharply criticized the director of their final big-screen outing, Star Trek: Nemesis. Joining them was co-star Ron Perlman, who echoed the sentiment, painting a picture of a director ill-suited for the demands of helming a major motion picture in the beloved franchise. This revelation comes from their new podcast, "Dropping Names," and sheds new light on the troubled production of the 2002 film.
Jonathan Frakes, who portrayed Commander William T. Riker and Brent Spiner, known for his iconic role as Lieutenant Commander Data, have consistently stated their podcast is not solely about Star Trek. However, their recent guest, Ron Perlman, who played the Reman Viceroy, brings the conversation squarely back to the much-maligned film. Star Trek: Nemesis was the fourth and final feature film for the Star Trek: The Next Generation crew and its critical and commercial failure has long been a point of discussion among fans and those involved in its production.
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Perlman described director Stuart Baird, a highly respected Hollywood editor known for his work on films like Superman and Lethal Weapon, as someone who "had no people skills whatsoever." He elaborated that Baird was perceived by the cast as being a director in name only, stating, "He was not a director, he was a f-ing editor that the studio owed a favor to." Perlman explained that Baird was often brought in by the studio to recut films that were struggling, turning them into something watchable, but this talent did not translate to directing.
Brent Spiner agreed with Perlman's assessment that Baird was "not a director," while still acknowledging his editor's resume as "world class." Jonathan Frakes shared that the cast sensed potential trouble early on when Baird declined opportunities to discuss their characters or the franchise with them. Frakes recalled offering to have lunch with Baird, saying, "Is there anything we can do to help you?" but stated Baird was uninterested in engaging with the actors who had spent years developing these characters.
The tension during production was palpable, with Frakes recounting an incident where he and Perlman were left literally hanging for an extended period while filming a stunt on a catwalk. Frakes stated that during a discussion about a scene change, Perlman whispered to him, "We're too old to be action heroes." The conversation also touched upon the film being a breakout role for a young Tom Hardy, who played Shinzon, with Perlman noting Hardy was "so sweet and so deferential," and Spiner adding that Baird "was not treated well" by the director. Star Trek: Nemesis, which turns twenty-five next winter, remains a controversial entry in the franchise's filmography.
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