'For the Love of Spock' premieres at Tribeca Festival

NEW YORK (WABC) -- "Star Trek" has been been a part of our pop culture for decades, so it may be hard to believe that when the series first came out, it was canceled after only three seasons.

But the love for the characters and the actors who played them has always remained, and now, there's a new movie at the TriBeCa Film Festival that honors Leonard Mimoy's legacy.

Though its title makes it clear where the film's focus lies, "For the Love of Spock" isn't just for fans of "Star Trek." The movie was finished after Nimoy's sudden passing last year and was made by the actor's son, Adam Nimoy, as a tribute to him.

The documentary tells how Leonard Nimoy grew up an outsider, the son of Jewish immigrants in Boston, which Adam Nimoy says made him the ideal actor to play Mr. Spock, the only alien among the crew of the Enterprise.

Leonard Nimoy's role transcended television to become a part of popular culture and to inspire so many to pursue science.

"One of the things that struck me the most was the impact he had on so many people," Adam Nimoy said.

Adam spoke about his father while standing by the prototype of the space shuttle named for the Starship Enterprise. His father was there in 2012 when the shuttle arrived en route to the USS Intrepid docked on the Hudson River. By then, Leonard Nimoy had long since made peace with his most famous role.

"He had a philosophical view that Spock created a lot of opportunities for him to express himself artistically in other fields," Adam Nimoy said.

Leonard Nimoy wrote poetry, directed hit movies and, as he grew older, came to accept another role -- as a family man.

"My father was much more career-oriented early on, but later in life, we were very fortunate that the focus was the family," Adam Nimoy said.

Father and son were just a few months into making "For The Love of Spock" when the star was diagnosed with terminal cancer. He died eight weeks later.

"My dad wanted me to continue with the documentary," Adam Nimoy said. "And it was a good way for me to work through the mourning process."

After the movie premieres at the TriBeCa Festival, Adam Nimoy hopes to strike a deal to distribute the film.

Meanwhile, at the Intrepid, the museum is planning a major "Star Trek" exhibit that will open in July.