Mr. Spock lives long and prospers even today. TheStar Trekcharacter and the franchise’s most famous Vulcan was created by Gene Roddenberry for the franchise’s infamously rejected television pilot, which was completed in 1965 and later aired in 1986. But it didn’t take long for Spock (Leonard Nimoy) to show up alongside Captain Kirk (William Shatner) in 1966’sStar Trek: The Original Series. In 2009, Zachary Quinto took over the role as Young Spock in J.J. Abrams' reimagining. And Qunito has since passed the mantle on to Ethan Peck.
Quinto said during the Q&A portion of STLV: 57 (viaTrekMovie.com):
“I just want to say before we finish up, how grateful I feel to be here. And how I feel like my experience in this world, it’s evolved into other iterations and other forums. And to be able to share the stage with the person to whom I am now passing the mantle to [Peck] in a lot of ways — who is engaging you all in these stories from the perspective of this character now into the future. It’s really exciting. It’s really gratifying.”
Both Mr. Spock actors Quinto and Peck showed up to speak at the STLV: 57-Year Mission convention in Las Vegas. Quinto took to the stage with Peck, who himself has now portrayed Mr. Spock for two seasons on the Paramount+ streaming series,Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. But the role of the logical friend of Captain Kirk all started with Nimoy. And his importance to both the iconic role and Quinto can’t be understated. Quinto also said:
“I was so fortunate because of Leonard’s involvement in the process, and the one thing I never could have anticipated was how instrumental he would become in my life personally. But from a creative standpoint, and from a professional standpoint, having that relationship and that introduction to this world helped me understand the character. I think it also helped audiences accept me as this new version of the character. And for that I was so eternally grateful.”
Related:Why It’s Time for a Theatrical Star Trek Movie
Zachary Quinto Cherishes Spock’s Legacy
Zachary Quinto picked up the mantle of Mr. Spock from Leonard Nimoy. The two actors had the opportunity to meet and work together during one scene at the conclusion of J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek (2009). And while Quinto treasured their working relationship, it was the bond he forged with Nimoy that means the most. Quinto said in the same Q&A:
“But it was really that friendship [with Leonard Nimoy] that became one of the greatest gifts. I would say THE greatest of playing this role of Spock in the Star Trek universe has been the friendships that have come out of it, my brotherhood with Chris [Pine], and my relationship with Leonard and his family and with the whole cast.”
Star Trek 4warped its way into development hellfollowing the conclusion ofStar Trek Beyondin 2016, and Quinto’s version of the U.S.S. Enterprise has remained docked there ever since. But if the opportunity to reunite with Chris Pine’s Captain Kirk ever presents itself, Quinto is ready to don Mr. Spock’s Vulcan ears again. As Quinto explained it:
“I think there’s a lot of other stuff, creative things. It’s complicated. The fact that anything good gets made is kind of [a] miracle. I think it’s about different people having different agendas and ideas about what it [Star Trek 4] will be. And I don’t know if and when it will happen… And if [it] coalesces again, and we come back, and we’re able to do it, wonderful. If not, we had a great run.”
