Captain's Log, Stardate 082018.14. We have entered an intriguing moment in our history among the stars, when CBS All Access has cast Ethan Peck, the grandson of Hollywood legend Gregory Peck, as Spock for the upcoming second season of STAR TREK: DISCOVERY. As per the appointment, the promising young actor will attempt to bestow honor to the iconic role by playing the half-human, half-Vulcan science officer of the USS Enterprise with as much emotion as is necessary for the newest series in the long-running franchise.
"Through 52 years of television and film, a parallel universe and a mirror universe, Mr. Spock remains the only member of the original bridge crew to span every era of Star Trek. The great Leonard Nimoy, then the brilliant Zachary Quinto, brought incomparable humanity to a character forever torn between logic and emotion," showrunner Alex Kurtzman said. "We searched for months for an actor who would, like them, bring his own interpretation to the role. An actor who would, like them, effortlessly embody Spock’s greatest qualities, beyond obvious logic: empathy, intuition, compassion, confusion and yearning. Ethan Peck walked into the room inhabiting all of these qualities, aware of his daunting responsibility to Leonard, Zack and the fans, and ready to confront the challenge in the service of protecting and expanding on Spock’s legacy. In that spirit, we’re thrilled to welcome him to the family."
Taking place before the original STAR TREK series, STAR TREK: DISCOVERY hinted at Spock's arrival during the season one finale of its All Access-only show, when Discovery crossed paths with the USS Entertprise. When Spock makes his Discovery debut, he will still be the science officer fans have come to know and love throughout the years, and will serve as the chief science officer under Captain Christopher Pike (played by series newcomer Anson Mount). Beyond his position aboard the USS Enterprise, the latest trailer for STAR TREK: DISCOVERY has also hinted that Spock will embark on a journey of his own during the events of the second season. Presumably, the pointy-eared science officer has encountered a question he cannot answer, and he will travel to the far reaches of the galaxy in search of an answer.
Meanwhile, according to the official CBS All Access press release, Spock has a larger connection to the USS Discovery: notably his father, Sarek (James Frain) and foster sister, Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green). With Michael’s theory of her relative being connected to a series of cosmic anomalies, it appears a Star Trek plot could once again revolve around a search for Spock.
Being no stranger to the screen, both big and small, Ethan Peck has appeared in such productions as TV's 10 THINGS I HATE ABOUT YOU, Andrew Niccol's IN TIME, and THE SORCERER'S APPRENTICE, among other projects. While his casting as Spock will undoubtedly come as a surprise to many, Kurtzman certainly does appear quite proud to announce Peck as the new logic-driven character. Will he be a worthy addition to the list of actors who've portrayed Spock in the past? Only time will tell, though I'm definitely excited to find out.
What do you think of Peck's casting as Spock? Are you excited to see him in the role? Do you think Quinto was a worthy successor to Nimoy? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.