Spock Officially Beams Aboard ‘Star Trek: Discovery’: Ethan Peck Cast in Season 2 of CBS All Access Series
“Star Trek: Discovery” has officially discovered its Spock. CBS All Access announced Tuesday that Ethan Peck will be joining the cast of the latest “Trek” series, playing one of the franchise’s most iconic characters in Season 2.
Spock — first played by Leonard Nimoy in “The Original Series” and later by Zachary Quinto in the J.J. Abrams-directed and produced “Trek” films — is a half-human/half-Vulcan Starfleet science officer who, according to “Discovery” mythology, was raised alongside “Discovery” lead Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) as his adoptive sister.
As IndieWire has explained in many posts of great nerdiness, the way in which “Discovery” is positioned in the “Star Trek” timeline essentially requires Spock be seen on screen in some way during the second season of the series, especially after the good ship Discovery actually comes across the Enterprise in the Season 1 finale and Anson Mount was cast as Captain Christopher Pike in Season 2.
While the most recent teaser for the series indicates Spock will be on leave from the Enterprise when the season begins, Peck’s casting indicates this likely won’t be a season-wide situation.
Peck, who happens to be Gregory Peck’s grandson, has also appeared in “Madam Secretary” and “Gossip Girl” among other credits. Regarding Peck’s casting, executive producer Alex Kurtzman said in a statement, “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.”
IndieWire also consulted with “Original Series” fan Janet Miller regarding how she felt about Peck’s casting, as she was a big Leonard Nimoy fan in the early days. Based on his official headshot and bio, her response was “I like his pedigree (as the grandson of Gregory Peck), and he has the right look. I can easily see him with the eyebrows and ears. I haven’t seen him in action, though. I bet he’d be good.”
“Star Trek: Discovery” Season 2 is set to premiere on CBS All Access in early 2019. Check out the most recent teaser below.
