ethan peck
Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock.com

Ethan Peck has just been announced as playing a young Spock on CBS All Access’ ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ and while that is a daunting task for anyone, Peck has gotten the seal of approval from not just the producers, but from perhaps the most important group imaginable– Leonard Nimoy‘s family.

Upon the official announcement of his casting, Peck posted a photo on Twitter of himself with Nimoy’s son Adam and daughter Julie, along with Adam’s wife Terry Farrell (who played Jadzia Dax on ‘Star Trek: Deep Space Nine’) and Julie’s husband David Knight, all giving the Vulcan salute.

Leonard Nimoy played Mr. Spock, the chief science officer of the starship Enterprise beginning on the original series from 1966-69 and for decades after in syndication.  After providing the voice for Spock on a short-lived ‘Star Trek’ animated series, Nimoy returned in the flesh in the movie franchise, which began with 1979’s ‘Star Trek: The Motion Picture’.  Nimoy was the only original series actor to appear in the rebooted film universe.  His final performance was in ‘Star Trek Into Darkness’.

Zachary Quinto played the younger Spock in the more recent films.  On ‘Discovery’, Spock is the adopted brother of the show’s main character Michael Burnham played by Sonequa Martin-Green.  Burnham is a human that was taken in by Spock’s family.

‘Discovery’ executive producer Alex Kurtzman earlier stated:

“We searched for months for an actor who would, like [Nimoy and Zachary Quinto], 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.”

Fans will be the judge of whether or not Peck is a worthy successor when ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ returns for its second season in early 2019.  It is expected that Peck’s Spock will make his debut in the first episode, after being set up in the first season finale.