Zachary Quinto's Spock Return Hopes Undeterred by Star Trek 4 Delay

Actor Zachary Quinto, currently deeply entrenched in the fabulous mayhem of his new NBC medical drama, Brilliant Minds, just can’t seem to shake off his past—or perhaps it's his future—that keeps knocking on his door. Amidst the beeping monitors and dramatic introspection of his character, Dr. Oliver Wolf, there lies another part of him, an old friend perhaps, yearning to slip back into the pointy ears and iconic demeanor of Spock from Star Trek.

Ah, Spock, that half-Vulcan, half-human paragon of logic, who Quinto has beautifully embodied in the Kelvin Timeline movies from 2009 to 2016. Quinto recently shared with Variety that he would absolutely relish donning that famous blue uniform again. “The great thing is Star Trek is a limitless universe,” he enthused, his eyes sparkling with that unmistakable blend of hope and whimsy. “Look at all the television shows, the characters, the timelines. Anything is possible! That's the joy of the franchise! It’s why it’s been thriving for over 55 years.”

Fifty-eight years ago, on September 8, 1966, the original Star Trek series boldly went where no one had gone before, captivating audiences for three riveting seasons. Quinto firmly believes that age shouldn’t be a barrier in the vast cosmos of storytelling. "There’s no cutoff. The original cast did movies for decades, well into their 50s, 60s. Sure, the stories might take a different shape—we might not be darting across alien terrains with the same youthful vigor—but anything’s possible!" His fervor was palpable. “Returning to something after time has passed allows you to cultivate a relationship from an entirely different perspective. Can you imagine the depth?”

Yet, while Quinto’s enthusiasm for a fourth Kelvin Timeline saga remains undaunted, the studio's ambitions seem to be wandering in a fog of uncertainty. The production of Star Trek 4 has apparently been languishing in limbo longer than a Vulcan meditation. Chris Pine, our beloved Captain James T. Kirk, weighed in earlier this year on the fraught state of the film series. “Maybe we’ve captured an audience with the Trek universe that was not our initial target, but, generally speaking, it’s the diehards,” Pine commented. “We should make films that resonate with people who actually want to see them. I’m tired of trying to cater to those who aren’t interested in what we do.” A sentiment as refreshing as a morning cup of tea, wouldn’t you agree?

Pine further nudged the conversation toward something more intimate, something less about the explosions and more about the heart. “How about we make a smaller film? More story-driven, character-based, less stuff blowing up? And let’s shoot it on film, not digital!” A solemn plea from the captain himself, proving that, sometimes, less is indeed more.

Quinto has also shared his own musings on the uncertain future of Star Trek 4. “It’s complicated,” he admitted, revealing the messy tapestry of creative forces at play. “Honestly, the fact that anything truly good gets made is a miracle in its own right. It’s about different people having different agendas. Who knows if it’ll happen? If we come together again, wonderful! If not, we’ve had a blast.” What a way to encapsulate both hope and acceptance!

Meanwhile, back to the present—Quinto takes center stage as Dr. Oliver Wolf in Brilliant Minds, tackling the cerebral intricacies reminiscent of Dr. Oliver Sacks. Specializing in the treatment of patients bearing rare mental health conditions, Quinto is channelling every ounce of his great talent into this role. And in a delightful twist of fate, Susan Bay Nimoy, the widow of the legendary Leonard Nimoy, who first brought Spock to life, is slated to guest star in this season's adventures as an "80-year-old nymphomaniac." Now, that’s a holographic scenario even the Enterprise crew might struggle to navigate!