Zachary Quinto, Leonard Nimoy Confirmed for Star Trek (2008)

Rife internet speculation making Zachary Quinto (who played the villain, Sylar, in season 1 of Heroes) the favorite to land the role of Spock in the upcoming Star Trek film was vindicated Wednesday at a special ComicCon Trek panel.

Writer/director J.J. Abrams announced that Leonard Nimoy will also don Spock's pointed ears one more time. Nimoy professed admiration for the script, Quinto, and Abrams. "This is going to be a great movie," Nimoy said, according to TrekMovie.com, which also posted a video of the Abrams panel. "And I mean that, I don’t say these things lightly. It is a wonderful script and great team putting it together."

Quinto, who was also present, said he was excited about recreating the character of Spock with Nimoy's help and blessing. "It is pretty incredible to be part of something so iconic," Quinto said, "and to be doing with the support and involvement of the man who created the role is a true honor. I certainly intend to bring my own spin on it and working with these guys I am sure we will find that."

No Kirk, young or old, has been cast, though Abrams exhibited a strong desire to find a way to bring William Shatner into the film. "We are desperately trying to find a way to put him in this movie," Abrams said of Shatner. "The truth is: it needs to be worthy of him – it needs to be worthy of you – it needs to be worthy to the movie. We cannot just shove him in."

Rumor has been even hotter on the idea of Matt Damon as young Kirk, but Abrams said only that casting the role was difficult and jokingly asked the audience for ideas.