According to AICN, during a session with JJ Abrams at the San Diego Comic-con, Abrams confirmed that Zachary Quinto (Heroes) has been cast as young Spock and Leonard Nimoy will return as adult Spock. To me this basically confirms that Spock will probably bookend the movie, which will be a series of flashbacks. Abrams loves the flashback so it does fit his style. Probably the setup will be a "tell me when you met Kirk and McCoy?" type deal. Since Spock out lived Kirk by centuries in Star Trek canon (Vulcans life span is hundreds of years rather then decades), it really does make sense that Shatner wouldn't be in the movie. Its a shame, but it shows that Abrams does intend to honor, rather then ignore, the Star Trek mythology already established over the last 40 years.
Great news about the Spock castings.
ReplyDeleteAbrams did mention, however, that he's still hoping to try and write Shatner in somehow. It just needs to make sense. It's pretty clear that Kirk is dead when Spock is looking back, but perhaps we'll see Shatner in a not-so-distant flashback scene?