Ethan Peck talks about taking over the role of Spock

Ethan Peck recently appeared on The Talk where he discussed taking on the iconic role of Spock and meeting with Leonard Nimoy’s family.

Taking over a role from another actor has to be one of the most difficult feats to accomplish. Sometimes it works out incredibly well, as when Mark Ruffalo took over playing the Incredible Hulk from Edward Norton. Other times it doesn’t really work, such as when Julianne Moore took over the role of Clarice Starling from Jodie Foster.

Even when the actor is simply playing a younger version of an iconic character there can be issues. Sometimes it seems seemless and sometimes it doesn’t.

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So you have to feel for Ethan Peck, who had the not so small feat of stepping into the shoes of one of the most recognizable characters in all of science-fiction, Star Trek’s Mr. Spock. He landed the role for the second season of Star Trek: Discovery which introduces a younger, more conflicted version of the character.

The role had been defined by Leonard Nimoy for close to 50 years. Nimoy was Spock, plain and simple. When Zachary Quinto took over the role 2009’s Star Trek, he was playing an alternate timeline version of the character which gave him some leeway, but he was still portraying Nimoy portraying Spock.

When Nimoy passed away in 2015, many thought we had seen the last of Mr. Spock forever.

So imagine being Peck, already feeling pressure as the grandson of Hollywood legend Gregory Peck, and you have to come in and play a younger version of Nimoy’s Spock. No easy task.

Thankfully Peck had Nimoy’s family to help him deal with the pressure and convince him he could take on the part.

Peck recently appeared on The Talk and discussed meeting Nimoy’s family and how their blessing helped him to come to terms with the daunting task ahead of him.

"“I met them about a week after I got the role. It was incredible. I feel so lucky to have met them before I began. It was so special because they were so warm and curious and welcoming. They were curious about what my process would be and shared how their father prepared for it. It was very surreal.”"

Peck’s Spock made his first appearance in Discovery this past week. This is not the Spock Trek fans know and love, but a version that is on a journey towards what he will become. It looks like Peck took what the Nimoy family said to heart because it sure seems like he is putting his all into the role.

Star Trek: Discovery Season 2 airs on Thursdays at 8:30 PM on CBS All Access.