If Star Trek ever told the story of Jean-Luc Picard’s academy days, one major name would need to appear

Star Trek may never tell the story of a young Jean-Luc Picard but if they do, they should include one key character.

Star Trek is currently running a storyline in their comics where a cadet Jean-Luc Picard meets a famous Original Series alum. The comic book, called “Star Trek: Picard’s Academy” features a young Picard, with a full head of hair, trying to navigate his time at the academy. In the second issue of the book, he runs into guest professor Spock.

Spock of course made his name on Star Trek: The Original Series. While the original series and the Next Generation are set nearly a century apart, due to Spock being a Vulcan and Vuclans aging far slower than humans, Spock was realistically able to be around for Picard’s cadet days.

And it’s for that reason it makes total sense to include Spock in any live-action or animated Cadet Picard series that gets made. Granted, we have no idea if there is such a concept that is being explored, but should Paramount+ decide to launch one, we’re hoping that Spock plays a somewhat important role in the show.

But the only question is; who would play this Spock?

Who would play Spock in a Star Trek: Cadet Picard series?

Let’s just say that the comic gets made into a show; who would we want to play this version of Spock? There are three candidates; Ethan Peck, who plays Spock on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. Zachary Quinto, who plays Spock in the Kelvin films, and of course, a brand new actor not yet cast.

For the significance of the moment, the answer isn’t a new, older actor. It’d be a big reveal, with an identifiable actor. Quinto is older at 46, so he may be able to play an older-looking Spock more effortlessly, but Peck seems to have more of the diehard fan support you’d want from a Spock-based actor.

With Cadet Picard likely to rub people the wrong way due to the franchise once again milking established characters for all their worth, you’re going to want to make sure that even the most annoyed fans find a reason to watch this hypothetical show. And for that reason, you have to go with Peck.

He’s most likely to get fans excited about the project and he’s the one many believe is the best Spock since Leonard Nimoy himself.