‘Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’ Star Ethan Peck Discusses Spock’s ‘Almost Unbearable’ Initial Weight and Fans’ Deep Appreciation

[Warning: This story contains spoilers for the Star Trek: Strange New Worlds episode “Ghosts of Illyria.”]

For Ethan Peck, every episode Star Trek: Strange New Worlds It’s a journey for a character he’s very familiar with and still remains a mystery. An actor whose debut was in the role of Spok On Star Trek: DiscoveryHe finds great beauty in this notion.

His journey has become a symbol of the intense but utterly enjoyable and satisfying sci-fi relived by the legendary Leonard Nimoy, he says. the hollywood reporter.

And before being your guest work Discovery What made a huge crowd demand that he along with Anson Mount and Rebecca Romin make a spin-off this is a format and it’s written strange new worlds Which allowed Peck to really embody and understand the semi-volcanic and semi-human nature.

Paramount+’s new series is just three episodes long, and yet it wasted no time exploring Spock’s inner trials and tribulations, including his love life battle with Tiring (Jia Sandu), who was linked to Spock as a child. . Peck enjoys exploring his characters’ dueling identities, giving the writers eerie nuances and complexities.

The the original series Nostalgia comes in handy. How does it feel to film this TV series compared to its time? Discovery?

It is obvious that we are in an episodic format, so each episode is our own adventure, our own world, our own conflict, which must be overcome by the team at Enterprise Bridge. The challenges are always new and it’s exciting for me as an actor because I don’t know what to expect. Often, at the beginning of a season of the show, you have an idea of ​​what your character will be like. And in this case, it’s a surprise where Spock is headed. This is really exciting.

You, Anson and Rebecca pleased the fans of these characters, they asked for it to be Spinoff. Has that level of love, respect and trust already been achieved?

It’s still madness to turn your head to that. The fans are a big part of why we’re here now and I’m so grateful to the fans. It was also very inspiring for us as we put our hearts and souls into this series and I think it shows. May To sense He. But yeah, somehow I still understand the reality of my situation: that I play this character and this show. Fill me with wonders and honors.

I really appreciate that from the beginning the series has been about Spock digging through his inner turmoil and conflict, trying to find his true May, as opposed to those who think others want him to be. You are really doing double duty in this fight.

absolutely. I was very lucky with the level of nuance I was given in the letter. It was also very scary. This is such a precious character, not just to the fans, but to me as well. And as I was saying, one of the advantages of the episodic format is that each episode is a new adventure, not knowing what Spock is going to do. So I feel like I’m constantly looking for a character and creating interior details that are still a gift.

Spock wants to take the volcano, its people, that he grew up with, but he never made it because he’s half human. This is a battle that exists on our planet and I may not be the best representative of it, but we have amazing writers experiencing it today. I know they make a big contribution to Spock’s life that way. His human side is undeniable. You have to investigate this. And I think, ultimately, understanding his humanity is what makes him who he will be later on. the original series. Your emotional side attracts valuable information that you can use to solve problems. He is a wonderful person to reflect on and discover.

I also enjoy exploring his love life with Tiring, which he mentioned only briefly. the original series. Can you talk about adding a spooky, mostly unexplored layer?

This is very difficult and we really handle it with a lot of thought and caution because we don’t want to list anything that doesn’t fit these characters and these cultures. The game against Gia is very interesting because, in my opinion, she is calmer than Spock can be. And when I work with him on camera, I feel like it has to be More I have to accept the volcano because I want to like it. I want to get him, so it’s always on Spock’s mind that he just doesn’t belong there, he belongs in Starfleet. So it’s interesting to explore these moments with him.

Captain Pike and Spock have a wild mission called “Ghosts of Illyria”. Is it safe to assume that missions away from home are more fun to shoot, especially when it’s just you and Anson hanging out in a sandbox?

Field missions can be more fun. However, they are often more complex logistically, so we may have to wake up earlier to travel somewhere to film. This particular episode we filmed in Toronto, Ontario Place. So in that way they can be a little more complicated. More is unknown, but it’s always fun to be in a new environment with these characters because our team is doing an amazing job with the sets and decorations and it really encourages my work. But this particular episode is a classic Spock and Captain episode.

Anson and I know each other perfectly. We share many science fiction books, we are both big science fiction lovers. A lot of times we both read on set. I think we both approach our work with the same intensity and consistency, and that’s really special. We all work a lot on our show and I think Anson really sets the level of work that goes into our show, and that’s what I admire.

How did you establish that connection between the two of you? Spend more time in the pale when the cameras don’t move?

when i was doing this DiscoveryI saw Pike as a Spock figure or an older brother’s uncle. is included DiscoverySpock grew closer to his adoptive sister Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green), but I think Pike was a role model for him. So with that in mind, we went to our free time in between. Discovery s strange new worlds And we did as many conventions together as we could. We got excited and got to know each other better, found that we have great chemistry on and off camera. And, of course, let’s work together now. strange new worlds, you will become a family. You look at your ups and downs and learn to accept each person as they are every minute. And this is a unique opportunity because we need to be united and coordinated with each other and work together. So this is really special.

You and Celia Rose Gooding, as Nyota Uhura, are doing an amazing job of embodying these charming classic characters. I think there was extra pressure from the start. Do you still feel it?

This is a question I can answer in many different ways as time passes and changes. At first, yes, the weight was almost unbearable and I wondered if I would break, “I’m not sure I feel worthy”. I’m still growing up in Spock in many ways. And you know, now the pressure isn’t as great as it was back then. Discovery.

I try to have a scary experience. I don’t think about what the final product will be or what it will be like. But I’ve definitely done a lot of research and I’m constantly checking Spock’s voice in my head. Leonard Nimo impressed me a lot and is always with me. I am constantly checking this.

Celia and I may have increased the pressure because of the characters we played, but at the same time, I think ᲕThe way of the stars It is a very beautiful burden for all of us and a heavy burden too. This is something special for many people. It is hopeful and aspirational, inspiring, curious and acceptable. And I think it’s always anecdotal because of all the important things that go on in the world.

The interview is edited for length and clarity.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Currently running on Paramount+.