Zachary Quinto says Spock is in an ‘existential moment’ in Star Trek Beyond

One of our favourite things the Star Trek movies have given us since its reboot in 2009 has been Zachary Quinto’s Spock: all the naivety that a young Vulcan-Human might posses combined with the preternatural presence of Leonard Nimoy’s take on the character, Quinto has so far encapsulated the character perfectly. That’s one of the number of reasons we’re anticipating Star Trek Beyond, despite criticisms of its first trailer (and buoyed by the second). Speaking with Entertainment Weekly, Quinto described what his character will be going through in the new film.

‘[Spock] is in this existential moment in his life and at a crossroads between his obligation to his Starfleet and his Vulcan roots. His planet was destroyed and they’re rebuilding, and he’s trying to figure out where his energy is best directed to help other people. He comes into a new awareness of his own mortality for a number of reasons, and there’s a lot of stuff that he’s trying to figure out in this film. By the end, I think he realizes the best path for himself moving forward.’

Quinto also explained how Uhura (Zoe Saldana) and Spock’s relationship plays in Beyond. Sounds like a continuation of their problems in Star Trek Into Darkness:

‘Part of Spock’s existential crisis is, does he need to be with a Vulcan? Uhura recognizes this, so they’re not necessarily at the height of relationship bliss in this film, but they love each other deeply and they want each other to be happy, to be fulfilled, to serve their purpose, and to realize their potential. It’s an ongoing relationship; I don’t think that it’s resolved necessarily in Star Trek Beyond. They’re learning about each other as well and figuring out the best way for each of them to move forward.”’

Star Trek Beyond is released July 22.