Highlights
- Zachary Quinto, known for his portrayal of Spock in the Star Trek films, has responded to complaints from non-SAG industry professionals affected by the ongoing strike.
- Quinto recognizes the validity of the argument that he may not be sacrificing as much as others but emphasizes the importance of the strike in protecting the industry from technological advancements that could render their contributions obsolete.
- He appeals to studio executives to end the strike with compassion and understanding, acknowledging their power to resolve the situation and expressing his support for those making sacrifices.
Star Trek actor Zachary Quinto has taken it upon himself to respond to the concerns and complaints of several non-SAG industry professionals adversely affected by the strike after being marked as a prominent voice that supports lengthening the strike if needed.
There are few franchises in the world with the twofold popularity and history as Star Trek. More recently, the franchise has been under the auspices of Paramount, leading to a rebooted Star Trek film series. Featuring new faces in the roles of the iconic characters from the original series, the first film was a critical and commercial success, with reviewers consistently citing approval for actor Quinto’s portrayal of a young Spock.
RELATED: Star Trek: Voyager – The Relationship Between Seven and the Doctor
Quinto’s stock has only risen since then as he has reprised the role of Spock, whose characterization in Star Trek is ever-evolving, in subsequent Star Trek projects, giving him prominence and a platform that he has used to great effect during the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike. In that capacity, the star has recently taken to his Instagram to address the complaints of below-the-line workers affected by the ongoing strike. “I hear you, I empathize with you and I recognize as a person in the public eye, who is beating a drum for ‘Hold the line,’ I can be a lightning rod for the argument, ‘That’s easy for you to say. You’re not being asked to sacrifice nearly as much as we are.’ And there is a validity to that argument, I understand that,” Quinto conceded before reiterating the importance of the strike action for all involved.
This is not about me. This is not about getting richer. This is about protection for all us. Because where this is not about money, this is about the implementation of technology that could in due course render all our contributions to this industry obsolete if we let it. If we give ground now, we will lose ground forever. While your outrage is justified, I encourage you to channel it in the right direction.
Quinto would then turn his attention to the studio execs at the head of the issue, appealing to them to end the strike. “You can end it today with compassion, with understanding, and with humanity that exists behind the wall of corporate ideology,” Quinto remarked. “Come to the table with your hearts and recognize you hold the power to end this now. But until you do, we have no choice but to stand up and say, ‘We have to fight for what is fair.’ And in that fight, I pledge to do everything I can to support the people who are making sacrifices that they never asked for. But none of us asked for this level of greed to define all of our capacity to earn a living doing what we love.”
While supportive, it’s unlikely that Quinto’s statement will quell the unrest from those being kept away from work. With the WGA strike resolved and the industry starting to see some movement again, such as a writer reportedly entering talks to pen Batman: The Brave and the Bold for DC studios, the strain of the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike is now higher than ever. With talks winding down and getting close to concluding, there’s hope for a resolution where both parties can walk away satisfied.
The Star Trek franchise is currently available for streaming on Paramount Plus.
Star Trek
Star Trek is a space exploration franchise originally created by Gene Roddenberry. The series has spanned shows like The Original Series, The Next Generation, and Voyager. More recently, developer Scopely came out with Star Trek Fleet Command, a mobile title where you get to be captain of your own ship.
Source: Zachary Quinto/Instagram
Leave a Reply