Leonard Nimoy will don his famous pointy ears for one more turn on the big screen as Spock in Paramount Pictures' upcoming Star Trek film.

He will share the role with Zachary Quinto, one of the stars of the hit series Heroes, who will play the Vulcan first officer in his younger days.

Zachary Quinto, left, and Leonard Nimoy, shown Thursday, will both play Spock in the next film version of Star Trek, scheduled for release in 2008.
(Dan Steinberg/Associated Press)

Director J. J. Abrams, who helmed Mission: Impossible III and the TV series Lost, announced the casting for Mr. Spock at the Comic-Con convention in San Diego on Thursday.

This version of the much reprised TV series and film franchise is set in a time before the original series, when Kirk and Spock are newly graduated cadets fresh from Starfleet Academy.

"This is really going to be a great movie. And I don't say things like that lightly," said Nimoy, 76, greeting the crowd with Vulcan salute.

He remarked upon the announcement of Quinto as his replacement in typical Spock fashion, saying "It was logical."

While Captain Kirk has yet to be cast, Abrams said Canadian actor William Shatner, who played the role in the original Star Trek, would likely also have a part.

The film will begin production in November and is likely to come to cinemas in December 2008.