ZACHARY QUINTO: Screenwriting Starts for Star Trek Sequel

Actor Zachary Quinto, who played Spock in Star Trek, said that while the script for the sequel to the film isn't finished, the screenwriting process is already underway.

"It's definitely happening," Quinto told Newsarama when we spoke to him about the movie. "I know that Bob [Orci] and Alex [Kurtzman] and Damon [Lindelof] and J.J. [Abrams] have been working and talking and developing stories. I don't think there's a script yet. I know there's not a script yet. But they're working on it and they're talking about it."

The actor, who was at San Diego Comic-Con to promote his production company's foray into comic books with Archaia, said Star Trek filmmakers are taking their time to put together the next film and make sure it's right, which is fine by him.

"I think the great thing about the experience with the first film is that it really was an organic evolution. And I think that it was rooted in a real sense of creative collaboration and excitement and enthusiasm and support. And I think they want to make sure any subsequent film is rooted in that same territory, in that same landscape," he said. "So I don't think anybody's rushing anything. And I think that's actually really smart. And I have implicit trust in all those guys creatively and professionally."

Quinto said he and other cast members are currently able to pursue other projects, although he's expecting the same ensemble to reunite for the sequel when production begins.

"I know when the time is right and everything falls into the place, the crew shall reassemble for the missions. But until then, we're all exploring different landscapes and figuring out the best way for us to go creatively as individuals," he said.

The actor was also at Comic-Con to promote his role as Sylar in the NBC television show Heroes, taking a break from filming last week to attend the convention.

At the end of last season, it appeared that Quinto's role in the television show might be more limited, since Sylar thinks he's Nathan Petrelli, which means he'll be played by actor Adrian Pasdar. But Quinto said that although Sylar's current situation implies the actor won't be on the show as much, he's not backing away from the show.

"There's definitely going to be Sylar in the fourth season of the show. I actually feel incredibly challenged by the work that I'm doing on the show in a great way. I think they've found a really exciting and smart and innovative way to keep the character moving forward and evolving," he said.

Quinto explained in San Diego that Sylar exists this season not only sharing Nathan's body, but also appears within the mind of Greg Grunberg's character, Matt Parkman, "messing with his mind a little bit, giving him a taste of his own medicine."

"One of the problems of playing a villain that is as archetypal as Sylar, you kind of paint yourself into a corner. There's only so much skull-slicing and evil staring that you can do and still have it be creatively fulfilling for an audience or for an actor," Quinto said. "So I feel really great with the stuff they've given me this year because it really starts to take me into different territories in an organic way, and it doesn't feel contrived. It's a real nice springboard from where last season ended to where this season begins, and I've been hard at work. So I haven't let up on it yet."