Ben Cross has signed to portray Spock’s father in J. J. Abrams’ upcoming’ “Star Trek” movie for Paramount Pictures.

The cast for J. J. Abrams’ forthcoming “Star Trek” feature, that will present the crew of the Starship Enterprise in their younger days, has been shaping up nicely over the past couple of months.

English actor Ben Cross has been cast as Spock's Vulcan father, Sarek. An announcement of the role has been posted on Cross’ website. Zachary Quinto has been cast as the young Spock, while Leonard Nimoy, who originated the role of the pointy-eared science officer, will portray the older Spock. Winona Ryder will play Amanda Grayson, the human wife of Cross' character, and young Spock’s mother.

Ben Cross, 59, is best known for his portrayal of the Jewish Olympic athlete Harold Abrahams in the 1981 movie “Chariots of Fire.” According to the Hollywood Reporter, Cross will star opposite Cuba Gooding Jr. in the upcoming “Hero, Wanted” and opposite John Cusack in “War, Inc.”

The new Star Trek movie is scheduled to be released in theaters on December 25, 2008. It will be directed by J. J. Abrams, based on a script by Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci. Abrams also co-produces with Damon Lindelof. The two are co-creators and co-producers of ABC’s hit series “Lost.”

Kurtzman and Orci will exec produce along with Bryan Burk and Damon Lindelof.

Casting for the forthcoming movie has been assiduous, with Chris Pine set to portray James T. Kirk, Karl Urban appearing as Leonard McCoy, Anton Yelchin as Pavel Chekov, Eric Bana as the villain Nero, Simon Pegg as Montgomery Scott and Bruce Greenwood as Christopher Pike, among others.

Zoë Saldaña will embody Uhura, a character famously portrayed by Nichelle Nichols, on the 1960s television show and in subsequent movies. William Shatner has not been cast as Captain Kirk, much to his distress, as the actor declared in late October: “I couldn't believe it. I'm not in the movie at all. Leonard [Nimoy], God bless his heart, is in, but not me.”

Photo credit: www.startrek.com