Although J.J. Abrams has said that no cast members from Star Trek: The Original Series will appear in his upcoming Trek sequel, it looks like Leonard Nimoy may reprise his role as Old Spock after all.

Set pics released earlier this year sparked rumors of Nimoy's return, but that turned out to be a false alarm. More solid evidence has recently come to light, though: Nimoy himself told CNN this weekend that "we're talking" about a Spock cameo in Star Trek 2.

Ain't It Cool News writer Merrick seems to believe that Nimoy's part is a done deal, saying he has " compelling independent confirmation" that Nimoy will "absolutely" be in the film.

[blastr.]

Leonard Nimoy, the actor, poet and photographer best known as Star Trek's most famous vulcan, Spock, turned 81 today.

Nimoy announced his retirement from Star Trek conventions last year, but he'll make another appearance as the voice of Spock on this Thursday's episode of The Big Bang Theory.

He retired from acting in 2003, and has since shifted his artistic focus to his photography, although he still appears in the occasional commercial or music video.

It's a cliché, but there's nothing else to say on Spock's birthday: live long and prosper, Mr. Nimoy.

Leonard Nimoy tweeted this set photo from The Big Bang Theory, showing the first-ever meeting of Mr. Spock and Star Trek uberfan Dr. Sheldon Cooper (Jim Parsons).

After five years of trying to land Nimoy as a guest star, Big Bang Theory co-creator Chuck Lorre says, "He finally gave up. We caught him."

Nimoy will haunt Sheldon's dreams in an episode entitled "The Transporter Malfunction," which airs on Thursday, March 29th.

[tvline]

Several Star Trek stars, including Wil Wheaton, Brent Spiner and LeVar Burton, have appeared on The Big Bang Theory, and now it's Leonard Nimoy's turn.

Nimoy will reprise his role as Spock in an upcoming episode of the show, but only in Sheldon Cooper's dreams. Previously, the closest Sheldon has come to his Vulcan hero is owning a sample of Nimoy's saliva.

It's likely that Nimoy's appearances on Big Bang will be limited to dream sequences, though, because he's got a restraining order out against Sheldon. And, considering Sheldon's obsessive fanboyism, that seems like a highly logical move.

Nimoy's episode airs March 29th.