Get ready to meet Zachary Quinto as a completely different type of hero.
The Heroes alum is returning to NBC in the new medical drama Brilliant Minds. Inspired by the extraordinary life and work of revolutionary physician Oliver Sacks, Quinto plays Dr. Oliver Wolf—a larger-than-life neurologist who uses unconventional methods to help his patients.
And as E! News' exclusive teases, his approach to treating his subjects are quite unorthodox.
"He took an Alzheimer's patient out of the hospital on a motorcycle!" a rage-filled hospital executive yells in the preview. "The family is threatening to sue."
However, as Dr. Wolf reasons, "His world is darkening by the day and those days are numbered. I chose to walk with him. To find a path forward, because no one else will."
While one of Dr. Wolf's medical colleagues calls his methodology genius, another hospital worker thinks he's just a "d--k."
And while Dr. Wolf may not always fit in at his place of work, Quinto shed light on the cognitive hurdles his character faces as he helps his patients.
"He suffers from Prosopagnosia, which is face-blindness," the actor noted in behind-the-scenes footage, "which is something that the real Oliver Sacks had as well."
The complex role is essentially what drew Quinto to the series.
"This is a character that's a little bit different from what people know me for," the Star Trek star admitted, "and I'm excited to expand people's ideas of the kinds of characters I can play."
Plus, the show's central theme is breaking the mold to do good for others.
"The idea of a show that's specifically focused on mental health and neurological issues is really unique to me," the 47-year-old added. "It is this really interesting opportunity for universal experience from an audience standpoint. This is a show that is bringing to audiences experiences that they are going through and doing it with optimism and compassion."
Brilliant Minds premieres Monday, Sept. 23, at 10 p.m. on NBC. And keep reading to see when all of your favorite new and returning shows premiere this fall.
Virgin River (Netflix) - Dec. 19
This sixth season promises fresh twists and turns, escalating love triangles, delightful wedding drama, as well as uncovered secrets from Mel’s father’s past which will transport us to the magic and mystique of Virgin River in the 1970s.
Laid (Peacock) - Dec. 19
In the new series, a woman finds out her former lovers are dying in unusual ways and must go back through her sex timeline to confront her past in order to move forward. Laid is a f--ked up rom-com where the answer to “why can’t I find love, is there something wrong with me?” is a resounding “Yes. There is. The problem is definitely you.”
Ilana Glazer: Human Magic (Hulu) - Dec. 20
The Broad City alum tackles everything from motherhood to being a stoner in her new stand-up special.
Josh Groban & Friends Go Home for the Holidays (CBS) - Dec. 20
Hosted and executive produced by Josh Groban, the special features a new format combining compelling stories, music, comedy and a live adoption on stage, celebrating the creation of a new family. Musical performances include holiday classics, new releases and original duets with Groban and his guests, including James Bay, Jennifer Hudson, Tori Kelly and The War And Treaty.
2024 Back That Year Up with Kevin Hart and Kenan Thompson (Peacock) - Dec. 23
2024 Back That Year Up With Kevin Hart and Kenan Thompson returns for a third annual special highlighting the biggest moments of the year. The comedic duo will close out the year with their unfiltered humor as they recap the past year of pop culture, sports, social media and politics. The special will feature guest appearances from the year’s most talked about celebrities, including Nate Bargatze, Mookie Betts, Kenny G, Blake Griffin, Jon Hamm, Jonquel Jones, Seth Meyers, mgk and Rashida ‘Sheedz’ Olayiwola.
The Flipping El Moussas (HGTV) - Dec. 26
Real estate power couple Tarek and Heather Rae El Moussa will continue to grow their working relationship while juggling the addition of a rambunctious toddler to their busy family life in the newest season of their follow-doc series.
The season will kick off in Hawthorne, California, where Tarek and Heather Rae tackle their most extreme flip project to date.
Squid Game 2 (Netfix) - Dec. 26
Three years after winning Squid Game, Player 456 gave up going to the states and comes back with a new resolution in his mind. Gi-hun once again dives into the mysterious survival game, starting another life-or-death game with new participants gathered to win the prize of 45.6 billion won.
(E! and NBC are both part of the NBCUniversal family)