Benedict Cumberbatch's 'Star Trek 2' role revealed - spoilers
Published May 1 2012, 15:46 BST | By Simon Reynolds
Warning: This article contains spoilers that some readers may prefer to avoid. Please click here if you wish to continue.
Benedict Cumberbatch will reportedly play classic Star Trek villain Khan in JJ Abrams's upcoming sequel.The Sherlock star's role has been shrouded in secrecy since he landed the part in January. Cumberbatch was photographed filming fight scenes with Zachary Quinto's Spock in February.
© Rex Features
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According to sources from TrekMovie, Cumberbatch will play exiled Eugenics War leader Khan Noonien Singh in Star Trek 2.
The character, a genetically-enhanced tyrant, was portrayed by Ricardo Montalban in the 1967 Star Trek episode 'Space Seed'. He was brought back for the movie sequel Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, in which he attempts to steal a terraforming Genesis device.
Furthermore, the website has claimed that Leonard Nimoy will return to the franchise to play Spock from the original Star Trek timeline.
Nimoy recently told CNN that he was "talking" with the filmmakers about coming back to the series for his eighth appearance as Spock in a Star Trek movie.
The untitled sequel is also said to feature Klingons in prominent roles.
The alien villains have appeared as recurring characters in the Star Trek TV series and faced Captain Kirk and the Enterprise crew in films Star Trek: The Motion Picture, Star Trek III: The Search for Spock and Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country.
2009's franchise reboot included a scene with Klingons, but it was removed from the movie's final cut.
The Star Trek sequel will be released in cinemas in May 2013, with Chris Pine, Simon Pegg, Anton Yelchin, John Cho and Zoe Saldana joined by cast newcomers Alice Eve, Noel Clarke and Peter Weller.
I think Khan should look like Ricardo Montalban he made that character a legend.
May 10th 2012 at 2:30am
There's more to Asia than China. Montalbaun looks more Indian in descent which is part of Asia....
May 9th 2012 at 6:40pm
I really wish they'd hired an Indian actor for this role, one with a six-pack and broad shoulders. I adore The 'Batch, but wow, not in this role -- not just for the Brown Face casting disappointment, but he's not even the right physical type. This is akin to casting James Cromwell as Zephram Cochrane when someone who looked like Glenn Corbett was called for (think Brad Pitt and you've got it.)
Is there any chance at all that he's actually playing Doctor Noonien Soong and the writer mixed up the names? Because that would be much MUCH better casting.
May 3rd 2012 at 8:10am
And at 12 bucks a ticket instead of free on the TV........Guess they think fan is a synonym or idiot
May 2nd 2012 at 8:53pm
*looks into the future* I see the third movie will have something to do with lens flare and Spock dying , the fourth may have something to do with lens flare and a comical visit back to 20th century earth (with whales in) and if I look just that bit further I see a further film involving a creature which believes itself to be the God of lens flare.
In summary - Lens flare in 3d.
May 2nd 2012 at 2:19pm